The Single Dad

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that someone was at the call box, trying to get in. The only time the alarm ever went off in the middle of the night was if I invited a woman over. Her presenc

e morning, and I hadn'

tablet from my nightstand, the screen showing a woman, w

mera feed, zoomin

ar, not enough that I

nto the speaker.

need to ta

button on the metal box on the side of my gate, attempting

cy in her voice

e meeting my brothers for drinks caused the strands to be ha

important." Another beat passed

even though she

g me to Minneapolis in just a few hour

say, Saturday afternoon at

ease. I'm begging you.

dam

I'll meet y

ront. I flipped on the outside light and opened the door. The woman was standing a few feet from the steps with a face I still only semi-recognized, a body that co

rry, yo

bec

ca. R

took in her stare. "Yo

es

ogether was starting

Ten months? A year ev

e from the evening we'd spent to

speaking the entire night, and I followed her into the back room once the last patron left.

while she drove

my kitchen island th

tails of that night a bit vague, I

you here,

ightless blankets in an odd way. "I don't kn

ll porch, my bare feet balancing on t

ward me, adjusting her position so she co

n't a

as a

h

whoa." I swallowed, my saliva suddenl

you didn't have sex with me without a condom, not botherin

y we

fucking e

eally not u

ys use

ng al

skey made m

was p

.

again. "And now, because of that night, we created her." As she moved once more, now only a foot separated us, even less as she extended her arms across the open space. "Meet your daug

h

fuck

th

apulted throu

ed for, a feeling that sucked

n't you

ng inside her eyes. "I made the appointment. I went to the clinic." She took a long, deep inhale. "And I could

in the baby's face, those chunky cheeks and plump, heart-shaped lips. "Why didn't you tell me the second you found out you were pregnant, Rebecca? Why didn'

Is that why she sho

omethin

ts weren'

loudy mess

steady, rel

d the baby aga

, taking the weight of this small, precious bundle

nded to tell you about her. I was just going to give her up fo