Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Flipping through the pages and skimming them, I’d started to see her less as crazy and more as…determined. She wasn’t sitting back and hoping for her dream to come true; she was actively grinding to make it a reality. The athlete in me admired that. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that Shelby would have the baby she wanted so badly. The only question was, would I be the biological father?
It wouldn’t hurt to have my attorney look things over, especially if she was paying for it. Part of me—a big part—was flattered to be her top choice. She knew I was a total package.
My parents had drilled using protection during sex into me as a teenager, and I’d used it every time. I helped condom manufacturers stay in business, because in the decade I’d been having sex, I’d used…a lot of condoms.
This would be a chance to see what it felt like without one. Trying to get a woman pregnant—that was hard to imagine as a bachelor who couldn’t imagine myself having kids.
What if I never got married and had my own family? If I stayed healthy and played hockey as many years as my body let me, there was a real possibility I’d never settle down.
Shelby’s kid could come find me one day as an adult and be the only child I ever fathered.
I rubbed a hand down my face. Shit. This was a lot to think about. I liked to keep things light, and this was anything but.
After twisting off the cap on a bottle of beer, I sat down to catch up on shows I’d missed while on my road trip, but I couldn’t shake the things Shelby had said in the letter.
You’ll be changing my life forever. Having a baby will mean I have a family again.
I had a big family, and sometimes they were a pain in my ass, but I couldn’t imagine my life without them. On a whim, I picked up my phone and texted the number Shelby had included in her letter.
Hey, it’s Beau. Sorry I missed lunch, I was on a road trip. Can we reschedule?
She responded immediately.
Yes! Anytime, just let me know and I’ll be there.
I couldn’t believe I was seriously considering doing this, but I was. I wrote back.
I’ll ask my attorney to look at what you sent and then text you to meet for lunch at the same place you wanted to meet up before. That work for you?
Again, she responded immediately.
Yes. Thank you.
Three days later, I approached Shelby, who was sitting alone at a table in a little downtown Italian place called Tony’s Trattoria. She beamed at me, her eyes hopeful.
“Hi,” I said, sitting down across from her. “You picked a good place. This is one of my mom’s favorites.”
“Well, I can confirm they have great cheesecake,” she said.
She sounded nervous and looked it, too, her back perfectly straight and her hands in her lap.
“They have good red wine, too,” I suggested, because she looked like she could use a glass to loosen up.
“None for me, but order some for yourself if you want.” She looked at the menu. “They sell it by the bottle, so order a whole bottle if you want.”
I could tell Shelby would’ve bought me an entire case of wine if it would help me agree to her proposal. She wanted this so damn badly. I’d seen this same look on the faces of guys who got called up from the minors. They wanted to prove themselves and live their dreams more than anything.
“No, I’m good,” I said, nodding at our server as she approached.
Shelby ordered water and a grilled chicken salad; I went for lasagna and unsweetened tea. Once the server had left us alone at the table, Shelby just looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to tell her if I was in or out.
I cleared my throat. “So my attorney looked the paperwork over and said it protects me in every way legally possible.”
“I swear I don’t want anything from you except…you know.”
“My attorney said even though it protects me, he still advises against it.”
Shelby deflated. “I understand.”
This was my last chance to bow out gracefully. I could make small talk with her, pick up the lunch check, and wish her well with her dream. That wasn’t what my gut told me to do, though.
“I’m in,” I said.
She looked up from the table, a little line of confusion forming between her brows. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, yes,” I said, grinning. “Let’s do this. I’ll help you have a baby.”
Her eyes flooded with tears. “Oh my god, are you serious?”
“I am. I’ve given it a lot of thought and read your letter about fifty times. If you’re completely sure you want to do this alone and all you need is for me to get you pregnant, I’ll do it.”