Perfect Contradiction Read Free Page B

from the wedding and slipped on an old pair of glasses as I sat down at the kitchen table to read over all the info the doctor gave me. There was no way I was putting my contacts in as red and swollen as my eyes were. A baby . I wasn’t even in a relationship, and I was going to have a baby. I had no source of income, and I was going to be a momma. Dear lord, what was everyone going to say? I groaned and stared at the papers. What were my options? Should I tell Hunter? Should I consider adoption? So many questions. I didn’t know anything, and what if I’d hurt the baby taking medicine I shouldn’t have? Or drinking the champagne the day before yesterday at the wedding? My hand flew to my midsection, and I jumped out of my seat to grab the phone off the wall. I dialed the obstetrician’s number and all but hyperventilated by the time someone picked up.
    “I just found out I’m pregnant, and I had champagne two days ago. Will that harm the baby?” I blurted. The receptionist on the other end asked me to calm down and give her some of my info. Before I knew it, I had an appointment for the next week and I was reassured that a little alcohol had never been proven to hurt a baby in utero. When I got off the phone, I was feeling a little less panicky, at least as far as harming the baby was concerned. I had so many decisions to make, and I knew none of them were going to be easy. A knock on the front door brought me out of my thoughts.
    Pulling back the curtain sheers, I glanced out the window and found Hunter Wright standing on my porch, a hand running through his hair in agitation. I took a deep breath and ran a hand over the skirt of my dress before opening the door.
    “Hunter, what can I do for you?” I asked, my heart pounding too loudly in my ears. His eyes widened, and I cursed myself for not realizing how I must look.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked as he pushed into the house. I stepped back with a sigh and stared at a spot over his shoulder.
    “Nothing. Everything’s okay,” I answered.
    “Like hell it is,” he snapped. “Beth said she’s been calling you all morning to let you know they made it okay like she promised she would, and she said you weren’t answering. She got worried because you always answer.” He put a finger on my chin and turned my face until I had no choice but to look at him. “Why have you been crying, sweetheart?” he murmured. I pulled my chin out of his grasp and breathed in deeply.
    “It’s nothing I can’t handle,” I said softly. I wondered if I should tell him. What would he say? Deny it was his? Worse, that he’d want to marry me because of the baby. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I trapped him to me because of our baby. He was just the kind of man who would do something like that too. We might not have worked out as a couple, but he’d be a good daddy to his kid. A stupid tear escaped the corner of my eye, and I wiped it away furiously.
    “Jen, talk to me. Tell me what it is you need.” The way he looked at me nearly melted me. It made me want to throw myself into his arms like I had not so very long ago and let him share my burdens. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.
    “I’m sorry I hurt you. I never meant to,” he said gently. “I wish I had a redo button so I could make it right between us.” I nodded and stepped back out of arm’s reach. He dropped his arm back to his side with his hand clenched into a fist.
    “I never should’ve run,” he muttered. I frowned in confusion before shaking my head and stepping toward the door.
    “I’ll call Beth right now,” I said, trying to summon a smile. “And, ya know, if you’d like to help me, perhaps you could recommend a handyman. Someone who can help me do a little remodeling in the house. I’m going to open up a business, and I’ll have a lot of work to do,” I said, proud of how steady I sounded.
    “A business?” he asked.
    “A bed-and-breakfast.” I watched him as he looked around the