“Yes, I know. I just… I know it’s not his,” she whispered, sipping her water and acting as if this were normal and that everything was okay, but it wasn’t.
She didn’t know what she was getting into. She didn’t know what kind of life she had ahead of her.
I did.
I had been through that with her mother.
But I was conflicted on what to say next. I didn’t know if Mason would settle down and take up his responsibilities. Sometimes, having a kid changed people for the better; other times … it didn’t change them at all. He could mature like I had, or he could stay the same old Mason. And part of me, deep down, knew that he’d stay the same old Mason. He wouldn’t change. He was still texting Mia, for God’s sake. If he really loved Melissa as much as she’d told me he did, he would’ve stopped trying to contact his ex-girlfriend.
“You have to leave him. Come back home. We’ll help you take care of your baby,” I said, speaking for Mia and me.
Mia might’ve had a rockier relationship with Melissa than I did, but she cared about her. And I knew Mia wouldn’t let her stay in that relationship with a baby.
It wasn’t only that I wanted Melissa to be healthy during the pregnancy either. I wanted her to be happy and healthy after it too. Her mother had had postpartum depression for the entire year after Melissa was born. I’d watched her go through hell and back every single day with mood swings, panic attacks, fatigue, and intrusive thoughts. A lump formed in my throat. I’d tried to get her the best care we could afford, but it wasn’t enough back then. I’d thought I was going to lose her, and I didn’t want Melissa to feel that way.
I knew I couldn’t stop those feelings after the pregnancy, if it did happen. But I could be there with her. I could help her through it. Just like her mother had needed a supportive partner and friends, Melissa would need that too.
Added stress would harm her.
Melissa shook her head again. “I can’t. I want Mason to be part of the baby’s life.”
“It’ll be a toxic environment for that baby,” I said. “It was toxic when you were growing up, and I wish I’d gotten divorced from your mother long before I actually had the courage and strength to do it.”
“I didn’t come here to have you talk to me about leaving him,” she said, putting her foot down. “I just wanted to let you know.”
“But, Melissa—”
“Dad, please. I want him in his baby’s life. I’m not going to take that away from him.”
I balled my hands into fists. I hated Mason, more than I’d ever thought I would, but it was Melissa’s life I had to think about.
She tilted her head down and glanced at the table. “What if Mom had taken me away from you? What if she never even told you she was pregnant with me?” she asked, brows furrowed together. “You would have no idea I even existed. You wouldn’t be my dad, just a stranger.” There was a spark in her eyes, and she leaned forward, trying to hit the point right where it hurt. “Mom told me that before you found out she was pregnant, you were just like Mason. Partied. Drank. Did shit that you wouldn’t dare do now.”
I pursed my lips, trying not to get angry. “I was nothing like him. I didn’t cheat. I didn’t treat your mother like shit. I respected her. I treated her well. I made sure she was happy even if I wasn’t.”
My chest tightened. I felt so … so torn. But Melissa wouldn’t change her mind until something happened, and I was afraid something bad would have to happen before she could think clearly about this.
She gulped and stood up. “I love and miss you, but I have to go.”
Before she could leave, I grabbed her wrist. “Melissa, if you need anything, please come by the house. I don’t want you feeling like I’m not here for you. I love you more than anything.”
CHAPTER27
MIA
Iwalked out of the bathroom with a little black dress hugging my body and my makeup done to perfection for once. It was already Friday night, and I couldn’t wait for one night of fun with my friends. I had been waiting all damn week for tonight.
Michael stood by his dresser and pushed something into his pocket just as I walked out. He looked me up and down, eyes widening. He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me toward him, nose in my hair, breathing me in. “You look so sexy,” he said against my ear, yet there was something in his voice that sounded so taut.
I had heard it all week—something strained, something stressful. I moved my hand down his abdomen to the front of his pants, stroking him gently until he was hard.
“You’re tense, Michael,” I mumbled against his lips. “Let me help you out.”
Dropping down to my knees in front of him, I let my fingers run to his belt. We should have left by now if we wanted to get to the restaurant before everyone else did, but I wanted to please him. He had done so much for me these past few weeks that he deserved this and more.
He lightly grasped my chin and forced me to look up at him as I undid his button and pulled down his zipper enough to see his bulge through his briefs. I ran my fingers over it and looked up at him, watching his body relax.
After pushing the spaghetti straps of my dress down my shoulders and letting my breasts slide out of it, I placed my mouth on the head of his cock through his underwear. I glanced up at him through my lashes, my pussy clenching.
