Page 152 of Angel

‘I know you’re pissed off at me,’ I grunted, ‘so go ahead, Rox, rail into me and tell me off. Here’s an idea. Imagine touring with me to Tokyo and ripping into me onstage. Cussing me out on the steps of the Ryman Auditorium, loud enough to wake the ghosts of music past, or dragging me through the dirt on a stage in Rio until fifty thousand fans cheer your name. Then take all that energy and lay it into me here and now.’

Her lips quirked, which gave me the courage to keep going.

‘Aside from one hell of an unpredictable tour, you have to admit it’d make a killer tell-all album. Just imagine the tracklist, Rox. You could call the EP Angel’s Fumbled the Bag. I’m certain the whole damn world would buy the record and side with you.’

She pursed her mouth hard, and I sensed she wanted to laugh, which gave me some sense of victory.

Then her face hardened, and she waved me away.

‘I’ve no energy to tell you off. Just go, Angel, I can’t with you.’

We stood staring at each other for a long time before I conceded and swiveled to walk out.

She followed me as if to check I’d leave for certain.

At the front entrance, I paused, shoving my hands into my jeans pockets.

‘Can I see you again?’

Roxy shrugged, her expression unreadable.

‘Can I at least help with the baby?’ I pressed, in a growl.

‘I’ll think on it,’ she said, stepping back into the shadows of the hall. ‘Now please go.’

‘You know I won’t stay away,’ I rasped, locking eyes with her.

‘Do whatever, Angel, but right now I can’t deal with you.’

After clashing eyes with her for a beat, I exhaled, shut the door, and walked out to my ride.

I slid inside, my mind whirling with a volatile mix of shock, dread, and pure, unfiltered adrenaline.

I was going to be a dad.

Fuckinghellshit!

My emotions swung from elation to terror, then back to euphoria, until I calmed myself with deep breaths.

‘Roxy, you’re mine, and I intend to claim you and now my baby,’ I whispered, not intending in the least to obey her edict to stay away. ‘For eternity.’

Too tired and jumpy to drive, I got into the backseat of my Defender, nabbed a blanket from the storage under the seats, and covered myself.

I set the alarm for three hours later and fell into the best sleep I’d had in weeks, undone by exhaustion but also by the fact I was close to her.

At 10 a.m., when my phone’s alarm woke me, I climbed back into the driver’s seat.

I stared at the farmhouse, recalling quiet breakfasts with Roxy in our Nashville kitchen, her smile, and the way her laughter filled my house.

To get her to let me back in, I realized I’d need to up the ante and show her my consistent devotion.

I had to throw myself at her feet as I’d never done before.

First, I needed to find out what it took to be a good partner to a pregnant woman.

My stomach growled, and I chugged water from a flask as I opened a browser tab on my phone and typed a search for how to be a supportive father.

The digital screen illuminated the cabin as I scrolled through basic parenting forums, my chest tight, still in disbelief that I was going to be a dad.