Page 46 of Unpredictable

“Then we can be friends.”

I give her a small smile. Not what I wanted, but it’s a start. “Great. I better text the guys and tell them it’s okay to come back.”

“Yeah, you should.” I turn to leave the room, but her voice stops me. “Hey, Sterling? I need something else from you.”

My heart races as I turn around to face her. “Anything,” I echo my earlier words.

“We need to tell my parents. I would love if you were there with me.” The look on her face tells me she expects me to say no. The old Sterling would have avoided anything to do with parents.

Not the new Sterling.

“Of course, babe. I’ll be by your side the entire time. Name the time and place.”

The relief on her face is the first brick coming down from the wall around her heart.

“Thanks.”

???

Chapter Thirteen

“Thank you for making time to sit down with me today,” I tell Mr. and Mrs. Davenport as we meet in the kitchen of their home.

Victoria had a rough morning with morning sickness. As she cried to me over the phone, her main complaint was she couldn’t call her mother to come help her.

I made the decision for her and told her we were finally telling them.

It’s been two weeks since we decided to be friends. She let me come over and spend time with her, but so far, she has been leery of letting me actually help her. She has a doctor’s appointment next week, and I’m hoping she will let me go. I asked her, but she wasn’t too keen on the idea.

Maybe moving her talk with her parents forward will earn me some brownie points… or she could kill me.

Victoria walks into the room moments later, having been summoned by Thomas.

“What are you doing here, Sterling?”

She’s pale with dark circles around her eyes. It’s obvious she hasn’t been sleeping well.

I stand up, holding my hand out to her. She takes it as I guide her to the chair next to mine.

“What are you doing?” she whispers.

“It’s time. Let’s tell them so your mom can help you, babe.”

She shoots me a glare but sits down anyway.

“What’s going on with you two?” Mrs. Davenport eyes us both.

“We have something to tell you,” Victoria starts.

I can tell she’s nervous. Hell, I would be a liar if I said that I wasn’t sitting here about to shit my pants with fear. Mr. Davenport is eyeing me suspiciously as his daughter continues to avoid eye contact.

Reaching under the table, I place one hand on her knee. Her hand immediately covers mine, intertwining our fingers.

“This doesn’t look good, Alice.” Mr. Davenport leans forward, placing his elbows on the table to steeple his hands in front of him. “What is it?”

Victoria looks at me then back to her parents. “Mom, Dad,” she starts, but freezes.

“Sir, I’m in love with your daughter and have been for a long time. During that time, we explored our feelings for one another. As a result, we’re having a child.”