She then opens the bottom drawer to her desk, pulls out her purse, fits it over her shoulder, and picks up her phone from her purse.
“I’m done for the day. Don’t come see me unless you decide to be supportive and drop all this alpha-male, brother bullshit.”
With that, she rounds the desk and heads toward her door.
Because Posey always buckles under pressure, he calls out, “Congrats on the news. Let me know if you need anything.” He smiles and waves.
Penny pulls her shoulders back and says, “Thank you, Posey.” And then she takes off, leaving us all alone in her office.
I slouch in my chair.
Holy fucking fuck.
What just happened?
Here I was, worried that all these feelings for Penny were going to come rushing forward when I saw her. That should have been the least of my worries. Not only am I leaving this meeting with a heavier dose of wanting another round with her—especially after seeing her stick up for herself to Pacey—but I’m also leaving with the title: daddy.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Pacey calls out as I head to the garage where our cars are parked.
“Uh, home.” Thanks to him and the news, my headache has intensified to blistering levels.
“Oh great, I’m going to your home too.”
I pause mid-stride to my car and turn toward him. “What do you mean you’re going to my home?”
“To help you pack.” Pacey crosses his arms over his brawny chest.
I smooth my hand over my throbbing, aching forehead. “I don’t have the energy for games, so just get to what you want to say, Lawes.”
“You’re going to move in with her.”
“You’ve fucking lost it. I’m not going to run away from my responsibility if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I’m worried about my sister.” Pacey moves in closer. “She lives alone, and the idiot who knocked her up is out of town for half of the season. She’ll be going through this alone. As much as you like to think you’re going to be the responsible one, she’s still taking the brunt.”
I hate that I didn’t think about it that way. Then again, I haven’t had much time to think about this at all. I’m still trying to comprehend that I’m going to be a father in nine months. But unfortunately, Pacey is right. I have no choice but to leave her by herself when we have to travel for away games.
“Moving in with her is not going to help,” I say, denial wrapping around me in a solid chokehold. “It’s not like I can carry the baby myself.”
“I know that, you dipshit.” Pacey pushes at my shoulder, and I bump into the wall.
“Watch it,” I warn. “You might have gotten in a cheap shot at the office, but not now.”
“Are you really threatening me?” Pacey asks. “You slept with my sister and got her pregnant. I’m pretty sure you should be thanking your lucky stars I haven’t cut your dick off.”
“She wasn’t supposed to get pregnant.” I don’t know why I said that. Honestly, I can’t think. My head is hurting way too fucking much.
“So you were just supposed to fuck her and leave her?”
“She wanted that too. A single night.” I hold my arms out. “What the hell am I supposed to say?”
“You’re supposed to keep your dick in your pants and send her home in a cab, ALONE! Jesus fuck, Eli.” The sound of my first name coming off his tongue feels like a razor blade to the heart. We rarely call each other by our first names. “Do you realize how big of a hit this is to our friendship? I can’t even . . . fuck, I can barely look at you. You, out of anyone, should know how hard it is to have one parent. Do you even remember how hard your mom worked before she passed away?”
My teeth grind together as his words sting my very soul. “I’m not going to be a deadbeat dad. Just give me a goddamn second to wrap my head around this. I’ve barely had a second to think about it.”
Pacey slowly nods. “You know, you’re right, you spend your time thinking about it. In the meantime, Penny will be carrying the baby and dealing with everything that comes with pregnancy, alone. But sure, take your time.”
I scrub my hand over my face. “I don’t know what you want from me, Pacey.”
“I want you to step up and take care of her, or someone else is going to, and not only will they take care of her but they will take care of that baby too.”
My eyes narrow. “What the fuck do you mean by that?”