Page 69 of One Pucking Surprise
“That’s a terrible idea,” I mutter, but his words hit deeper than I care to admit.
“Kids change everything,” Wyatt says softly. “They make you better, even when you don’t think you’re ready. Trust me. I’d give anything to go back and do it right with Chloe from the start. Don’t make the same mistake I did.”
I nod reluctantly, his words settling in the pit of my stomach. “Jasper is a cool kid.”
Wyatt smirks, the mood lightening just a fraction. “Of course he is. He’s my kid.”
I laugh despite myself, shaking my head. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Damn right,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder. “Now, go take a shower. You smell like regret.”
Later, back in the locker room, I’m lacing up my sneakers when my phone buzzes on the bench beside me. I glance at the screen and see Lainey’s name.
Lainey: Doctor’s appointment tomorrow at 3. Can you come?
My stomach twists, but I don’t hesitate. My thumbs hover over the screen before I type a reply.
Zach: I’ll be there.
Whatever happens between us—whether we stay in this fake relationship or not—I’m not going to mess this up. I don’t know what kind of dad I’ll be or if I’ll ever figure out how to do this right, but I’ll be there for her. For the baby.
As I sling my bag over my shoulder and head out of the locker room, one thought sticks in my mind: A one-night stand. A fake relationship. And now, a baby. My life isn’t just off-plan. It’s a whole new game.
Chapter 25
Lainey
I’msittinginthewaiting room, my knee bouncing uncontrollably as I stare at the glossy parenting magazines stacked haphazardly on the table in front of me. The sterile smell of antiseptic fills the air, mingling with the low hum of muted conversations and the occasional crackle of the receptionist’s intercom.
My appointment. My first OB-GYN appointment.
I glance at the door for the hundredth time, my heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread. Zach said he’d come, but it’s hard to imagine him walking into a place like this, let alone sitting here, waiting to hear about a baby.
Our baby.
What if he doesn’t?
I take a deep breath, trying to quell the rising panic. He doesn’t have to come. I can handle this on my own.
“Hey.”
The deep, familiar voice snaps me out of my spiraling thoughts. I look up, and there he is—Zach, standing in the doorway, baseball cap pulled low, sunglasses in hand. He’s slightly out of breath, his sharp green eyes scanning the room before landing on me.
Relief floods my chest, but I keep my expression neutral. “You made it.”
“Told you I would,” he says, moving toward me. His voice is quieter now, a bit softer, as though he senses the weight of where we are.
“Traffic?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
He shrugs, grinning faintly. “Had to park two blocks away. Apparently, half the city had the same idea to go to the doctor today.”
I almost smile, but then the nurse calls my name, and my stomach flips again.
“Right this way,” she says, holding the door open.
Zach steps back, gesturing for me to go ahead, but he doesn’t hesitate to follow.
The exam room is small, with light green walls and posters detailing fetal development pinned up like they’re part of a gallery. I sit awkwardly on the edge of the table, my legs swinging slightly as I fidget with the hem of myshirt. Zach takes the chair in the corner, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
