Unfinished Ex (Calloway Brothers, #2)(59)

And we didn’t have sex.

Not one time.

She went home Sunday night and spent all day yesterday with her mother. I spent all day with my head anywhere but on my students. Same as I did today. Counting down the hours until Calista and I were going to her OB to confirm the news that will alter the rest of our lives.

“Okay, bud. Two more times,” I tell Heisman. “Then I have to go.”

“Woof!” he answers, chasing after the tennis ball.

Back inside, Calista has fallen asleep on my couch. How long was I gone? Heisman pads over and lays his head near her stomach. He stares. It’s goddamn creepy. I swear my dog was a clairvoyant human in a past life. I check the time and gently wake her.

“Sorry,” she says. “I’m so tired lately that I can barely keep my eyes open. I’ve taken to napping instead of grading during my planning period this week.”

Other than her text yesterday asking if I’d like to accompany her to the doctor, it’s the first we’ve even remotely spoken about the situation since she told me Friday. “Is that normal?”

“According to the book I bought, yes.”

My brow shoots up. “You bought a book?”

“It’s not like I know anything about being pregnant, Jaxon. A few of my friends have kids, but this is a whole new world for me. Sore boobs. Upset stomach. Exhaustion.”

“Already? How can that happen so soon?”

“The book says it can happen very early.”

“Guess I’ll have to pick one up myself.”

She looks pleased. “You plan on being involved?”

I throw a treat to Heisman on our way out the door. “What kind of question is that? I’m not going to bail on my kid.”

“I thought maybe you were coming with me to make sure I wasn’t scamming you or something.”

“Why would you scam me?”

“I wouldn’t. And I didn’t get pregnant on purpose. I hope you know that.”

“Yeah. Jeez. Of course I do.” I hold the passenger door open for her, then run to the other side.

“So Eric?”

“Haven’t told him yet.”

“I figured as much when he didn’t say anything at practice yesterday.”

“Whatever I decide to do, I’m not forcing you into anything, you know. You can be as involved as you want. I know you didn’t sign up for this.”

At a stoplight, I turn and study her. “You seem to be okay with this. Aren’t you freaking out even a little?”

“Believe me, I had multiple freak-out sessions over the weekend. But I’ve come to terms with it.

I’m twenty-seven years old. There’s no reason I can’t do this. The school district has a great maternity leave policy. And if you decided not to help, there’s nothing wrong with being a single mother. I can do this.”

“I’m sure you can. But I’m going to help. Both monetarily and physically. I want to be involved, Calista.”

She smiles. “I want that, too.”

I realize there is one thing I need to settle right now, before things go any further. “You should know something,” I say, turning into the parking lot of the doctor’s office. “This won’t change things between you and me. Nicky and I, we’re back together. Even after she leaves, we’re going to be together. I don’t know what that means for”—I glance at her belly—“this. But I need you to know she’ll be a part of my life.”

She gazes out the window. “You mean to say she’ll be a part of this baby’s life.”

“I guess so, yes. Will you have a problem with that?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“You are the mother.”

“I am. Just so long as she realizes that and doesn’t try to undermine me.”

I park and we get out. “She would never do that.”

“She’s bound to have some jealousy over this.” She holds a hand firmly against her flat belly.

“Until you’ve had a baby growing inside you, another person you’re fully responsible for, you can’t understand. She can’t understand.”

“She can.”

Calista narrows her eyes in question.

“She lost a baby. We lost a baby. Nicky miscarried at fifteen weeks.” I show her the ring. “Some of his ashes are in here.”

A hand flies to her mouth. “I had no idea.” She studies the ring. “You’ve never worn this before.”

“I didn’t know about it until recently. And as a result of the miscarriage, her fertility was compromised. So if she seems jealous, cut her a break.”

“I promise to try.”

I hold the office door open for her. She checks in and we’re seated. Thank God the waiting room is empty. I didn’t even think until right now how it would look if anyone saw us here together.

“Calista Hilson,” a nurse calls.

“Should I…?”

“It’s okay to come with me,” Calista says.

We’re escorted to the back. A nurse takes me to an exam room while they take Calista down the hall for a few minutes. When they enter, the nurse asks Calista to remove everything below the waist.

We look at each other funny. The nurse doesn’t fail to notice. She points to a curtain attached to the wall. “You can use this for privacy and drape this sheet over your lower half. The doctor will be in shortly.”