“But this girl with the podcast was able to pay for it herself?”

“She was.”

“So can other people just pay for DNA testing for cases that are being left behind?”

“Franny—”

“Yes or no, Dayton?”

“I guess. I’m not really sure how any of that works, babe.”

I don’t know when he decided to start calling me babe, but I like it way more than I should.

“Maybe I could talk to my mom about it, she’s always raising money for different causes.” I glance out the window as the city goes by in a flicker of lights. The idea that a woman—or anyone—can be hurt, and the only thing keeping the person responsible for hurting them from going to jail is the cost of a DNA test, makes me ill. I can understand that the system is messed up and that there is only so much money to go around, but in my mind, some things should be a priority.

“Have you thought about when you’re going to tell your dad about the baby?”

The question brings me out of my thoughts, and I feel sick for a different reason.

“No. I don’t know. Soon,” I say, and he laughs softly. “I’m glad one of us can laugh about it,” I mutter.

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Um, he could force me to tell him who the father is and then harass you until you give in to whatever demands he makes.”

“I’ve got some shit to work through, but I’m here. I’ll be here.”

“You have shit to work through?”

“I didn’t have the best childhood, and I don’t want that shit to ever touch our kid. So yeah, I have some shit to work through.”

“Do you want to tell me about that?” I ask, feeling warmth fill me at him calling the baby “ours.”

“Not right now, but eventually.”

“Okay,” I agree, not wanting to push him, even though I really want to.

CHAPTER 12

Francisca

As I slowly open my eyes, the TV playing on low comes into focus, along with Dayton’s long legs that are stretched out in front of me. His ankles are crossed and resting on the coffee table beside a mess of papers scattered over its surface. Not wanting to let onto the fact that I’m awake, I hold still and just soak in the moment.