Didn't Expect You (Against All Odds Book 2)

by Claudia Burgoa

  “So, do you think you’re having a girl or hoping that the baby is a girl?” I ask.

  She frowns and scrunches her nose. “Neither one, but you’re right I keep calling the baby a she. This tiny one needs a name, so I stop stereotyping it.”

  I suggest other names and she’s laughing at every stupid thing I mention. Fetus Cletus is her least favorite.

  “You can call it B.o.B.,” I suggest.

  “Battery operated boyfriend?” she asks, and I laugh.

  “No, baby on board,” I clarify, but still laugh because I should’ve thought about the first one before I opened my mouth.

  When we’re done eating breakfast, I say, “I’m heading to the office, but text me if you need anything.”

  “Like double chocolate ice cream?” she asks, giving me a mischievous smile.

  “Are you craving ice cream?”

  “No, but I’d like to know what the limits are,” she explains.

  “Anything goes. You’re my guest and I’m committed to providing you with anything you need while you stay with me.”

  “For what’s worth it, Bronwyn missed a great man.”

  “Did she?” I ask. “Maybe I was a terrible boyfriend.”

  “If you had been that terrible, she wouldn’t have tried to pass Wyatt as yours,” she suggests, and I wonder if she’s right.

  Before Bronwyn, I’ve never had a long-term relationship, and after her, I slept my way around the world. Now, I don’t even know what I want when it comes to my romantic life. Is it even worth it to put myself out there?

  My life is good. I don’t have the time or space to contemplate the possibility of another heartbreak. There’s nothing I can offer, and I’m pretty sure love is about reciprocating. I’m content. No, I’m happy, living my best life.

  “Maybe I was a shitty guy, but I had money and that was enough for her.”

  “Were you the perfect boyfriend? I can’t answer you that question, but maybe she could’ve talked to you about what she was feeling, what she was missing, or how she wanted the relationship to be. Some people don’t like monogamous relationships, and if that’s the case, they should be looking for someone who shares her ideologies and not… I’m sorry. I’m talking too much, aren’t I?”

  I shake my head, “Everything you say and ask is valid.”

  Those are the questions I should’ve asked back then. Why is it that during that period I just took whatever Bronwyn gave me without inquiring anything further?

  “Again, call me if you need me,” I repeat, kissing the top of her head.

  “Frozen yogurt when you’re on your way back home,” she calls after me, and I smile wondering if she’s trying me or dead serious about the craving.

  Twenty-Three

  Nate

  On my way to the office, I receive a call from Ford.

  “T’sup?” I answer through the Bluetooth.

  “Are you twenty?” he mocks me.

  “Ford,” I grunt. “I’m not in the mood to deal with crap.”

  “Did a mean kid bully you in the sandbox?” His taunting tone is not sitting well.

  My assistant just called to let me know that I received a package from the New York office. A package from Bronwyn, to be exact. She doesn’t know where I live, but she can still reach me through my corporate offices.

  What does she want now?

  The last time she sent something was over the holidays. It was an ornament Wyatt made especially for me. Also, a request for a loan. She’s still freelancing because paying childcare so she can go to work isn’t worth it, and I made her quit.

  He’s five. Shouldn’t he be in school already? How would I know? He’s not my kid, and I’m not privy to what he does. I didn’t fall for her blackmailing, nor will I fall for it this time. She’s lucky I didn’t take away the trust fund I set up for him when he was born, which he can’t touch until he’s twenty-five.

  “Love you, man, but you’re not the funny one of this duo,” I remind him. “What can I do for you?”

  “Can I ask what the fuck are you doing?”

  “Yes, as soon as you give me some context,” I answer.

  “Nyx,” he answers. “I told you to stay away from her and now she’s living with you.”

  I laugh, because really, he makes this sound like a love affair when it’s only just lending a hand to someone in need. I’m doing it for Nyx but also for him. After all, if things go well with Persy, he’d want me to get along with his in-laws, right?

