“Or maybe it was just me who changed. I wanted less, and he wanted more, but not more of the things that I think are important. He wanted more stuff—more money, a newer, fancier car, a bigger house—and a bigger role at his father’s law firm. And even though his ambition is something I admire about him, it started to consume not just his life but mine, and I began to resent him for it.” My smile is sad. “I knew that if I didn’t get out, then it wouldn’t be long before that resentment turned into hate, and I didn’t want to hate him.”

“You were together a long time.”

“We were.” I tip my head to the side as I study him. “How about you? What was your longest relationship?”

“I’ve never had one.”

“You’ve never had a relationship?”

“Nope.” He leans forward, placing the papers in his hand on the coffee table.

“How is that even possible?” He’s so sweet and attentive, and even when he didn’t believe this baby was his, he still treated me with kindness and respect. My mind is blown, and I can’t wrap my head around his answer.

“It’s just not something I wanted, and there was no point leading a woman down the path of a relationship when I knew I didn’t want to get married or have kids.”

“I guess that makes sense.” It’s sad, but it does make sense. It also makes me realize that I need to stop thinking this is something more than what it is. Just because he is now going to be a father, something he did not want, it doesn’t mean that his outlook on relationships has suddenly changed.

And that’s not even something I should even be thinking about, not after just getting divorced.

“What do you want to order for dinner?” he asks, changing the subject.

“I should probably get out of your hair,” I tell him just as there is a knock on the door.

“Hold that thought.” He gets up and walks over to it, swinging it open.

“Uncle Dayton, we’re all having dinner up at Uncle Clay’s,” a little girl says, followed by a familiar little boy’s voice making an announcement.

“We’re making hamburgers!”

“Dad sent us down to let you know because you’re not answering your phone,” the girl continues.

“Is everyone there?” Dayton asks.

“Yep, all of us.”

“Tell your dad I’ll be there in ten minutes and that I’m bringing someone with me.”

My eyes widen. Unless he’s talking about taking someone else, he’s talking about me, and I don’t know who “everyone” is, but I do know that he’s told me his brothers, their wives, and all their kids live in the building.