Unfinished Ex (Calloway Brothers, #2)(62)

I’m a bit surprised he’s ready to be with me like that again so soon.

“What?” His brows lift. “Do you know how hard it was to keep my hands off you after I thought I’d lost you in that storm? Nicky, all I dream about is being with you. Kissing you. Touching you.

Making love to you. Getting you to scream my name. That hasn’t and will never change. But I get that we both needed a minute to absorb this.”

It’s a silver lining on the cloud surrounding me. “I dream about being with you too.”

“Good.” He whistles and Heisman trots over from the spot he’d plopped down on under a tree.

Inside, Calista is on the couch. Heisman goes over and puts his head in her lap. Et tu?

“Can I get you a drink, Nic?” Jaxon asks. “Water? Tea? Double shot of whiskey?”

Neither Calista nor I laugh.

“No, thank you.” No need to prolong this.

I don’t think it’s lost on anyone that Calista and I don’t greet each other like long-lost friends.

“Okay, then,” Jaxon says, motioning for me to sit in the chair across from Calista and then standing by my side. “We’ve got ourselves quite a pickle. Anyone want to go first?”

“I’ll go,” Calista says. “I know you’re a couple now or whatever, but I’m not sure why she’s even here. She has nothing to do with this and won’t be involved in any decisions.”

“You can talk directly to me,” I say.

“Fine. Jaxon tells me you had a miscarriage. I know that must have been devastating, but it could also lead to you having negative feelings about this.” She touches her stomach protectively. “I mean, even more negative than another woman having Jaxon’s baby. I just don’t want you getting territorial or anything.”

“Territorial?” I bite.

“I need you to understand that while I get Jaxon is yours, this baby is mine. Even when Jaxon has it for weekends or whatever, he or she is still mine, and what I say goes.”

“You mean what we say,” Jaxon says, “as it’s mine too. And to be perfectly transparent, I’ll be asking for more than weekends.”

“Do we really have to argue over that now?”

“We don’t have to argue over it at all as long as you get that this kid is mine, and I’ll want equal time with it.”

“Assume you do get equal time,” Calista says. “Nicky may want to mother him or her, and that’s not something I’m okay with.”

Jaxon puts a hand on my shoulder in a show of support. “Calista, I’m not sure you have much of a say in who I let see our kid when it’s with me. Everyone will be clear about whose kid it is. You don’t have to worry.”

“Won’t I?” she cocks her head and stares directly at me.

“While I intend to be supportive of Jaxon, you can rest assured that I won’t be trying to replace you as the mother.”

“You say that now, but you can’t tell me you aren’t jealous.”

“Jealous? If you think I’m at a time in my life where I can even consider being a mom, you’re crazy. Did you see what I was doing this past weekend?”

I almost sound convincing. I’m just not sure who I’m trying to convince, her or me.

“What about you?” Jaxon says to Calista. “Say you and Eric end up together, or you meet someone else next month or in two years. That guy might try to take my place. We both have a lot at stake here.”

Her arms fold over her middle. “Okay, fine. But Nicky doesn’t need to go to any appointments.

And she won’t be at the birth. Or the hospital.”

“Appointments, fine,” he says. “Birth, understandable. But if I want her at the hospital to support me, you can be damn well sure she’ll be welcome there. Calista, you’d better learn the art of compromise before the baby comes, or we’re going to have a big problem.”

His hand is still firmly on my shoulder. I’m grateful. Although he’s defending his baby, he’s showing her where his loyalties lie. I’m starting to believe what he said the other night about being able to do that and have a relationship with me.

“About making an announcement,” Calista says. “It’s probably best to wait a month, until we’re past the first trimester.”

I want to tell her that guarantees nothing, but I don’t want to start another argument.

“Will Eric keep his mouth shut?” I ask.

“Eric doesn’t know.”

I’m stunned. “You haven’t told him?”

“I broke things off.”

“Mind telling me when?” Jaxon asks. “He was happy a few hours ago at practice.”

“Did it on the way over. He shouldn’t be saddled with another man’s baby.”

“Don’t you think that should be his decision?”

“No. It’s mine. I know you’re his friend, but I expect you to abide by my wishes and not tell him.”

“I think you’re making a mistake,” Jaxon says. “Anyway, it wasn’t Eric I was worried about.

Shit, Nicky, you won’t believe who her doctor is.”

“He’s not my doctor,” Calista says.