“Sure. Feeling better?” She looks better than she did yesterday. A little more colour graces her high cheekbones. I hate that I keep noticing these things about her, but I do. I can’t help it. Reagan is stunning.
“Actually, that’s what I want to talk to you about.” She shuts the office door with a soft click, twisting her hands in front of her. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Reagan nervous. Even the first day we met, well, met again, she had a cool confidence about her. This is something entirely new.
“Are you okay?” My eyes track her as she drops into the seat across from my desk.
“I’ll be okay. But there’s something you need to know.”
Her chest rises as she takes a deep breath. As if she’s preparing herself for a hard conversation. Her eyes start moving around the office, taking everything in. I try not to shift in my chair, to tell her to get on with it, since I doubt that will help.
She blows out a breath, fixing her eyes on me. “I’m pregnant.”
“You’re what?” A lead weight settles in my stomach. She’s pregnant? My eyes go to her stomach, as if she’ll suddenly have swelled up overnight. It’s as if my brain shuts down, asking the question that I already know the answer to.
“And what do you need from me?”
Reagan looks like I struck her. “I’m telling you because it’s yours. You’re the father, Leo.”
I run a hand through the scruff on my jaw. A father? There’s no way I’m ready to be a father. I had shit examples growing up of what it meant to be a parent.
I stand, pacing the windows that face the harbour. The people below look like ants going about their day when my world has seemingly stopped up here.
“And you’re keeping the baby?”
“Yes.” Reagan’s voice is sure, steady. Much more confident now. Fuck, am I shoring up her resolve by being a wanker?
“When did you find out? I mean, you’re sure it’s mine?”
“I haven’t slept with anyone else since I got here. You don’t have to be such a dick.”
“Sorry. It’s just…not what I was expecting today.”
“And you think I was?” Reagan stands, turning furious eyes on me. The fire there would normally turn me on, but I’m ready to crawl into a hole at her stare. “This was the last thing I expected when I came to Sydney. I didn’t plan on sleeping with the first guy I met and then finding out he’s my boss. A boss who can be a huge dickhead when he really wants to be.” Her voice grows louder as she rounds the desk, stopping me in my tracks. “And I especially didn’t plan on him knocking me up!”
I wince. “Keep your voice down unless you want everyone in the office to know.”
She drops her hands in defeat. “I couldn’t care less if they find out right now. I have bigger problems to worry about. Like having a baby in a foreign country!”
Reagan faces the window, giving me her back. Fuck. I’m cocking this up. I go to stand by her, watching the boats come in and out. I used to love doing this as a kid, on the days my dad would take me and my brother.
“I’m sorry. This is just a huge surprise for me. That’s all.” My voice is quiet as I shift my gaze to her. Up close, I can see how tired she is. I can’t imagine what she’s going through. Not knowing anyone, being in a foreign country by yourself.
“It’s not like I planned on this happening.” Her voice is still defensive. She turns to me, steeling her gaze. “You don’t have to be involved. I get it; this wasn’t in the cards. But I’m keeping the baby. I just thought you should know.”
“Leo? Your next appointment is here.” Stella’s head pops in before ducking out.
“Shit. Listen, can we meet for lunch later?” The last thing I need is a meeting. Reagan looks like she’s ready to bolt, and all I need is more than a minute to process this.
“I’ve got a meeting with the developers in Queenstown to see if the patch is ready for the new search function.”
“Dinner?”
Reagan sighs, chewing on her bottom lip. “Sure.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. I was expecting her to say no and kick me to the curb. “My place. Say, seven? I’ll have dinner ready.”
“Nothing too smelly. My stomach is a tad sensitive right now.”
“What constitutes too smelly?”
