Page 41 of Unpredictable

“This is bad, man.” Reed sighs while pushing his fists into his eyes.

“Nah.” I flip through my notes. “Did you know my baby’s heart is already beating? Hell, it’s already looking more like a person than a tadpole.”

Keaton rips my laptop from my lap and sets it out of my reach. “I do now,” he mutters.

“Brooks, you realize you knocked someone up, right? Not just anyone either. You knocked V up. Victoria Davenport, our friend,” Finley says as if he’s talking to a child.

“I know. I couldn’t have picked a better mother for my child.” I shrug.

“For fuck’s sake, he’s drunk,” Reed tells Keaton before turning to me. “You realize you knocked up one of your best friends, right? We know, she knows, everyone knows how much you despise the thought of ever settling down, of ever having a kid, and now you are and you’re acting as if it’s not a big fucking deal,” he deadpans with wide eyes.

“I know.” I sigh as I stand and walk towards the same windows V looked out the first time she visited.

“Are you sure you want to live here?” she asks as she stares out at the view.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“You’re a freshman. You’re supposed to be in the dorms and causing problems for your RA and making friends.”

I pull her into me, her back to my chest.

“Why would I do that when I can stay here? They have a concierge service; the dorms don’t. Besides, you can come and go as you please here. If I stayed in the dorms, you would have to be out at a specific time and couldn’t stay,” I murmur while laying wet kisses along her neck.

“Hmm, that’s one benefit.”

The memory fades away.

“I didn’t ever want to settle down. I have no problem denying that. Hell, look at my childhood. I love my dad, but he has poor taste in women, starting with my mother. Every woman he has ever been with has never truly wanted him, only his bank account. They stick around long enough to get what they want, and they leave in the dead of the night with the fucking pool boy.” I pause. “I’ll give it to him, he tries. He fucking tries to make them happy. Taking them on exotic trips, even if it means missing his only child’s graduation. Buying them whatever they want. He gives, gives, and gives, and all they do is take. It’s toxic and after a while will make the most romantic person jaded. So, honestly, who could blame me for being anti-love?”

“Dude, our parents’ fuckups are not ours to take on.” Keaton runs his hand through his hair.

“Yeah, well, when your stepmother comes on to you, let me know if that doesn’t change your opinion.” I sneer at the memory.

“But this is V. Not your stepmother or any other woman,” he tells me without breaking eye contact.

“It’s V, which is why it’s okay.”

“Okay, why is knocking V up okay but not another woman?” Finley muses.

“Because it’s Victoria Davenport. She’s not after my money; she has her own. Which means every time we were together, it was because she wanted me.” I hit my chest with my fist. “Me. Not my money, not my name, not what I could possibly give her, but the guy she’s known since we were little kids. Victoria has no ulterior motives, and if she wants something, she will do it herself, which makes her perfect for me. I can trust her where I can’t trust anyone else.”

“Are you saying you don’t trust Tinsley or Sage?” Finley asks, thoroughly confused.

I wave off his comment. “I do, but they aren’t warming my bed.”

“Thank God,” Reed says under his breath. “So, if you’re suddenly on board with this, then what’s your plan?”

“Whatever it is, I hope it’s good. This may be your only shot at fatherhood if Sage has her way.” Keaton snickers.

“Fuck you,” I say with no heat.

“Plan, Brooks, what’s your plan? Do you want V and the baby, or do you only want the baby? Because let me tell you now, if you plan on taking that baby away from her, you’re a dead man,” Reed says before we can get sidetracked.

“God no, I would never,” I say harshly before sighing. “This is what I have so far.”

???

Chapter Twelve

---