I have no idea how this is all going to play out or what the future holds for us, but for the rest of our lives, we will be connected through our child. The reality of that is terrifying, but what is even scarier is the overwhelming sense of protectiveness I feel when it comes to her. It’s something I felt the first night we met; I just didn’t recognize it for what it was back then.

Drawing in a ragged breath, I look back at the screen and try to focus on Dr. Bride as he tells us about the baby and what to expect over the next few months. It’s a lot of information—more than I can process right now. Not with my whole world suddenly off-kilter.

When he’s done, he prints off a set of the ultrasound pictures and hands them to me before leaving Franny and me in the room alone.

“Are you okay?” she asks, and I drag my eyes off the black-and-white image in my hand and look at her across the room.

“I’m not sure. You?”

“I’m not sure either,” she admits. “Did you catch anything he said after the heartbeat?”

“Not one single word,” I reply with a smile, watching her laugh as she slides off the bed and slips on her sandals.

“Are you going back to work?” She grabs her purse while I open the door.

“Yeah, I have a meeting at three.” We step out of the room and start down the hall. “What are you doing tonight?”

“Nothing, just working on my current painting.” We stop at the checkout desk, where she needs to make her next appointment and pick up her prescription.

“How about I bring you dinner? I should be home by six, if that’s not too late.”

“Umm…” She licks her lips and looks up at me seeming to turn the offer over in her head. “Yeah, okay sure, that sounds good.”

“All right, text me when you get home.”

“Sure.” Her smile is small. “I’m really glad you came.”

Shit, why does my chest feel strange?

“Me too.” I reach out and rest my hand on her hip while I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Okay,”

When I get down to my SUV, I sit there for a few minutes, trying to process everything that just happened. It’s too much to come to terms with in that short amount of time, but there are a couple of things I know for certain.

One: there is no way I want another man stepping up to raise my kid.

And two: Franny is going to fuck up my life in either the best or worst way possible.

CHAPTER 10

Dayton