Chapter 8
Mission accomplished.
The party ended with Ryder dragging me out of there like a caveman.
It didn’t take long for everyone to connect the dots-Ryder and I had been married, divorced, and I’d had his baby afterward.
My phone started buzzing nonstop:
*WAIT so Ryder crashed the reunion for YOU?? This is literally a second-chance romance come to life!!!*
“Girl don’t mess this up-successful, hot guys who actually want to be dads are basically extinct!*
‘I’ve known Ryder since college and he’s a good guy. If he’s putting himself out there like this, maybe hear him out?*
Obviously they were group-texting him too, because Ryder waved his phone at me: “Looks like we have some cheerleaders.”
I shoved mine in my pocket: “They’re gonna be waiting a long time.”
He handed me a bottle of water, looking way too pleased with himself: “Cut the act, Jess.”
‘If you really didn’t care about me anymore, why did you keep my baby?”
About a month after our divorce was finalized, I found out I was pregnant.
My doctor said if I didn’t go through with it, getting pregnant again might be nearly impossible.
After weeks of agonizing, I decided to have her.
My parents totally freaked out about me becoming a single mom-until they realized our neighborhood was getting gentrified and property values were skyrocketing.
Having a kid meant qualifying for better housing assistance.
Suddenly my pregnancy went from family disaster to blessing in disguise.
When my daughter was born, I named her Emma.
I wanted her to grow up fearless and happy.
She’s three now and already reading chapter books. Definitely inherited Ryder’s brain.
I shrugged: “You have good genes. Seemed like a waste not to use them.”
His expression turned ice-cold: “So I was just a sperm donor to you?”
I mean, essentially? I nodded.
He shot to his feet: “Unreal. You’re absolutely unreal!”
That was the last thing Ryder said to me that weekend.
Honestly, I was trying to get under his skin.
I figured after dropping that bomb, he’d finally get the hint and leave me alone.
However, a week later, he was standing outside my building.
Ryder eyed my Target bags: “What happened to that hot date? Stood you up?”
When I didn’t respond, he pressed on: “I picked up some stuff for our daughter. It’s almost New Year’s, thought I’d stop by and see your folks.”
Then he glanced up at my apartment: “Your brother visiting early?”
I lived on the second floor.
Chapter
Through my living room window, you could see a guy building Legos with Emma, picking her up and spinning her around while she squealed with laughter.
Ryder had actually met my brother at family barbecues before. Guess he forgot.
I met his eyes: “That’s not my brother. He’s my boyfriend.”
