Page 30 of Rescuing Tobias

“They both thought something more was going on, and they ambushed me and told me to take a test. Well, ambushed me in the nicest possible way since they’re both sweethearts. I didn't think there could be any way I was pregnant because we usedprotection. But I guess we’re the unlucky two percent. Or lucky two percent, depending on how you look at it.”

Given he was still not doing anything, Tobias would consider them unlucky.

“First thing I did was book a flight here. You’re the father, and you have a right to know. I'm not asking you for anything. I know you didn't want a relationship, and I know you don’t even want to be friends with me since you never replied to my texts.”

She would have sworn he winced slightly at that, but she wasn't positive.

“You can be as involved or not involved as you want to be, but I'm keeping this baby. I want it, and it’s the first thing that’s actually gotten me excited since you found me. Well, I suppose the second thing.”

When his gaze shifted ever so slightly, she caught it, begged it to hold onto hers. She needed him to come back to her, snap out of his shock, and tell her what he was thinking. The whole journey there, she’d been trying to decide what he’d think, but she didn't know him well enough to judge.

It was killing her, she had to know, not just whether he could accept their baby, but whether he could accept her, at least in some capacity, in his life.

He had to know he was the first thing that had made her feel alive. Didn't he?

Maybe he believed her spiel about only wanting one night. Heck, at the time she’d believed it, too. But it wasn't true. She wanted more with him. Wanted at least a chance to get to know him and see where things stood after that.

This pregnancy could give them that time. They had eight months to find out if they could be compatible, if they could fall for one another. Eight months to decide if they would be coparents or parent as a couple.

Only Tobias still wasn't doing anything, and her hope was dwindling.

“Please,” she begged. “Say something. Tell me what you're thinking.”

Ever so slowly, Tobias took a step back, eased the freezer door closed, then dragged his fingers down his face. When he looked over at her for a second, she saw a wealth of emotions flash across his face: fear, surprise, regret, guilt, remorse. But then it was gone, and he was completely blank.

That couldn’t be good.

“I don’t want to be involved,” he said, so simply like they were talking about dinner and not a major life-altering situation. There was no anger in his tone, no blame, nothing at all really. It was completely neutral, and he looked at her like they were strangers.

Even though she had known it would be a possibility, his words struck her heart like arrows.

“I know it’s a shock, but you don’t have to make any decisions right now. Think about it,” she told him, hating the pleading quality to her tone because she’d always been independent and didn't like asking anyone for anything. While she could do this alone, she didn't want to. She wanted to do it with her baby’s father.

“There’s nothing to think about. I don’t want to be involved. I don’t want a baby. I will sign away my parental rights, and I will contribute financially. I don’t want this to be a burden to you.”

His words would have been cruel if he’d used an angry tone, but since he hadn’t, they just felt factual. Real. He really didn't want to think about it, wait for the shock to wear off, and then sit down with her and have a discussion.

Throwing her and their baby away was this easy for Tobias.

She guessed she should at least be grateful that he hadn't questioned paternity. Oddly enough, she’d been prepared forthat outcome, but not for him to just calmly tell her he was opting out of the whole thing.

Angry tears burned the backs of her eyes. How could this be so unemotional to him? She’d just told him he was having a baby, and whether he wanted to be involved or not, it didn't change the fact that a child with his DNA would be walking around.

“We don’t want your money,” she told him, unable to keep the hurt and anger from coming through. “If you don’t want to be involved, then don’t be. I won't bother putting your name on the birth certificate, so you won't have to worry about signing away parental rights.”

“I want to support you financially.”

“Tough. I don’t want your money.” What she wanted was his support, his friendship, maybe one day his love.

But not his money.

“Tough,” he said back, using that same dispassionate, impersonal tone. “I'm not going to have you struggling when it’s my obligation to contribute. I know you're stubborn, but I’m fifty percent responsible for this situation, and I’ll pay my fair share. Now it would probably be a good idea if you left.”

Actually, it would have been a better idea if she’d never gone there at all.

CHAPTER 10

April 15th

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