Page 76 of Pregnant By the Playboy
“Maybe you could think about changing that,” she says. “Though I understand how you’re quite far from the immigrant experience, and that’s a lot of the focus of your family’s organization. If you hated being Asian, I’d say you need to work on changing your attitude, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. I’m not sure what you should do, but you’re clearly intelligent and I think you’ll be happiest if you find another outlet. You’re lucky. You don’t need money, and you have the time and resources to do whatever you want.”
But how am I supposed to know what else I want?
“You and Baby are the most important things to me.” I take her hand.
“That’s fine,” she says. “It doesn’t need to be anything big. Though I think it would be good if you could give back. Just the thought of me and the baby being your whole life, well, it’s a lot of pressure, you know?”
I nod.
She gives me a smile and turns over so her back is against my chest. I wrap my arms around her and feel content yet a little on edge at the same time.
“You thought you’d come to love me,” she says, and I think she purposely didn’t want to see my face for this. “Have you?”
“Yes.”
I hold her close and kiss her neck. I do love her, and I admire the way she’s level-headed and balanced, things that no one ever says about me. She’s got the “normal” life that I never really imagined having, but now, it has an appeal I didn’t understand before.
I wait for her to say she loves me, too, but she doesn’t.
She cares for me and trusts me and takes me seriously, though...and that’s a lot more than before. She also enjoys having me in her bed again.
It bugs me that she can’t say it back, but I have hope that will soon change.
Chapter 21
Marissa
The following Sunday, Vince picks me up at five to take me to his parents’ for dinner.
I’m wearing a dress, which had not been my initial plan, but the pants I’d planned to wear aren’t very comfortable now. So, dress it is.
His parents live near the Bridle Path. We pull up to a brick house that isn’t as grand as the newer gray stone homes flanking it on either side, but it’s still a million miles from the apartment in Scarborough where I spent my childhood.
“This is where you grew up?” I ask Vince as he pulls into the driveway.
“We moved here when I was two or three, yeah.”
There are three garage doors—three!—landscaped gardens, and a large tree in the front yard. The branches are bare now, but soon, it’ll be covered in green leaves.
“I’m nervous.” I hadn’t meant to tell him that, but there it is.
“Don’t worry. They’ll love you.” Vince smiles at me. “You’re very lovable.”
“That’s because you know what’s under this dress.”
“And I hope to enjoy it again tonight.” He waggles his eyebrows then leans across the console and puts his hand on my stomach. “Hi, Baby. It’s time to visit your father’s family! They’re very excited to meet you.”
Oh, man. This guy.
I always wanted the Fongs to be a part of my child’s life, but I didn’t think I’d see them often. But now, I’m starting to wonder if Vince will play another role in my life other than the father of my child, and that’s partly why I’m nervous.
I’ve met a boyfriend’s parents before, and I can handle that. This situation is a little different, though, because I’m pregnant and everyone knows it. Also, it must be more than a decade since he’s brought a woman to meet his family.
Interesting that I’ve started thinking of Vince as my boyfriend.
“I should probably mention something.” He runs his hand through his hair. “Shit, I should have mentioned it earlier.”
I immediately stiffen. “What?”
