Page 54 of Abel

“I mean you don’t just get to demand things of me.”

“You’re damn right I do. You have a lot of explaining to do.”

“No, I don’t. I have nothing to say to you.” My voice cracks as the lie is set free. I step down from the exam table, never looking away from him. “Just because we had one of the best nights of my life doesn’t mean you suddenly own me.”

“Since I was the one to give you one of the best nights of your life, that’s exactly what it means. I was trying to give you more than that, but you left.” He shouts. “You fucking left me, Ivy, and the next time I see you… You’re pregnant and telling me that I’m not the father.” Yup. “How do you expect me to feel?Whatdo you expect me to feel?”

I’m not sure what the right or wrong answer is, so I offer him the only one I’ve got. “The only thing I can say is that I’m sorry.”

“Bull fucking shit. I know that baby is mine.You’regonna be mine.” He says, moving away from me and grabbing his clipboard. “Don’t bother giving me your phone number, I’ve already got it.” And with that, he storms out.

“That’s patient confidentiality.” I shout after him.

“Tough fucking titties!” He shouts, throwing being professional out of the window.

The door opens right after he slams it. “What was that all about?” I recognize Emily from the bar. “Oh hey, Ivy, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, come on, let’s get you scheduled for your ultrasound and next appointment.” I follow behind her like the lost puppy I’m sure I look like.

How did I get myself into this?

Chapter Twenty-One

Abel

Storming back into my office, I slam the clipboard down. “Fuck!” I yell, not caring who hears me. She was fucking right there, and I walked out on her instead of making her come back to my place, holding her hostage and demanding she tell me the truth.

I don’t give a fuck what she says, that dude is not the father of that baby.

They both said they weren’t a couple, plus he was giving off some major same sex orientational vibes.

I’m the father.

And I’m going to prove it.

Collecting a sample of tissue from her placenta will be easy. I’ll have it ordered when she comes back for her ultrasound.

My mind is made up, and I don’t fucking care how much trouble I can get into for doing something like this, but I have to know.

That woman has haunted my dreams, my every waking hour, and every single minute in between. There isn’t much timewhere thoughts of her don’t occupy my mind, and I was going to find her sooner rather than later.

I knew from the moment I set eyes on her that she was going to be it for me.

I can’t believe after all this time, I’ve finally found her.

She has no idea, but now that I’ve got her, she’s mine.

And I’ll never let her go.

“Um, Abel?” Em says, poking her head inside my office. “Care to tell me what the hell happened back there?

A dry, “No.” Is all I say because I don’t want to talk about it.

“You don’t have to be a dick about it, but if I read the situation correctly… You guys left things on bad terms, and now she’s pregnant. Something tells me you didn’t know, just like you don’t know if you’re the father or not.”

“Thanks, Em, for your impeccable observations that no one asked for.”

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