"Because if I keep giving her money, she'll never leave, and I don't want any skeletons from my past fucking this up." He takes a deep breath and eyes me warily.
"Well, apparently she's still coming around," I shout.
"I told her no. You heard me. I said it in front of you for a reason."
"Did you sleep with her until you met me too?" I ask.
"On occasion."
Fuck.
"Baby, I cut all ties with her when I met you. I've told you, you are the only woman I'm interested in."
"She has your name." I blurt it out before I know I'm thinking it. This is killing me.
"She never changed it." He shrugs again, looking lost. I take a moment and just look at him, this handsome, smart, sexy man. I don't want another woman to have his name. It means that he once belonged to her, legally, and it tears me up inside.
"Look," he rubs his forehead again and looks at me warily. "I'm sorry that you found out about her that way. It was shitty. But it was nothing. She is nothing to me, and has been for a very long time. I helped her out because I felt responsible for her, and I slept with her because she was convenient. I don't feel about her the way I feel about you. I never did."
I watch his face, his eyes, and my stomach starts to settle. He's telling the truth. Thank God.
"You guys can come out of hiding," I call out and Luke and Natalie emerge from the hallway, hand in hand. I smirk at them.
"Hey, I had to make sure you didn't need me to kick his ass," Luke says with a grin.
Nate laughs, "You could try."
"You okay?" Natalie asks quietly and I nod.
"So, the shower is tomorrow afternoon at my place." I stand and walk over to Nate, kiss his cheek and run my fingers down across his jaw, reassuring myself that everything is right again.
"Do you need help setting up?" Natalie asks.
"No, I'm having it done professionally. I hired a party planner."
"For a shower?" Natalie asks, her eyebrows raised to her hairline.
"I have a demanding job, Nat. And it has to be perfect, so yes, I hired it out." I grin at her and do a little happy dance. "I'm so excited!"
"I think I might have some work to do." Luke's eyes are wide and he runs his hand through his hair.
"Oh no, you're coming." I point my finger and glare at him.
"This is really a chick thing," Nate says.
"Whose side are you on?" I ask.
"Luke's," he states matter-of-factly. "It's a chick party."
"He's the daddy." I plant my hands on my hips and glare at both of these stubborn men while Natalie laughs. "He has to go. Besides, my brothers and parents will be there, along with his family too, so it's a co-ed party."
"Will there be pink?" Nate asks.
"The baby is a girl; of course there will be pink." I look at him like he's being ridiculous.
"Chick party." Nate sneers.
"A chick party that you're now going to," Luke interrupts.
Oh, no. My panicked eyes meet Natalie's and she offers me a small smile.
"I don't know if that's a good idea…" I look around the room and over to Nate and he's frowning at me.
"Why?"
"I don't know if I'm ready to introduce you to my family," I whisper.
"Why?" he asks again.
I shrug. "It's kind of soon."
"You just called me your boyfriend ten minutes ago."
"I just didn't know what else to call you." I shrug and turn away and then find myself pinned to him, his hand twisted in my hair and the other at the small of my back, pressing me to him, and his mouth – oh, that mouth – is on mine, kissing me urgently. Then, just as fast as he started, he releases me and backs away.
"Oh, my," Natalie mutters.
"Be there at two," Luke tells him with a smug smile on his face.