Inked by Everly Drummond Read Free Book Online Page A

when his face softened and his clenched fists relaxed, she launched into a detailed account of the events that had taken place after the last time they saw each other.
    “When you dropped me off on Sunday night I found an email from my advisor telling me that she wanted to meet with me the following day. She insisted that a few changes had to be made to my thesis and told me that I had until Friday afternoon to submit them. I worked my ass off all week so we’d be able to spend the weekend together. I was going to call you and see if you wanted to do something that weekend, but that’s when my sister called me and told me that our father had suffered a heart attack. I barely had time to pack for New York before she picked me up.” Avery looked at Brody appraisingly, and when he remained silent, lost in his thoughts, she continued. “I wasn’t expecting to be in the city more than a few days, but my father had to undergo bypass surgery. By the time I got home two weeks had passed. I was going to call you then, but I started feeling under the weather. I thought I’d picked up some bug while I was at the hospital. So when I didn’t start to feel better after a week, I went to the doctors. That’s when I found out I was pregnant.”
    “And you couldn’t have picked up a phone and called me?”
    “You have to understand, I was young, I was scared, and I felt cheap and embarrassed that I was stupid enough to get pregnant by a guy that I’d spent one weekend with. I wanted to call you and tell you everything, I swear I did, but what guy wants to be chained down to a lifelong commitment because he made the mistake of having a one night stand?”
    Brody rubbed his hand across his stubbled chin as he contemplated Avery’s explanation. “So let me get this straight. I missed out on knowing my son because of your pride?”
    “No, it’s not like that. I...”
    “Let me finish,” Brody growled and picked up his beer, drinking down the last of its contents and using those few precious seconds to curb his mounting anger. “Are you telling me that even after everything I told you that weekend, after me telling you how I felt about you, that I was a mistake? Was Parker a mistake too?”
    “Oh my God, no, he’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
    “And you thought it would be okay to deny me that happiness, to deny me my parental rights?” he snarled.
    “I’m sorry,” Avery whispered, and choked back tears. “And you’re right, I should’ve told you.”
    “Damn right you should’ve told me.” Brody clenched his fists. Never before had he felt as angry as he did at this very moment, and with good reason. “Is there anything else I should know?”
    “Well,” she hesitated. There was no turning back now. She might as well tell him the entire story. “There is one more thing.”
    “Oh, God, he’s a twin, isn’t he? There are two of them.”
    “Nooooo, it’s nothing like that,” Avery quickly assured him. “After I found out I was pregnant, I started having problems. I almost miscarried three times. The third time the doctor had to deliver Parker by emergency c-section.”
    Brody looked at Avery, stunned by her candid admissions. “For Christ sake, Avery, why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped you. I could’ve done something to make things easier for you.”
    “There’s nothing you could’ve done, Brody,” she tried to assure him.
    “What about school? If you were sick, how did you work and pay rent? How in the hell did you pay the hospital bill?” The questions flew out of his mouth like a boulder picking up speed as it toppled down the hillside. “And what about prenatal care, did you even have an obstetrician?”
    “That’s really none of your concern,” Avery replied indignantly, but her tone softened. Brody was concerned, and as much as she hated to admit it, he had every right to be. He was Parker’s father. Swallowing her pride, she answered each of his questions in turn.