“That would be you and Rosie.” Listening to those two in the same room together was enough to give anyone an earache. “I get along just fine with the good doctor.”
Conor crossed his arms over his too-tight crop top. “The good doctor? What’s going on here?”
“Maybe I needed to get to know her a bit better. Anyone who can spend time showing a kid some backyard wildlife can’t be all bad.”
My phone buzzed, and I checked it, expecting a message from Franky. This message was from my dad. He had sent photos of the boys: Ezra was a skeleton while Liam wore a Transformers costume. Behind them Nick stood with a vampire outfit while Paige was dressed as a nurse.
I was far too old to let this bother me, but every time he checked in like this, I was reminded of the Halloweens I went without him, the holidays he spent with his new family, and the shit he had pulled at every turn.
One more thing came to mind, with a thumping drumbeat: I will not be like you.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Franky
* * *
It was going to be hard to stay away from Jason.
Not that I had to stay away from him. After all, we were both adults and any time we spent together could be done in an adult fashion (not that kind of adult). Jason had every right to be involved, which was the only reason I had agreed to meet with him in Adeline’s childhood bedroom.
Only now, I wasn’t so sure. For a start, there was a bed. Expected for a bedroom, but not helpful when I needed to be looking at Jason as the father of my child and nothing else.
Not as sexy.
Not as attractive.
Not as possessed of amazing forearms and even more stellar thighs.
We should meet for coffee—well, coffee for him and tea for me—in a public place or at a doctor’s office for my first major appointment. The initial one tomorrow was a confirmation of pregnancy with my GP, but I would have to see a gynecologist in a couple of months for a more complete checkup. Jason could come with me. If he wanted to.
Where was he? I couldn’t hang around here for much longer. It looked suspicious.
The door opened, and in he came, but he didn’t look too pleased about it.
“What’s happened?”
He closed the door behind him and blew out a breath. “Conor.”
“Is everything okay?”
“He’s suspicious of us. Or why we’re talking to each other.”
“Okay.” Conor was the least of my problems.
Jason took a seat on the bed beside me, still visibly on edge. “And my dad’s a jerk.”
Ah, that made more sense. “Generally or specifically?”
“Generally. But tonight he sent a picture of his family, so specifically, I guess.”
“Can I see?”
He opened his phone and handed it to me.
“They’re cute. How well do you know them?”
“Theo knows them better, but now that I’m back in Chicago, I’ve been hanging out with them more. I would just rather not see my father.”
