Page 67 of I Wanna Be Your Lager

“You’re a real dick.” I shake my head. While the cash would be nice, the payoff makes me feel cheap. Maybe it’s pride, but I would rather do this without his hush money than be paid off. “You want to buy me off now?”

“I may have to pay you in payments to keep it a secret. But I can move some money around in a few accounts?—”

“It’s called child support. Unless you want to sign your rights over, then you don’t have to pay anything.” I drop my head to my hand. “Look, I really wish you weren’t the father. But you are, unfortunately. Just so you know, I’m more than happy to do this without you. I’d much prefer it that way. But I also can’t deny you the right.” Even though I wish I could. “I just wanted to tell you because it’s the right thing to do.” I throw up another silent prayer that Satan’s Butthole actually does sign over his rights. That would make things a hell of a lot easier. Bonus. I would never have to deal with him again. You didn’t give me my first prayer, you could do me a solid and give me this one.

“Are you moving back?” he asks.

“No. I’m staying in Harbor Highlands. Alright, so there—I told you. Goodbye.”

There’s nothing but silence on the other end. He says nothing. Since I’m done talking, I press end. Flopping onto the couch, I cover my eyes with my forearm. I’m relieved that’s over.I’m stressed as fuck, but relieved, nonetheless. If he wants to be in the baby’s life, we’ll make it work, but I certainly don’t want him in mine.

I still have ninety-nine problems, but telling Fuck Face isn’t one of them. Now it’s telling Jake, which might be the scariest one of them all since it’ll be like a gut punch and a right hook simultaneously. I pick up my phone again and send a message to Lach.

Eve

I told Pax about the pregnancy. Now we wait and see what he wants to do.

Lach

I’m right by your side. Every step of the way.

A flutter fills my chest. Like millions of butterflies taking flight. Why couldn’t I have met Lach like five years ago instead of two and a half months ago? Maybe my life would look a lot different from how it looks now. I could still have my studio. This baby could have been Lach’s. We could be planning our future together instead of planning how we’re going to tell my brother. Hell, I would even take four months—then this baby could be his instead of the dickhead’s.

Eve

Now that we have slain one dragon, how are we going to tell the other one?

Lach

Abandoning our lives and running away to Europe together isn’t an option?

Eve

As tempting as that sounds, probably not. I hated the cross-country move, and one across the pond sounds less appealing.

Lach

Worth a shot. We’ll talk later and come up with a plan.

Eve

Then afterward, we get to reward ourselves for creating such an amazing plan.

Lach

That’s kind of what got us here in the first place.

Eve

Then we’ve come full circle.

I just hope the circle doesn’t explode into a fiery ball of we-fucked-this-up.

THIRTY-THREE

ARE YOU READING MY BOOK?

Lach

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