“That is not my kid, Roxanne,” I snarl, shaking my head angrily.
“Yes, it is. Why are you lying, Penn?” Fake tears roll down her cheeks as she deliberately places her hands on her stomach, cradling her bump as she looks at me.
Closing my eyes, I will her to go away, to take her lies and her fucking pregnant belly and go ruin someone else’s day. I saw the look of betrayal in Lulu’s eyes, but I can fix this if I can get Roxy to admit she’s talking shit, because we both know I haven’t fucked her in over a year.
I turn to speak to Lulu, but she’s gone and so is Poppy and her seat. “Fuck,” I hiss, immediately turning my back on Roxy and heading for the front door.
“Where are you going?” she demands.
“To find my fucking woman and sort out this shit show you just created with all your bullshit and lies. That baby’s not mine, we both know that.”
“Penn, why are you saying all these awful things to me? We can be together now, we can be a family. I love you.” Her voice is pleading, desperate, and if I wasn’t so fucking furious I might feel sorry for her.
Stepping closer to her again, I reach out and take one of her hands in mine. “Roxy, honey, you need to get some help. I don’t have any clue who your baby’s daddy is, but we both know it isn’t me. You don’t love me and I’ve never loved you, we fucked a handful of times, that’s all. Now it’s time to get some self-respect and stop lying.”
Snatching her hand away she straightens and places one hand on her belly. “This baby is yours, and you need to do your duty as a man and look after me and your child.”
Shaking my head I sigh, glancing at Chloe before I turn my attention back to Roxy. “If this is the way you want to play it, then fine. I’ll arrange for a DNA test, I’m pretty sure they can do them on unborn babies now.”
“No,” she cries.
“If this kid is mine, then I want to know. I’ll schedule a test for as soon as possible.”
“This is your child, Penn, you need to do the right thing, we need to get married.”
I laugh, I can’t fucking help it. “Roxanne, I don’t know what kind of scam you think you’re pulling here, but it isn’t going to work. If by some fucking miracle that kid is mine, then I’ll be a great fucking dad, I’ll take care of my child, but you will never be a part of the equation. I’m in love with Lulu and if she won’t forgive me for this, I’ll be alone, because nothing and no one will ever be able to replace her.”
“Her. You won’t accept your child or me because of that… that fat bitch,” Roxanne snarls, her teeth gnashing together as she speaks.
“Roxanne,” Chloe admonishes.
“She’s mine, Roxanne, so I suggest you keep your mouth shut.”
“That fucking bitch, she strolls in here thinking she can steal my home, my mom and now you. I’ll kill her, I hate her, she’s always been jealous of me and now she’s trying to take my life.”
“Oh, for goodness sake, Roxanne, be quiet,” Chloe snaps. “Lulu is family and lord knows she’s tried to be friends with you. It’s you who has always been jealous and I’ve never understood why. But this is enough now, it’s time to grow up and stop behaving like a spoiled brat.”
“Mom.”
Roxanne’s gasp of shock is almost enough to cause a smile, but then I remember that Lulu is gone. She’s angry and upset and hurt and it’s my fault. “Where would she go?” I ask Chloe.
“She doesn’t really know anyone in town but you and your family, maybe back to Chicago?”
“That’s a twenty-hour drive, she wouldn’t do that, would she?” Panic starts to claw its way up my throat. She’s upset, with Poppy in the car, and it’s already evening. She’ll have to drive an hour of country roads before she even hits the highway.
Grabbing my cell from my pocket I dial her number, but it rings three times before it goes to voicemail. “I have to find her,” I say.
“What about me?” Roxanne shouts, actually stamping her foot.
“What about you?” I sneer. “I’ll find a doctor in the morning to do a DNA test, and I’ll send you the details.”
“That’s it, that’s how you want to treat the mother of your child?”
“That’s not my kid,” I roar.
“Penn, you need to calm down,” Chloe says, placing a hand on my arm and pulling me backward a few paces.
“How can I calm down when she’s gone? I don’t know where she is, Chloe.” All of my anger drains in an instant and is replaced with an all-consuming fear. Chicago is a big city, it’s hours away from here and she could be on her way there right now. I don’t know her family, I don’t know where they live or if she would even go to them.
Right now, all I know is that she’s angry and upset and I need to be there for her, to take care of her and Poppy. I should be the one she turns to when she’s feeling like this, not the person who caused all the anguish.
“Will you call me if she gets in touch?” I beg.
“Of course,” Chloe nods.
Spinning, I lift my finger and point angrily at Roxanne. “You’re having this DNA test, I’m going to prove that kid’s not mine, then once I do, I never want to see you again, you won’t come near me, Lulu or Poppy ever again.”
With a sad nod to Chloe, I stride across the room, throw open the front door and leave. It’s not until I step outside that I realize we planned to drive her car back home together. Pulling my cell from my back pocket I open up the family group chat and hit the video call.
One by one my family’s faces appear on the screen, even Cora answers with Maverick resting over her shoulder while she rubs at his back.
“What’s going on? Are you okay?” Beau asks.
Shaking my head, I tip my face back and look up at the night sky, inhaling deeply. “Roxanne showed up at Chloe’s tonight. She’s seven months pregnant and saying the kid’s mine. I hadn’t told Lulu about me and Roxanne hooking up. She’s gone and I have no idea where.”
“I take it you’ve tried calling her?” Cora asks.
“Yep, rang a couple of times then went to voicemail.”
“Where does Chloe think she’ll go?” Teddy asks.
“She’s not sure, maybe back to Chicago.” Sighing, I walk to the edge of the curb and sit down, my feet in the street.
“Is the kid yours?” Beau asks seriously.
“No. The last time I slept with her was right back before you and Bonnie got together.”
“When is she saying it happened?” Granger asks, Alice beside him in the frame.
“She’s saying we fucked in the bathrooms at the warehouse when we were there for Beau’s bachelor party.”
“Hell no, that didn’t happen, I saw her with her skanky ass grinding all over you, but I put a stop to it, she disappeared after that,” Cody says, his face stern.
“I said the same, she’s still fucking adamant it’s my kid. I’ll sort a DNA test tomorrow, prove this baby isn’t mine, but honestly that’s the least of my worries right now. I need to find Lulu and Poppy.”
