Page 23 of Daddy's Reckoning

His voice got even lower, if that was possible. “I wouldn’t need to. I already got what I’d need. You know, just in case you decided to be difficult.” He pulled back and caught my eye with a wink. “So, are you feeling like cooperating?”

My throat was thick, and damn it, my panties were damp. I needed to get better and get away from this man as soon as possible, because if he offered me the world again, I might just take it. “Yes, Daddy,” I whispered. The title just fell from my lips.

Theo smirked as he jumped into action, pressing the thermometer against my forehead once more. I sat stiffly, waiting for the beep. He pulled it back, searching the reading with an arched brow. “Just under a hundred,” he finally announced.

Then he walked away, disappearing from the room, leaving me sitting alone with all his friends. When I looked at them, my cheeks flushed, they quickly looked away.

Awkward. But I knew them. Well, most of them. I knew they liked me, and I knew they weren’t unkind. I searched for something to say. Thankfully, Theo reappeared before long, a bottle of Tylenol and a bottle of water in his hand. He shook out two pills, handed them to me, then uncapped the water and handed me that, too, waiting patiently while I took the offered meds. I was pretty sure I didn’t need them; my fever was so low, but I was saving my energy for the arguments that mattered.

Once the medicine was taken, Theo took a seat on the couch across from me as a silence settled in the room. I gave him a beseeching look, hoping he’d announce I needed more rest. I didn’t, not really, but I didn’t know what to say.

Thankfully, Nyla broke the awkwardness. “I hope you don’t mind, Erin, but Theo told us the news about the baby. We couldn’t be happier.” Her smile was genuine, but I still felt weird.

“Uh, thanks. I haven’t really had much time to process. We had a bit of a misunderstanding initially, and then when we started to talk about it, I fainted,” I offered with a sheepish smile.

She nodded. “We heard. And I hope you don’t mind that he told us. Also, that you don’t mind me saying this is the happiest we’ve heard or seen Theo in months. He’s been a bit insufferable since… well, since whatever went down between you guys.”

I cut a sharp look at him, surprised by that tidbit, but he wasn’t looking at me.

Frowning, I looked back at Nyla. “Well… uh… it was a big misunderstanding, I guess. He wants the baby. I thought he didn’t.”

She nodded. “We heard, but… it’s more than that. He missed you. It was obvious. I’ve never seen him like that.”

“Nyla…”

I didn’t miss the warning look Bas gave her, but Nyla just rolled her eyes, making me grin. I’d always liked her. Theo and his friends were quite a bit older than me, but she always did her best to make me feel like I fit right in.

She tossed a sassy look over her shoulder at her husband. “A baby is exciting news, and these two haven’t gotten to be excited about it yet.”

There was truth in her summation. I was happy, but I hadn’t been excited. Between biochem, finals, and thinking Theo wanted me to have an abortion, there hadn’t been time, and I’d been too busy being stressed to feel anything else.

“A baby is exciting news,” Bas agreed, smiling at me. “We were all so happy when we heard, we couldn’t wait another second to come and offer our congratulations.”

I blinked, processing that. That was why they were here? I hadn’t been expecting that.

“And we greatly appreciate your support and well wishes,” Theo told his friends, “but Erin does need to take it easy. She can’t handle too much excitement, sooo…”

“So take a hike?” Archer suggested, a smile on his face.

Surprise registered at the disappointment I felt that they might leave, despite wishing I could leave a few minutes ago. “Theo, I’m fine,” I protested. “This is nice. Your friends stopped what they were doing to come support us.”

“And I appreciate that, but you do need to rest.”

“Please, Daddy,” I said, “Can they just stay a little while longer?”

“It’s nearly dinner time,” he argued, but I could tell I’d gotten to him with the use of a title. I’d been calling him Theo all day and he hadn’t pressed the issue. Pulling ‘Daddy’ out now was a bit of a strategic move, but also, it felt more natural to say it than it did not to.

“We can order in,” Lennon offered. “Dinner for eight on me. How’s Chinese sound?”

“Like it’s packed with MSG,” Theo growled.

“We can get Chinese fusion from the new health food place,” Lennon countered.

Theo looked up at him, then started punching buttons on his phone. Certain he was looking up nutritional values and other ridiculous things, I got to my feet, docking myself one of my daily minutes, and walked over, covering his phone screen with my hand. He looked up, startled, narrowing his eyes when he saw me standing in front of him.

“Baby wants pizza.”

“Baby needs nutrients.”