“Umm.” I audibly hear Billy swallow from where I’m seated. “That’s…” pause. “That’s great news, congratulations.” I turn my attention back to him, his neck, and the tips of his ears have turned a bright shade of red. Dragging his eyes off of Jamie, he looks at me. “Congrats, Dayton.” Oh, hell fucking no. “Alright, this meeting is over, and we’ll all catch up again later this week.” He gathers a stack of folders from the head of the table, then quickly hurries to leave, not looking at anyone as he goes.

With my jaw clenched, I stay seated, afraid if I move, I’ll follow after him, and with the amount of rage sitting in the pit of my stomach, that conversation would not go well. I need a minute to cool down. As people get up to leave, not one person offers their congratulations; every single one of them is looking at me in disbelief. Then again, they have seen Jamie and I interact, and anyone who has seen the two of us together would be hard-pressed to believe that she and I are a couple.

“I’ll see you when Alice’s sisters get here.” Mary pats my hand before she gets up out of her chair and leaves, closing the conference room door behind herself.

“I’m sorry,” Jamie says softly from behind me, and I slowly turn my chair around to face her. “I’ve tried to see him numerous times over the last few weeks, but he’s been avoiding me. He even changed his number, so I can’t call or text.” I watch tears fill her eyes. “I didn’t think that he would imply that this is your child.”

“Did you think that he’d say it was his and that you two would share a moment in the middle of a meeting?” I fist my hands on my thighs. I don’t want to take my anger out on her, but I’m fucking angry. Even if Jamie and I have never had a relationship, the fact that it’s been implied again pisses me off. And the news that she’s pregnant, that just adds a cherry to the top of our fucked up cake. If Franny’s dad catches wind of this drama fest, he’ll hang me up by my balls before I have a chance to explain the situation to him. And even if I’m able to explain things, I doubt he’s going to believe me. I wouldn’t fucking believe me.

“I don’t know what I thought he’d do.” She looks away. “I’m really sorry, Dayton I…”

“You know Franny is pregnant, Jamie, and although I feel some empathy for you and your situation, you have to know that this puts me in a fucked-up position.”

“I never asked you to tell people that we’re together.”