I don’t know what I expect him to say, but it isn’t, “Bad mood.” Then he nods. “Perpetually.”
Wow. The guy doesn’t even apologize for being a grumphole. He accepts it. Hell, I’d go so far as to say he embraces it. What can I say to that?
Nothing.
So, I don’t.
Just then, a person in a white coat steps out and says, “Maggy—and Nate Black?”
Great. We’re going in together?
“Right here.” I quickly stand and stomp over to a woman who’s probably in her midtwenties. She’s young and beautiful, and her eyes haven’t left Nate since she stepped into the room.
“Paternity test?” She arches her brow at me, then looks down at my slightly rounded middle. Her eyes slide over to Nate, and she beams. At him. At me, she raises her perfectly arched eyebrow.
“Yes.” I decide to end this as soon as possible. “If we could hurry this along. I’ve got to get back to work.”
“Sure.” She smiles, and it annoys the crap out of me. “We’ll do you first, Maggy, and you can head on out.” Peeking over at Nate, she smirks at him. “Sound good to you, Mr. Black?”
He gets to be calledMr. Black while I’m just plain old Maggy? Oh, I see what she’s doing….
I’m a little shocked when Nate says, “I’d prefer to go first so Maggy and I can leave together.”
“Oh.” The lab tech’s little face crumples. “Sure.”
Shot. Down. Wow. That shouldn’t feel as good as it does. I mean, I couldn’t care less if Nate does anything with this woman. Nope. I don’t care a lick.
* * *
“So, no breakfast today?”
I give Nate the side-eye. “I told you…” I stop walking toward the van so I can finish up this little conversation once and for all. “I have to work.”
“What about dinner?”
This is getting annoying. And frustrating. “Look.” I sigh like he’s beat me down. He has not. “Why would you want to have dinner?” It’s an honest question. What’s his angle? His game?
“We need to talk.”
Can’t he just use a phone like normal people? “What do we need to talk about?” He glances at my stomach, then back up at my face. I guess he doesn’t need to answer me. “Fine.” I sigh with irritation. “Not tonight. I’m busy.” Not. I plan to eat my weight in macaroni and cheese and binge watch something on Netflix. But Nate doesn’t need to know that. “Let’s wait until after you get your results.”
“My results?”
“Yeah. I already know you’re the other half of this.” I place my hand over my belly. “Youneed proof. Once you get that, we can talk.”
I turn away from him and continue the short trek to Robin’s van.
“Wait.” Nate says from behind me.
I stop and turn again. “Yes?”
I watch as he runs his hand through his hair. “Thanks again...” He gives me a small smile. A very small smile. “For doing this.”
I roll my eyes and lift a hand to give him a weak little wave. “Yep.” And I’m done with this for today. Walking as fast as I can, I get to Robin’s van, open the door, and slide in. “Go.”
Robin’s backing out and gunning the van out of the parking lot all while asking a multitude of questions like: “How was it? Was he cranky? Did he ask you any questions? Did he ask about the baby?”
Hedidn’task about the baby.
