One Moment Please (Wait With Me #3)(32)

“That was one bad night.”

He pins me with a smoldering look that elicits a swirling in the pit of my belly. “And you think moving in with a medical professional is really that bad of an idea? I think we should have some tests run on you.”

“They’re silly accidents!” I exclaim and pull away from him, making sure my sweater is back in place. “Minor injuries.”

“You never know when something minor could turn into something major,” he snaps, his tone acidic as he glowers at me. “It happens all the time in hospitals.”

I exhale and try to defuse the tension radiating off this man’s body right now. “Aside from wrapping myself in bubble wrap, I really don’t see what I can do about my lack of coordination.”

He exhales heavily, continuing to glower at me with something resembling a threat. I look away, doing my best to ignore the headiness coursing through me as he stares at me.

Josh’s voice is softer when he asks, “Do you really want to live with your parents as you go through all this?”

I swallow a knot in my throat. “I’m not going to live with my parents.”

He pauses for a moment. “Did something change from when I last saw you?”

I turn to look at him. “Considering it took you two whole days to get the balls to call me, yes…it’s safe to say another option came up.”

“Like what?” he asks, his jaw clenching with frustration. “Some fucking Craigslist psycho?”

“No!” I lick my lips. “My friend Dean said I could move in with him.”

“Dean?” he echoes, his eyes flaring with surprise. “Is that the guy you were with that night at the bar?”

“Yes.”

“The one who let you leave with me?”

“Yes,” I grind out, knowing exactly where he’s going with this.

“Does he know you’re pregnant?”

“Yes.” I can’t bring myself to make eye contact. “He’s…supportive.”

“Supportive?” Josh barks, dipping his head to catch my lowered eyes. “What the fuck does that mean?”

I chew my lip nervously. “He said he’d help me until I figure out my life.”

Josh steps back and runs his hands through his hair. “And what about the baby’s biological father?”

“I’m trying not to assume anything. Look, I know how you feel about children. I remember everything you said to me in the Uber that night. That too is burned into my retinas…or ears…or whatever.”

The room goes silent as Josh’s face wars with something I can’t quiet discern.

He inhales sharply through his nose. “It doesn’t matter what I said. This is the situation we’re in now, and I’m a responsible adult who will take care of my obligations. And I’m a hell of a lot more qualified than Dean.”

I choke out a laugh. “So, I’m going to raise a baby with a man who is responsible but doesn’t like children? Sounds like a lot of fun.”

“Nothing about this is fun,” he spits.

“I know!” I cry back, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. “That’s why I’m telling you that you don’t have to be involved. I have family, I have my sister, I have friends.”

“You have Daddy Dean,” Josh mocks, the most expressive his tone has ever been.

“Would you get over your issue with Dean? You knew him for like two hours.”

The muscle in Josh’s jaw ticks with agitation. “I’m good at reading people.”

“So am I! And I think a friend who’s willing to let me live with him while I’m pregnant with another man’s baby is a pretty incredible person.”

“Jesus Christ,” Josh growls and begins pacing the room. “So that’s it then? You’re going to go play family with him and what? Tell this baby he’s the father? Pretend I never existed?”

I scrub my hands over my face. “God, this is complicated. And painful and awkward and so many things. The truth is, I haven’t thought all of this through, but I have about six months to figure it out, and I don’t need some dick barking orders at me as I do it.” Josh jerks at my scathing tone as I move toward him and square my shoulders. “Look, you don’t have to be a part of this, Josh. You’re a doctor with patients and an incredibly stressful job. Your entire life doesn’t need to be uprooted because of one stupid night.”

His brows furrow as he watches me speculatively, his mind clearly running a mile a minute.

“We barely know each other. And you made it clear you don’t want children, and you think I’m crazy, so there’s no way you’re going to want to be involved with me the rest of your life to co-parent this child.” I purse my lips, and add, “I can handle this on my own. I don’t even need money from you.”

He hits me with a disbelieving look.

“I know I don’t have a job, but I’m not an idiot, okay?” I state defensively. “I have my master’s, plus my financial and living situation is temporary.”

When he doesn’t say anything, I go to the closet where he stashed my coat and pull it off the hook. I slip it on and pause at the door to add, “Take some time and think this over. I’m giving you an out here, and I have a feeling you want to take it.”