We’re both facing off without words when Milton breaks the silence. “Sir, if I may.” Milton looks at me and somehow tries to be the voice of reason in this complicated situation. “Get the DNA test done. Have all the facts before you make your decision.”
“How do you know it’s mine?” I ask Tawny, letting Milton’s words settle between us. It wouldn’t be the first time someone tried to pin a kid on me, but the paternity results have always stated otherwise.
“Because it is,” she hisses. “I didn’t have sex with anybody else when I was with you.”
I hate to admit that I believe her, but I do. I can’t say the same. We weren’t in a committed relationship. We were friendswith benefits that met at the sex club where she bartends. I assumed she was fucking around the same way I was.
I blow out a breath. “I’ll still need those DNA results, but if he’s mine, I don’t want him going up for adoption.” That doesn’t mean I know what the fuck I’m going to do. Maybe a family member will know. I have six fucking siblings. Someone might have some semblance of what to do, not that any of them have kids. Or maybe my parents will help me out.
I scratch that idea from my mind as soon as it enters.
I’ll figure it out.
My phone rings, and my father is calling—speak of the devil. I send it to voicemail.
“Stop calling the babyit. It’s a boy,” she says quietly. “His name is Jack, after Jack Dalton, my favorite football player of all time.”
A boy named Jack.
Named after my boss. The owner of the Vegas Aces. Her favorite football player…decidedly notme.
I never wanted kids. I never wanted commitment. I never wanted responsibility.
I just wanted to play football and live a life for myself.
I have no idea what to do here, but as I stare down at baby Jack, the boy who might be mine, something seems to shift. “I’ll give you money,” I blurt.
Her eyes whip up to mine.
“If it’s mine. If the DNA results say he’s mine, I’ll give you money.”
She purses her lips and shakes her head. “I don’t want your money. I’m not your problem. This kid, however, is.” She holds up the carrier for emphasis. “There’s, uh, there’s something else.”
My brows crash together. “What?”
She clears her throat, and her eyes edge toward Milton. She lowers her voice. “I was caught carrying an unlicensed concealed weapon by an undercover cop.”
“So?” I ask. “If it’s your first offense, you should be able to plea that down to a fine. Is that why you’re here? I just said I’d give you money.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not my first offense. I need to surrender tomorrow for the next two years.”
I suck in a sharp breath.
“I’ll sign over custody rights to you. I’d love to see him again when I get out if you’re okay with that. I won’t try to take him from you. I don’t know what else to do, Dex.” She whispers the last part through tears. I’m not convinced she wants to give him up, but she truly does seem to be in a situation where I’m the only logical choice.
My phone starts ringing again. It’s my father. Again.
It’s like he knows. He’s pushing me to make a decision here.
I feel like I’m being pulled in opposite directions. The selfish side of me wants to tell her to get out and never come back. I was better off not knowing.
The other side of me, the one raised by the man who keeps calling me, wants to step up and be a man.
I just don’t know if I have it in me.
I let my phone ring, the blare of it piercing as it echoes through the lobby.
Before I know what I’m doing, I speak words that come from some place other than my brain. “I’ll have my lawyer draft up a contract. Did you plan on leaving him here with me today?”