  “Man, I love you, but you’re getting it all wrong. There’s nothing between us. This is a favor to a friend. If you think puking leads to sex, then you’re in for a treat when you knock up your girlfriend.”

  He growls. “This still sounds like a bad idea.”

  My brother isn’t too social. I have to speak his language.

  “It’s pretty simple and nothing bad. I offered her my house because she needs time to think about her future. She reminds me a lot of you.”

  “Me?” He sounds doubtful.

  “Yep. Before she can deal with shit, she needs time to think. I’m providing her a safe space away from her family,” I explain. “The same way I do for you. Not sure how much you know about your in-laws, but they are a handful.”

  A handful is putting it mildly, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t appreciate them. I could see myself hanging out with them often. They are a riot. Octavio and I could spend hours crafting beer, hiking, or maybe even building stuff. He’s fun.

  “They are different,” he says, and I’m wondering if this will be a deal breaker for him.

  Mr. and Mrs. Brassard have no boundaries. I caught them having sex, and from what I learned from Nyx and Eros, it’s not the first time and they don’t give a shit about it.

  “Not sure if you’ll be able to handle them, but they are cool,” I reassure him. “Just nosy…”

  “Persy has warned me a few times. They aren’t the problem. I just need you to swear that there’s nothing going on between you and Nyx, Nathaniel.” he insists.

  “Nothing,” I assure him, but maybe the word comes out harshly.

  Am I lying when I say I sound so definitive? We shared a kiss almost a week ago.

  Just a kiss. Nothing more than that…but was it really just the meeting of two sets of lips, the fusing of two mouths, or am I trying to play down what really happened that night?

  Oh, fuck. She made me doubt everything, even the meaning of the few beats we shared during the kiss.

  I still question what really happened between us that night. Did I kiss her because I wanted to feel something or because there was a real pull between us that made it happen?

  Have I entertained the possibilities of what could happen if I insist on pursuing this? Is there really something going on between us?

  With her current situation… I force myself to stop thinking about her.

  “Who pissed you off?” he asks.

  My fucking head that’s confused as fuck, your call, my ex…

  “Bronwyn keeps trying to reach me,” I growl, deciding this is the safest subject to discuss with him.

  If I avoid his questions, he’s going to drag his girlfriend to Seattle and take Nyx away from me. I’m not ready to see her go.

  Again with the convoluted thoughts and ambiguous feelings, Nathaniel. Stop it.

  “Not that I know much shit about feelings, but you’re still hung up on her,” he concludes. “Maybe you should talk to her.”

  What the fuck does that mean? Is he telling me that this woman he just started dating is his forever? This is exactly why our parents divorced, why divorces are on the rise. We don’t think and just pull the trigger. I almost became a statistic. Also, Nyx just told me I’m making Bronwyn out to be more than she really was. Both thoughts crash against each other, and I feel as if my head is about to explode.

  Since he can’t understand me, I can explain to him what’s happening. I try to put him in my shoes. “If Persy did what Bronwyn did, wou
ld you forgive her?”

  “I can’t see myself without her, but I also don’t think she’d fuck me the way Bronwyn did to you,” he replies. “I’m not saying go back to her and patch up your relationship. I’m saying get closure and find a good therapist. It might help you look forward to something more. You might not fall in love the way you did with Bronwyn, but that doesn’t mean there’s no one else worth loving.”

  I stare at the dashboard, making sure I’m speaking to Langford Chadwick and not some friend or a computer program he created. Some days he makes me think that computers have more emotions than him. The name on the screen says, Ford. My jaw almost drops because really, who is this guy?

  What he says compliments a lot of what Nyx was telling me earlier while we were having breakfast.

  “What happened to you, man?”

  “Persy,” he answers, and I swear I could almost see emoji hearts coming out of the speaker.

  This is so freaking hilarious, and I’d be mocking him if I wasn’t in the middle of my own existential crisis.

