Unfinished Ex (Calloway Brothers, #2)(61)

Calista seems considerably happier about this than I am. She grabs my hand. “We’re going to be parents.” She sees my dull reaction and pulls away. “Sorry. I know we’re not… I guess I’m just overly emotional. I mean, there is a tiny human growing inside me. I didn’t even know this was something I wanted.”

I try not to think about the fact that it’s something I’ve always wanted. Just not the way it’s happening now. “Do you know how much longer this will take?” I ask, trying to hide my displeasure that the woman on the exam table isn’t Nicky. “I have to go run football practice.”

“You can get dressed,” Hudson tells Calista. “Janice will print out an ultrasound picture for you, and I’ll meet you in my office to go over some things.”

“I’ll wait outside. Anything I need to know, Calista can fill me in on.” I pull Hudson aside. “And I’m pretty sure there are laws against you telling anyone about this. That includes your asshole brothers. Nobody knows about this yet, and I’ll be damned if everyone is going to find out from you.”

“I’m a physician, Calloway, not a gossip monger.”

I thumb to the door. “I’ll see you out front, Calista.”

The nurse follows me. “I printed one for you as well,” she says, handing me a small black-and-white photo. “Considering it doesn’t seem like you’re…”

“We’re not.” I take it. “Thank you.”

I go outside the building, sit on a bench, and study the photo, wondering how my life became so fucking complicated.





Chapter Twenty-four



Nicky




I’ve prayed for a story. A stray tornado. A waterspout on the Hudson River. A volcanic eruption.

Something. Anything. But today has to be the most boring weather day in the history of the world.

It’s after four p.m. I know where he is. Is he staring at a picture of his child on the ultrasound screen this very moment? Is he holding Calista’s hand dreaming up names as they see the tiny blob? Is he tearing up because becoming a father is everything he ever wanted?

To make myself feel better (and kill more time), I page through comments on XTN’s website and Twitter feed about my reporting on Louisa. Still—what should have been the best weekend of my career has now been marred by personal undertones.

My phone alerts me of a text.



Jaxon: Can you come over after work? Say 7:00?



I check the time. It’s later than I thought. If I leave now, I might just make it. I was supposed to meet Regan, Ava, and Maddie behind the ice cream shop, something I’ve done for a few weeks now in an attempt to integrate myself back into the town I grew up in. Jaxon knows this, so whatever he wants me there for must be important.



Me: Leaving XTN now. See you then.



No reply as I make my way to the train. Not even a thumbs-up. What does that mean?

Jaxon never got to see our baby. He wasn’t at the ultrasound that changed my whole view of life.

He didn’t get to say goodbye to Billy. And it scares me to death that he’s going to overcompensate and try to make up for that loss by doing everything he can for Calista and this baby. I feel guilty even thinking it, because he should do things for them. Realistically, I know this. But practically, I know the jealousy I’ll feel— I’m already feeling—could turn out to be an issue.

Off the train now, my feet move slowly, in no hurry to find out how happy he is after today’s ultrasound. Will he want me to share in his excitement? A wave of nausea rolls through me thinking he may want me in the hospital with him. How hard will it be to see him and Calista so happy about their perfect new arrival?

I turn the corner and see an unfamiliar car parked in Jaxon’s driveway. I also see Jaxon and Heisman waiting for me on the front porch. Heisman sees me first, prancing over to do his usual happy dance around me before I pet him.

Jaxon approaches, looking guilty. “Don’t get mad. This was Calista’s idea.”

I swallow. “She’s inside?”

“She wanted to come up with a plan.”

“Don’t you have like seven or eight months to do that?”

“A plan for now. What we tell people and when.”

“I suppose that’s not an entirely bad idea.” No matter how much I want it to be. “But why do you need me here?”

He reaches out and tentatively takes my hand as if he thinks I’ll pull away. “Because we’re together, Nic. I want us to be a team.”

I snort. “I’ll bet Calista will have something to say about that.”

“Just come.”

“Wait. Did you see the baby on the ultrasound?”

He nods.

“Did they give you a picture?”

He nods again.

“I don’t want to see it.” I grab my pendant. “This whole thing is going to be vastly different for you than it will be for me. You’ll be inside of it. I’m a spectator. Please understand that my absence of enthusiasm doesn’t indicate a lack of desire to be with you.”

“Noted.” He leans in and brushes my hair behind my ear. “Now how about we get this over with so we can do what we didn’t do all weekend?”