***
Andrés
"Is my daughter pregnant?"
How did I know this question was coming? I'm sitting awkwardly on the living room sofa, drinking sweet tea (but I could sure use a beer) while Christina's mom, Jenny, gives me the death stare. Not that I blame her. If Christina were my daughter, I'd probably beat the shit out of me.
Even though the woman is petite like Christina, she appears to be much bigger when she puffs up her chest and clenches her fists, glaring at me like she wants to stick my dick in a wood chipper. I size her up while I think of my best possible answer.
I'm usually good at sweet talking my way out of sticky situations, but there's no talking myself out of this one.
"Yes, ma'am," I say through a shaky breath as I set my tea on the coffee table.
If Jenny's eyes were guns, I'd be full of holes by now. She snatches my tea glass off her coffee table and slides a wooden coaster beneath it.
My shoulders slump when I realize I'm not exactly earning any browning points with this lady. I get the feeling she's wondering how much she can get for my body on the black market if she chops me to bits and sells the parts.
"Is that why she has that ring on her finger?"
"No." I shake my head. "I asked her before we found out."
At least nobody can accuse us of getting married because I knocked her up. Baby or no baby, I'm still intent on making Christina my bride.
Jenny sets her tea glass on a coaster and taps her chin with her finger. "When are you planning on getting married?"
"Soon, I hope. " I swallow back a bit of nervous tension when I realize I sound a bit too eager.
Jenny arches a brow, eyeing me intently. "You walked out on her three weeks ago. How can she depend on you to stay with her now?"
Damn. The thing is, I don't blame Jenny for not trusting me, not after I acted like a jealous pendejo when I'd walked out on Christina because she went to dinner with Tyler and Jackson. I knew Jackson was using the baby to get to Christina, and I was right, but it was still not a good enough reason to break up. Christina cares for that baby. I had no right to tell her she couldn't see him anymore.
My mouth goes dry, and I'm tempted to grab that tea off the table and chug the whole glass, but something about the way Jenny is glaring at me makes me afraid to move a muscle. I lick my parched lips and cough to clear my throat. "I love Christina. I'm not going anywhere."
Her brow furrows and she rolls her eyes. "Raising a baby isn't easy."
Now I know who Christina gets her eye rolling from. If we were in a different situation, I might laugh at how identical those two look.
"I know that." I make a sign of the cross, and then lean forward, hoping she can read the sincerity in my gaze. "But I swear I'm not walking out on my family."
Jenny leans forward, too, which is awkward, because we're only a few breaths apart now, good face-slapping distance. She jabs a finger in my chest, twin firestorms brewing beneath her emerald gaze. "Good, because if you break her heart again, I will make your life a living hell."
I swallow a lump in my throat and nod that I understand. I release a shaky breath when she backs up and picks up her glass. My cue to do the same. I grab my glass and quickly scoot back in my chair, putting as much distance between us as possible. Two tours in Afghanistan and this tiny little woman has got me ducking for cover. I down the tea in a matter of seconds, and then eye Jenny warily while I set it on the table.
She's got every right to be angry, I keep telling myself. You walked out on her daughter and then knocked her up. You deserve this.
Just when I prepare for another tongue lashing, she whips out her phone and taps the screen. "I guess I need to start making wedding plans. You'll probably want to do this in Austin, right?"
I nod in agreement, maybe a little too hard. Damn. I'm not a bobble-head doll.
"I'll need to start looking up venues and caterers and working out a date."
I nod again. It seems to be the only thing I know to do at the moment. She's probably wondering how her beautiful, talented, smart daughter ended up with an idiot like me.
Luckily, she seems to have tuned me out, because she's already calling a caterer in Austin and asking if they have any openings.
Shit. That was fast. Weird, because Christina is still sleeping. Shouldn't Jenny consult with Christina first? Or how about me? And who said we were having the wedding catered? Christina and I already decided my family would make the food. I should probably say something to Jenny.
Two tours in Afghanistan, I remind myself. Two freaking tours.
I clear my throat and lean forward.
Jenny waves me away before rising from her seat and walking toward the window.
Well, fuck!
***
Christina