Page 25 of Baby for Stepmom

My lover didn’t say a word to me, but I noticed how his jaw went tight, how his gaze narrowed as he glared at his father.

Silently, I grabbed the jug filled with orange juice, pouring a glass for… it didn’t feel right to call him my husband anymore, even though that was his title. Maybe it was because Jax had demanded my fidelity; maybe because in my heart it was already true. It didn’t matter who I was married to—I belonged to Jax.

Placing the drink down on the kitchen island, I had to walk closer to Ryan than I had in days. He was wearing a new cologne, so much of it he was drenched in it. The scent was sickly sweet, cloying and intense as it assaulted my nostrils. It was going to make me—oh, God.

I turned with seconds to spare, leaning over the sink, gagging and retching. I puked until there was nothing left in my stomach… until every mashed up leaf of the salad I forced myself to eat for the baby’s sake came back up.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Ryan hadn’t bothered coming to my side or pulling my hair out of the way. His tone suggested that I’d deeply inconvenienced his orange juice drinking experience.

I wanted to look over at Jax; I had to force myself not to. Staring straight into the square stainless steel of the sink, covered in my sick. Heaving gasps of air, I struggled to get my body under control. Fighting against the urge to throw up all over again.

Ryan needed to know the truth… he’d find out eventually, anyway.

“I’m pregnant.”

The room went quieter. Colder. I felt the change coming over the man I’d married, as he stared into the distance, gripping the glass of juice hard. He wouldn’t even look at me.

But… he agreed to let me stop birth control. This shouldn’t be a surprise for him.

Why was he acting like this?

Then Jax burst in, pulling me close into a hug.

Oh, damn. Was he about to claim our child right in front of his father?

Jax grinned at me, “I always wanted a brother. Congratulations! I’m finally going to have a sibling. This is amazing! We should go out to celebrate.”

It was like he had lost all ability to read a room and forced the appropriate response to hearing about a new baby down his father’s throat.

“I’m going to text all my cousins.” Jax’s phone was already in his hands, fingers moving rapidly.

“Jax,” Ryan called out sharply, “you shouldn’t tell anyone just yet.”

“What? Why?” Jax had the look of perfect innocence on his face.

“Because sometimes things don’t work out…” Ryan started, trailing off when he saw the stricken look on his son’s face. He started over, as if choosing each word with more care. “People usually wait at least a couple of weeks, when the risk of miscarriage is lower.”

“Oh, shit. I didn’t know that,” Jax scratched his head, the picture of cluelessness and not at all like the scheming young man who had tied me down and told me he wanted me bred. “Sorry, I already texted the group chat. Victoria says she’s going out to buy yarn to get started on a baby blanket.”

Ryan pinched the bridge of his nose—something that he only did when he was beyond annoyed.

I felt like I was missing something… between Ryan looking at me like he wanted to skin me alive and Jax suddenly acting like a golden retriever puppy on Christmas…

Jax bounded out of the room, yelling over his shoulder, “Grandma’s calling. She wants to plan a baby shower.”

As soon as Jax was out of earshot, Ryan rounded on me, grabbing my wrist hard enough to bruise. He leaned in, getting into my face, his nostrils flaring like all he wanted to do was rage at me.

The truth hit me all at once, like cold grease poured over every inch of my mind. Ryan didn’t want this baby. If Jax hadn’t gone and told the whole family about it, what would he have done?

This marriage… it was more than over. Maybe I was the only one who hadn’t seen it.

The man I made my vows to, looked at me now with raw hate in his eyes. “I hope you’re happy.”

I was.

I was happy.

Most of all, I was happy because it wasn’t his baby.