Songbird (14 page)

“Give her some time.”

“I’m not a patient man.”

“I’m well aware,” Dad says with a laugh. “Think of it as practice for the future. You’re going to need tons of patience to be a father. It’s really quite exhausting.”

“I’m sorry that I’m always testing your patience.”

He shakes his head. “Devin, you’ve never been a bad son. You’ve handled your heartache the best you could, just like the rest of us. I think this baby will be the best thing that’s ever happened to you. You’ll finally have the chance to look forward to the future instead of always focusing on the past. Shyann would want you to be happy.”

I close my eyes. The sound of her name never fails to rip my heart out.

“I don’t want to forget,” I whisper.

Dad sighs sadly and places his hand on my shoulder.

“And you never will.”

M
y amazing breakfast and my heated clash with Devin keeps a smug smile on my face all morning long. I’m proud of myself for not falling for his crap. Did he really think he could bully me into talking to him? Just because he camped out by my door doesn’t mean I’m going to forget the horrible way he acted.

While my personal life’s a mess, my career is finally showing signs of life. Frank called me into his office to say how impressed he was that I’d scored an interview with William McAllister. Apparently, the McAllisters are notoriously private when it comes to talking to reporters about their personal involvement with the benefit. Like a good newsman, Frank was curious about the family’s passion for childhood leukemia research, and more than once hinted that I should dig deeper. As I left his office, he reminded me to check the assignment board. I’m never excited to check it because I’m always given some trivial fluff piece, but today, I’ve been assigned to interview one of the city’s mayoral candidates for next week’s special election edition.

I practically skip all the way back to my cubicle.

“She’s alive!” Leo shouts from across the room.

I smile and wave, grateful to see he’s on the phone. I really don’t want to talk to him. Not yet. I’d called in sick the past two days. I’m not quite ready to admit the truth and Leo has an uncanny ability to drag it out of me.

I spend the morning doing research on my mayoral candidate and confirming the interview date and time with his office. I’m just about to head to lunch when I hear someone clear his throat.

“You’re far too pretty to be hiding in a cubicle.”

With a sigh, I look up to find Devin peeking over my wall.

“Are you deaf? I told you to leave me alone.”

“And I told you I’m not giving up.”

“And I told you that you don’t have a choice!”

A hush falls over the newsroom.
Great.

“You know, I think you’re the most frustrating woman I’ve ever met.”

“Yeah, well, you can blame it on the mommy hormones surging through me,” I whisper. “Now leave me alone. I’m going to lunch. My child’s hungry.”

Devin’s eyes dance with something that vaguely resembles . . .
joy
?

“
Our
child,” he says softly. “Let me take you and our child out to lunch.”

“
My
child. And no.”

Suddenly, Leo’s standing beside me. I’d like to think he’s coming to my rescue, but I know better. He’s just nosy.

“Hey, Callie. Everything okay here?”

Devin’s eyes narrow when Leo wraps his arm around my shoulder.

Is he seriously jealous? Ha!

I smile at my friend. “Everything’s fine. Would you please take me to lunch?”

“
I’m
taking you to lunch,” Devin says, his gaze fixed on Leo’s arm on my shoulder. I almost giggle at the absurdity of the situation. He obviously has no idea that Leo’s gay, so I use this to my advantage and snuggle into my friend’s embrace.

Thankfully, Leo gets the hint. “Sure, Callie. Let’s go to lunch.”

I shoot Devin a glare. If I had any compassion for him at all, I might be concerned for his health. With his fire engine-red face, could he possibly be having a stroke? Should I maybe call 911?

Yeah, it’s a good thing you don’t have feelings for the man.

“Good, because I’m starving.”

“Callie . . .”

I don’t give him the chance to say anything else. Looping my arm through Leo’s, the two of us walk up the stairs and out into the sunshine.

“I can’t believe we’re having a baby! And with Devin McAllister!”

After my shameful display in the newsroom, Leo managed to get a confession out of me over lunch. I wish I could say his enthusiasm’s infectious, but all it’s doing is making me queasy.

I nibble on my chicken salad sandwich and watch the birds flutter around the park fountain. “
We’re
not having a baby. I am.
Me
.”

“With that gorgeous, gorgeous man.”

“That gorgeous man’s a jerk, Leo.”

“Granted, he handled this totally wrong, but it seems as if he’s trying to make it right. You should let him.”

“Why? Why should I?”

“Because he
wants
you, Callie. I’m surprised I made it out of there with my arm intact. You know I’m a lover, not a fighter. What would Oliver say if I came home all mangled and broken because I helped make your baby daddy jealous?”

“Stop calling him that. And he’s not jealous. He just thinks he can bully me into getting what he wants.”

“Not true. I saw it at Megan’s wedding reception. The man’s into you. Why are you fighting it?”

I roll my eyes and toss my unfinished sandwich into the nearest trashcan. “I told you what he said to me. Am I supposed to just forgive and forget?”

“No, but you can at least let him apologize. Don’t you owe that to your kid?”

“He made it very clear he wants nothing to do with the baby. He even accused
you
of being the father! Well, one of the fathers.”

Leo shudders. “No wonder he’s ready to murder me. But none of that matters.”

“Why not?”

“Don’t you think he’s being pretty persistent for someone who doesn’t want to be in your life? Besides, you’re not without fault here, Callie Franklin.
Two
people were irresponsible that weekend. Two ambitious, power-driven people who had an amazing weekend together, which has led to
this
. You know nothing about each other. If the situation were reversed, wouldn’t you have questioned him?”

“Of course, because you said he’s one of the biggest manwhores in town.”

“Allegedly. Allegedly one of the biggest manwhores.”

“You never said
allegedly
.”

Leo rolls his eyes. “Anyway . . . the point is you would have questioned him, too. He knows nothing about you. Why should he assume you’re telling him the truth?”

“That’s . . . valid, I guess.”

“He absolutely handled it badly, but it seems he’s realized that, and he wants to fix it. Shouldn’t you let him try?”

Back at the office, I’m still thinking about what Leo said when I hear my name being called from the stairs.

Good grief. What now?

I slowly peek over my cubicle. A delivery guy’s standing there with a gigantic bouquet of roses.

White roses.

“I’ll take those,” Leo says, smiling at the delivery boy. He glances at the card and grins. “Oh, Callie! That horrible, terrible manwhore has sent you these beautiful flowers!”

I mutter a curse and drop back down in my chair. Leo walks over and places the vase on my desk.

“Wow, a whole dozen this time.”

I try to ignore how beautiful they smell and how pretty they look.

Leo snorts. “No, honey, that’s
two
dozen.”

“You counted?”

“Of course! And here’s the card.”

I snatch it out of his hands.
As if you don’t know who sent them?

With a laugh, Leo heads back to his desk. I slink down into my chair and slowly open the tiny card.

You look beautiful today.

I bow my head as tears fill my eyes.
Stupid hormones!

But one thing’s for sure.

Either Devin McAllister’s full of shit, or I’m in serious trouble.