"Right." He glanced down at his desk and took a shaky breath. "She's pregnant and she says it's mine."
"What?" Ice cold horror rolled through her. No, no, no, no!!
"I’m sorry. I have no clue what the fuck to do about it. I don't want anything to do with her, but if she's carrying my child..."
"Then she has the baby and you help her with it." Jamie walked across the room, trying to push away the idea that Alex might actually try to work things out with Annette. The beautiful model red-head was a total witch who treated everyone like trash to walk on. That woman wasn’t mean to be a mother, except maybe to a hatchling of vipers.
"I know... I just..."
"What other options are there?" Jamie swallowed hard and wrapped her arms around herself.
"Many, okay? There are many options. I had what I thought was a shitty father, and I just remember growing up thinking that if I ever had a kid, I would love him with this intensity that left him breathless. That above all he would know that his dad loved him and supported him."
The tears in Alex's eyes was almost too much, but the thought of him leaving her to suffer alongside Annette was soul-shattering.
"I understand that more than you know." She reached up and brushed away a tear. "That is a decision you need to make. With or without me." It broke her heart to say that. She would step aside if she had to. She didn’t want to think about it, but she knew she would.
"Just give me time to think through this, okay?"
She didn't trust herself to do anything more than nod and leave.
How in the world was she going to deal with seeing Alex with Annette? He would go back to her. He wouldn’t let his own kid grow up without a father. Jamie could see that in his eyes and the way he so fiercely protected the thought of being a dad. Why would Annette want a baby? The toothpick prick did not see the type to want children, let alone carry one. How would Jamie deal with Annette? Deal with her and Alex together?
The answer was simple. She wasn't.
Chapter 11
"You ready?" Gina's voice pulled Jamie from the report she was trying to edit. She couldn't seem to keep herself concentrated on anything for more than a few minutes, but who would be able to? Alex was in the next office probably trying to decide if their relationship was over due to knocking up his ex. Could things get any worse?
"Yeah," Jamie mumbled and picked up her purse. "I need something strong."
"Like a man or are we talking good liquor?" Gina smiled and walked out into the hall.
"Both maybe. Who knows?"
"Sounds like you got a new story to tell me." Gina pressed her shoulder against Jamie's.
"Only if you want to be depressed with me." Jamie gave her friend a tight smile and held the door for her.
"That's not good. Spill."
They got into the elevator with a crowd of people from the office and Jamie simply gave her a look. "At the bar."
After making their way through the large crowd of suits that were trying to get out to the street, they decided on trying a new bar. It was just a block from the office, and lots of the staff had been touting about it all week. The drinks were cheap, strong and delicious.
"So talk to me. The anticipation is likely to kill me. You know my life has little to no drama in it." Gina messed with her long dark hair as it blew around them.
"It's highly confidential. Good?"
"Of course. You know that I would never spill your secrets." Gina tugged the door to the bar opened and smiled at the host. "Two please."
"Right this way, ladies." The younger male gave Gina the once-over and smiled before turning to walk them to their seats.
Gina wagged her eyebrows at Jamie and they both chuckled. The guy could be a kid brother or someone either of them babysat, but a love interest? Never.
Jamie pulled the drink menu out and scanned it as she dove right into the heart of the issue. "So let's see... Alex thinks I have feelings for his brother Mark, my parents are getting divorced and one of Alex's old girlfriends popped pregnant earlier this week and says it’s his."
Gina sat with her eyes wide and mouth gaped open.
Jamie couldn't help but laugh at the expression on her friend’s face. "Right? I told you it was depressing."
"Wow. You can't make that kind of shit up." She shook her head slowly and glanced down, as if she were trying to comprehend all of the issues presented. "The pregnant girlfriend is a bit too much. So help me, it’s better not be fucking Annette. I hate that bitch. The other things suck badly, but your parents haven't gotten along in years. Kudos to your dad for leaving your mother. Sorry."