  “Dude, you’ve been listening to your girlfriend’s shit for too long. I swear I feel like I just went to the shrink. At least you didn’t charge me a penny for that,” I try to joke, but really, I feel like he just gave me a lot to think about. “So, why did you call me?”

  I’m so distracted I can’t even remember how we began this conversation. Should I reach out to Bronwyn and tell her to stop trying to contact me? Then, I could figure out her real motives and get closure.

  What if she never married Wyatt’s Dad? Would I forgive her? Doubtful. Is there someone out there for me that will take the little I can offer?

  And the only person I can think of is Nyx. Would she even entertain the possibility of having anything to do with me?

  All these thoughts might be Ford’s doing.

  This is definitely the result of my twin’s newfound life. He has never fallen in love in his entire life. Now that he’s with Persy, he’s making me feel like I’m going to be left behind. He’s messing with my head. Am I holding onto Nyx because that’ll keep me closer to him?

  It’s just for a breath that I entertain that thought because really, Ford and I barely saw each other while we were in New York. Being with one sister doesn’t guarantee that the other will be around, and I’m perfectly fine with it.

  What is it then?

  Just live and forget about everything else.

  I don’t need a therapist, and I definitely don’t need to reach out to Bronwyn. I have to plan a vacation where I spend half of the time jumping from planes, rafting, and finding extreme activities while during the other half I fuck women that will help me erase the uneasiness inside my chest.

  “Listen, my woman is worried about her sister, so please keep an eye on her,” he says, and his voice comes out harsher than I care to listen to. “I’m not sure why Nyx trusts you but…just be mindful, okay? Don’t fuck this for me.”

  There it is. He’s concerned that I’m going to break his new toy.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk this much in my life,” I conclude. "Yes, I’ll take care of her. Talk to you later.”

  I hang up because we can be on the phone for hours discussing the many ways I can fuck this up, how he’s not thinking straight, or… We get along well, but we also know how to fight. After all, we are brothers.

  Twenty-Four

  Nate

  My day goes as usual. When I arrive home around six, I find Nyx and Brock on the couch. She’s asleep with another open book laying on her chest. Instead of waking her up, I march to one of the guest rooms and grab a blanket to cover her.

  Brock is right behind me.

  “Hey, boy. Did you have a good day with Nyx?”

  He barks once and nuzzles my leg as I pet the top of his head. I don’t know what this dog is going to do when she leaves, but I hope he survives her absence. He’s too enamored with her. Last night, after all the back and forth trips from her bedroom to the bathroom, he ended up sleeping with her. I wanted to tell her that he’s not allowed to sleep on beds, but I didn’t have the heart to take that away from either one of them.

  Demetri isn’t going to be happy about Brock’s behavior, but this time he can only blame Nyx.

  “We can convince her to stay longer,” I suggest, and he gives me a skeptical look. “I agree, that might be impossible, but we can try.”

  Once I’m back in the living room, I snag the book carefully and set it up on the coffee table. I lay the blanket on top of her. When I pull it down to cover her feet, I realize she has a ring on her pinky toe, an anklet with an infinity symbol charm, and a tattoo on her ankle. It reads,

  Joie De Vivre

  It makes me wonder if there’s more underneath that she’s hiding. I don’t speak French, but I know that phrase. It means something like joy of living.

  There’s no doubt in my mind that there is a lot more of Nyx Brassard beneath what she lets everyone see. How am I supposed to find out if I’m right when we’re in an awkward place? Her life has shifted permanently; I’m the fucking tin man.

  I wish we had met a few years ago, or—

  Stopping myself from thinking anything further, I kiss her forehead. Focusing on the ifs is just a loss of precious time and energy.

  “Come on, boy,” I whisper to Brock. “Let’s take you outside.”

  I open the door for him and watch him run around the backyard chasing birds. The sound of rustling inside the house makes me turn around, and I spot Nyx watching me from the couch.

