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And…he went…nu but her The uncertainty in her eyes, the quivering of her botto what else to do with the beautiful creature standing there, looking at hi, he took one s and drew her into his ar her face in his shirt Daainst his skin, her silent tears leaking through the fabric of his T-shirt

It was htmare, he supposed…but to him…

The numbness shattered, and he wanted to kick his own ass for s at Brian earlier Karma had certainly bit him back fast over that one Christ

How the fk had this happened? They’d taken precautions Unless that onearound in the kitchen had sealed their fate

"Are you sure?" he asked du hi even reent to say

"After three positive tests, I’ away from him, she wiped her eyes with a finality that said she was done with tears "It’s okay I’ll deal with it"

"What does that mean?"

"It means don’t panic, because you don’t have to worry about anything I’ to have this baby, and no one ever has to know it’s your baby if you don’t want thee of bitterness that cut hiht and rattled around the inside of his brain A baby His baby He didn’t know shit about babies He had no brothers or sisters, so no nieces or nephews No very young cousins Walking by while a mother pushed a stroller down the sidewalk or in a store was about the extent of his contact with babies "I don’t mean to be a dick, Gabby, but…you’re a hundred percent positive it’s mine?"

He steeled hiive you that one, because I understand that’s a legitimate concern, Ian, but it’s yours I haven’t been with anyone else Not since my ex-fiancé"

He wanted to believe her But Brian had stood in this very building and talked about how Gabby had gone a little wild, about how his hts she didn’t co otherto hi those concerns

"You don’t believe me"

He looked her in the eyes Now he could practically see the i steam "If you say it’s mine," he said at last, "then it’s mine" And he meant it Surely, if she had been with anyone else, if she had any doubts whatsoever about the paternity of this child, that other guy here she would be right now Not here, trying to pin it on someone who didn’t have shit to offer her

She went off alert He turned away and burip, trying to think

"What are you thinking?" she asked, and he al of the question

"I don’t know I really don’t"

"Yeah I know the feeling"

"Have you told anyone else?"

"No I thought you deserved to know first"

"Jesus You have sobelieve this"