Her Big Bad Mistake(16)

“The game’s about to start and I never miss Damon kicking butt.”

Becky stared wide-eyed at the door. Surely she couldn’t mean her Damon. Fate was not being nice. Slowly getting up, she gathered her test and walked out the door. Disposing of her stuff, she washed her hands and went to the lounge where she sat and waited for Amanda who, fifteen minutes later, sat on the sofa with popcorn. Becky stared into space in disbelief of what she’d just found out. Amanda moved closer to her and offered some popcorn. Becky shook her head and took a deep breath, asking what she needed to know.

“So, this big hockey player Damon that you like, what’s he like?

Amanda’s face lit up. “He’s my favorite type of bad boy.”

“Oh… really?”

“Yeah, he dates all the time and he has a thing for blondes.” Amanda winked at her. “So, I have one thing he likes.”

Becky grimaced. She remembered Damon favored blondes.

“Damon is hot. Well, just look at him.” Amanda shoved a magazine with Damon and a gorgeous tall blonde on it at her. Becky’s breath hitched as she saw the date on the magazine was this week’s. She turned back to the article and read as she listened to Amanda. “Damon has the most fights record for the last couple of seasons. He parties and is seen everywhere, but get this, he has a soft side he does charity games like the one I’m watching today. I bought tickets for a game a couple of weeks into the season. I have a spare, wanna come?”

“Yes. Thanks,” Becky managed to whisper. The yes came out of her before Becky could really think it through.

“It’s six weeks away, but by then I’ll have you as obsessed with ice hockey as I am.” Amanda winked. “And Damon Chet.”

Becky burst into tears. All she could think about was that she was pregnant with a child by a man she still loved, but she knew he didn’t love her back. He’d forgotten about her. She stared through blurry vision at the image of supermodel Imogene hanging off him. The caption said they were dating. Becky remembered a conversation they’d had at dinner a couple of the night before she left…

“So you’re looking forward to teaching kids?” Damon had asked.

“Yes. I love younger ones and want a bunch of my own eventually, but the older kids I find easer. They understand things better and you can explain things to them. Do you like kids?”

Damon shook his head and she could tell he wasn’t a kid person. “No way. I don’t do kids. I’m not father material. Kids are a lot of responsibility, I don’t want that.” He shivered. “I have too many people already to look after. I don’t need another one.”

Becky had known then that the thing with Damon wouldn’t work out. Becky had always loved children and wanted at least one of her own. She was disappointed, but if Damon didn’t want something she really wanted she wasn’t going to push him.

She settled her hands over her stomach, protecting her child. Crap! Everything was changing. She glanced at the magazine again and anger consumed her. Shit! She was married to an arse. He was dating a woman while he was still to married her.

“Becky, what’s wrong?” Amanda’s arms came around her and Becky sobbed into her.

“I’m pregnant. What am I going to do?”

****

Becky called her parents but she couldn’t bring herself to tell them. The weeks flew by and she found everything she could on Damon Chet. Becky called him only to hang up, scared and unsure what to say. After a couple more weeks a message said the number was wrong or had been disconnected. She called Jacob and Caleb but couldn’t bring herself to ask about Damon or get his new number. Jacob kept asking to see her, but she wasn’t ready. She told Jacob she needed to get settled first.

She loved her baby more every day. Becky knew she was being selfish keeping the baby from Damon, but every time she saw him with a new woman or read about a fight he got in she covered her stomach and protected her child, their child.

The ultrasound was what broke her. Becky heard the little heartbeat and saw the small shape and knew she couldn’t be selfish and jealous anymore. She laid there stunned as she stared at the screen and saw her baby, Damon’s baby. She had to find a way to tell him, even if she called Caleb or Jacob and asked for his new number.

****

Damon was determined to find Becky. He found out she lived in Chicago, but nothing else. For all he knew she could be living just on the other side of town from him. He knew Jacob and Caleb had spoken to her and she’d told them she wanted to settle in first before she saw them. Surely by now she’d be settled in to her new job and life. Damon knew he shouldn’t have left it as long as he did, but at first he’d been angry she’d left him without even a goodbye. Then he’d slumped back into his old ways. He wasn’t proud of himself for that.