Officially Over It (SWAT Generation 2.0 10)

***

“So what happened?”

Reggie had been waiting at my place for me the moment I’d ridden up on my bike.

I got off the bike and walked up to her, helmet in hand.

“What happened was a bunch of nothing,” I admitted. “She was filing an emergency petition with the court to get me a DNA test ordered, which is what is going to be required, she says, for me to see the baby. I should have that by the end of the day. Meaning that depending on however long it’ll take with the lab, it’ll give me access to get into the NICU, because you damn well know that she’s going to say it’s not my kid.”

Reggie grimaced.

“She’s also going to work on the custody thing. She says that the baby being in the NICU will work in our favor. The baby won’t be able to go home to anyone’s house, giving her time to get shit done that’ll hopefully be in our favor,” I explained.

Reggie breathed a sigh of relief. “The DNA test should only take a bit. I bribed the lab techs. So hopefully we can get your name added to that birth certificate.”

“That was another thing she said. If the test comes back positive, then they’ll add me to it through the court.” I blew out a shaky breath and looked at Reggie. “I’m hungry. Do you… do you want to grab some food?”

There were things that I needed to talk to her about, and there were things that I found that were better when Reggie was fed and happy.

“Sure.” She looked at her watch. “I think we still have time to make it to Nanny Goat’s if you’d like to go there.”

Nanny Goat’s closed at five.

I’d fuckin’ love to go there.

“Sounds good.” I grinned. “Let’s go.”

Only after we were back home did I broach the subject.

“Umm.” I paused. “So the lawyer said something today.”

Her eyes were locked on me. “Okay. What?”

“She said that this all would be easier if I was married,” I blurted out. “And I told her that I was. In front of my father.”

She sat there silently for a few long seconds before saying, “Shit.”

Shit was right.

It was only a matter of time before her own parents heard.

“And here’s the thing. We need to have this look real. Meaning you should probably move in with me,” I continued.

Her eyes went wide as saucers.

“That… move in with you?” she squeaked.

I was already nodding my head. “Yes, move in with me.”

She was shaking her head as if the thought was abhorrent to her.

“I can’t marry—I mean move in with you!” she cried out. “What would my parents think?”

I looked at her blandly. “You’re already married, Reggie.”

She narrowed her eyes as if she would reach out and strangle me with her gaze alone.

“But they don’t know that!” she cried. “Oh my God. That’s the first thing your dad is going to do. Call my mom. Jesus Christ. Why are they best friends again?”

I would’ve laughed had she not been one hundred percent serious, which was honestly kind of pissing me off.

After we’d finished our meal, I drove back home, ready to fight it out if that was what it would come to.

It didn’t.

The moment that I parked and we headed inside, she was already speaking.

“You only have one bedroom. I have two. You move in with me,” she countered.

I was already shaking my head. “I’m not moving in there. That place is filled with shifty people. And look at it this way, at least you don’t have to pay rent anymore. All that money can go toward whatever you’re paying off that you’re trying not to let your parents know about.”

Her eyes gleamed.

“That is five hundred bucks a month,” she admitted. “Fine. For how long?”

That was the problem. I didn’t know how long. But I didn’t think anything about this process was going to be fast. I also didn’t delude myself into thinking that even if I won that Eerie wouldn’t keep fighting. And, seeing as her dad was a millionaire, I had no doubt in my mind that Eerie had the funds to fight me.

“I’m guessing a couple of years,” I admitted. “But we’ve already been married for a while, Reg. What’s a couple more years?”

She narrowed her eyes at me.

“Did you know that Sierra had herself artificially inseminated?”

My mouth dropped open as her left field comment took me completely by surprise. “Umm, no. That’s not something that Sammy told me about.”

The first smile since I’d arrived graced Reggie’s perfectly beautiful lips.

“That’s because her brother doesn’t know,” she admitted. “Nobody but me does. Sierra wanted to make sure it worked before she told anyone. She did it completely on her own.”

I had no clue where she was going with this.

None.

“I have three conditions,” she said formally.

My brows climbed up to my hair line.