  “Hey, sleeping beauty,” I greet her.

  Her lips stretch showing me that sweet, breathtaking smile that I’m growing fond of as we spend more time together.

  “How are you feeling?” I ask her.

  “Tired,” she answers with a yawn. “What time is it?”

  “Only a few minutes past six,” I answer.

  She gasps, “I meant to cook dinner for us. My plan was to read a chapter. I swear it was two o’clock just a few minutes ago.”

  “You didn’t sleep much last night,” I remind her. “Don’t be harsh on yourself, okay. What else did you do today?”

  She briefs me about the wrongful termination lawsuit they’ll be serving her former employer late next week. And she found a place where they can do a non-invasive paternity test.

  “We can’t do it until I’m at least eight weeks pregnant,” she states.

  “Which according to your calendar is on the thirty first, if I recall correctly.”

  “You have an amazing memory. I scheduled my appointment, and Edward’s,” she adds. “He was avoiding me until his cousin threatened to involve the courts if he didn’t agree to provide us with his sample.”

  Sounds like bluffing to me, so I ask, “Can he really force him to do it?”

  “Doubtful,” she answers and grins. “We’d have to wait until the baby is born and by then, it’d be Edward pushing for it to show me that he has no part in the baby’s life and he doesn’t have to pay child support—which I don’t need him to do. In most cases, you wait until the baby is born to establish paternity. This is different. There aren’t any precedents that we could find in the state of Colorado.

  “Waiting until this can become a mess isn’t an option for me though. I just want him to either sign the papers or think about his part in the baby’s life. Though, since Edward is pretty ignorant about family law and fearful of his cousin, he agreed,” she informs me.

  “Remind me who this Pierce is,” I ask.

  “My mentor and the guy who is helping me with the wrongful termination case,” she answers. “He asked me if I could drive down to Oregon this weekend. Would you mind if I borrow one of your cars?”

  I want to tell her that he should be the one dropping by Seattle, but instead, I offer to drive her. “We can leave early in the morning.”

  “Thank you so much. I don’t want to inconvenience you. However, Pierce and I have to discuss the lawsuit and also his employment pr
oposal.” She pauses and takes a long sip of air. “He might be able to provide me with a good insurance that’ll cover the maternity expenses.”

  I rub the back of my neck, turning to check on Brock who is still sniffing around the grass and say, “I’m not sure how to feel about your rejection. You’re accepting work from everyone but me.”

  She lifts an eyebrow and waves her hand. “Sometimes I’m not sure if you’re joking or being serious.”

  “This is me being totally honest. I want you on my team because you’re damn good. I’ve seen you work,” I pause and look toward the backyard and then back again at her. “Remember that time when my lawyer was working on Persephone’s lease contract and you ended up knocking a chunk of the rent to make up for the fact that my stupid brother was trying to add illegal clauses to it?”

  She fights the grin. “I can’t even with that contract. There was no logic to it. I’m pretty sure your lawyer was just trying to keep Ford happy.”

  “Yeah well, in theory, that cost me. If I hire you, those mistakes won’t be happening again,” I say, hopeful. We have great benefits, and I really want to help her.

  “It’s nothing personal, I assure you. While the blueberry is a baby, I’d rather choose my caseload. Having a permanent job is demanding and won’t give me the room I need to take care of my newborn. Pierce gets it and is willing to work with me. I know it doesn’t make sense, and you might want to match whatever he offers, but the thing is I know Pierce, and I won’t have that need to throw myself into my new job to show that I’m capable. If I take something new, I’ll be fighting with my instincts all the time, and it’ll be too stressful.”

  Judging by her worried expression, I decide to drop the subject—for now. This isn’t about handing her something because I feel bad for her. It’s about hiring the best for my companies. She’s that good.

  “Fine, I’ll stop pushing you, but if you ever need a job, I’ll hire you in a heartbeat.”