Page 99 of Sexting the Single Pakhan

Laurel’s eyes snap to mine, wide, panicked, glistening.

“The what now?”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Laurel

I’m beyond stunned to find Leonid standing right in front of me, tall, broad, dressed in a charcoal suit.

What is he doing here? How did he even find me? The only person who knows I’m coming to the hospital is Tasha. There’s no way she could have called him.

The nurse smiles politely, clipboard in hand. “Ms. Harper, if you’ll follow me, you need to change into the gown. The doctor will be with you shortly.”

She turns and walks away down the hallway. I stare after her for half a second, frozen, then force my legs to move. Leonid falls into step beside me immediately.

“The father of what?” he asks, voice low and urgent. “What’s going on, Laurel?”

I ignore him. I can’t even look at him right now. My pulse is roaring in my ears, my stomach churning. I push through the door into the small exam room, drop my purse on the chair, and start fumbling with the zipper at the back of my dress.

He follows me in, closing the door behind him. “Laurel. Talk to me. Why are you here? What was the nurse talking about?”

I spin on him, anger boiling over. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be with your girlfriend?”

His brows snap together. “Girlfriend? What the hell are you talking about?”

I scoff. “Oh, please. The audacity. You looked me right in the eye outside your office last week while you had your hand on another woman’s back. You got in that car with her and drove off like I didn’t exist. And now you want to play dumb?”

He opens his mouth, but I’m already turning away, yanking at the zipper again. My fingers shake so badly I can’t get it down.

He steps behind me without a word. Warm hands brush mine aside, and he slides the zipper down in one smooth motion.

“When I explain,” he says quietly, “you’ll realize it isn’t what it seems.”

I spin to face him again, dress slipping off my shoulders. “Oh really? Because it seemed like you moved on. Two weeks, Leonid. Two weeks was all it took for you to replace me. So much for fighting for what’s yours.”

Tears burn behind my eyes. I turn away so he can’t see them, shoving the dress down my hips and stepping out of it. I’m in nothing but my bra and panties now, but I don’t care. Not like it’s the first time he’s seeing me in a state of undress.

I grab the thin paper gown from the hook, shrug it on, and tie it at the back with jerky movements.

He’s still standing there, silently watching me. It’s my first appointment with the OB-GYN. Tasha was supposed to come with me, but she got held up. I had told her I’d be fine on my own. Now I wish she were here.

I sink onto the exam table, arms crossed over my chest. Leonid stands a few feet away, hands shoved in his pockets, looking like he’s been hit by a truck. I feel his gaze on me, but I don’t look up.

He finally speaks, voice low and rough. “I’m sorry for ignoring you that day outside the office. It’s not what you think—”

“I don’t care what it seems, I just have one question,” I say quietly. “Why were you still having things delivered to my apartment? Flowers. Groceries. Helping my mom get into rehab? Why? If you’d already moved on?”

He steps closer. His thumb brushes my cheek, wiping away tears I didn’t realize were still falling. “Because I haven’t moved on,” he says, voice thick. “Nothing has changed. Not for me.”

I open my mouth, shocked, but a knock on the door saves me from having to respond.

“Come in,” I call, voice steadier than I feel.

A middle-aged woman in a white coat enters, smiling warmly. “Ms. Harper? I’m Dr. Ramirez. Ready when you are.”

I nod, lying back on the table, heart hammering.

Dr. Ramirez glances between Leonid and me, smile widening. “I take it he’s the father?”