Page 124 of One Baby Daddy
“Yeah,” he says hesitantly. “But I don’t want to talk about that. I’ve been all hockey all day, I like to decompress at the end of the day. I showed my mom the photos you gave me today.”
Oh wow. I wonder how she took that? God, she probably hates me now. “Um . . . what did she say?”
“She didn’t say much actually.”Oh. That’s worse than I thought.“She was so quiet I thought I’d lost the connection. Turns out she was having one of her silent-cry moments. Does your mom do that?”
“The silent cry? Hmm, not so much, but I know what you mean. Was she angry? With me?”
“God, no. Adalyn, she thinks you’re amazing. I didn’t tell her about when I found out. I just said we didn’t want to say anything until you were past the first trimester.” This man.How can he protect me from his mom’s wrath when I held back from telling him about his own baby?“She told me to give you her number. If you want it. To talk about pregnancy . . .” He’s silent, and I wonder what he’s thinking. “Anyway, she’s happy, Adalyn. She’s so looking forward to having a grandchild to cuddle and fuss over. And she’s really looking forward to meeting you.”
“Ah . . . that’s nice. She’s nice.”She’s nice? That’s all I’ve got?My mom wasn’t exactly thrilled about the pregnancy, she mostly worried about me and going it alone.My baby will have two grandmothers.And I felt even worse thinking that in not telling Hayden, I would have denied his mother knowing her own grandchild.God. I’m awful.
“So, tell me, have you thought of names?”
“Names?”
“Baby names. Do you have any that you like?”
Oh . . . do I have names? I think about the little note section I have in my phone for names I’ve heard and liked. Should I tell him? Why the hell not? We’re going through this process together.
“Maybe.”
Chuckling, I can hear him shift, probably getting more comfortable wherever he is. “Hit me with them.”
“I want to hear yours first, just in case mine are stupid, I can adjust based on what you say.”
“What?” He laughs. “No way, that’s not fair. I asked you first.”
“And I’m the one who has to push a watermelon out of a quarter-sized hole, so guess who’s going to win this battle?”
“God, I like you pregnant. So damn feisty. It’s sexy as hell.”
“I was feisty before.” Truth, being one of nine meant I had no choice but to learn how to stick up for myself.
“True, but it’s like you have an extra pinch of cayenne in you.”
“Stop avoiding the question. Tell me your names.”
“Fine, but no laughing, okay?”
“I can’t make any promises.” Turning to my side, I get comfortable, interested to hear his choices.
“Brutal, baby, totally brutal.” Clearing his throat, he continues, “Okay, if it’s a boy, I was thinking something like Melvin.”
I take pause, letting the silence stretch on the phone. “No, you were not.”
“Yes, I was. Melvin Holmes. It has a good ring to it, and it’s my great, great grandfather’s name. He was a good man.”
“A man you never met.”
“Doesn’t mean I shouldn’t name my firstborn after him.”
“Not happening. Sorry. Granddaddy Melvin is not happening.”
“Okay, give me one of your boy names then.” His voice is challenging, yet playful.
Thinking back to my list, I don’t go with my number one, instead I toss up number two, wanting to gauge his reaction. “How about Reign.”
He takes no time in answering. “Are you kidding?”
