spoiled rotten in no time.”
“Let’s go find this asshole and get this paper signed.”
She nodded and got into the vehicle. They made a quick stop by the bank before continuing to the college. When they reached campus, she pointed Gryf toward the visitors entrance and he signed in with the guard. It wasn’t too difficult to find a place to park, and within minutes, they were walking toward the quad. Gryf paused here and there to take in some of the more unusual looking buildings and she tried to give him a brief tour along the way.
“After the baby is born, I’ll pay for you to finish your degree. If you need me to stay with the baby while you’re in class, I have no problem doing that.”
“I think I’ll take you up on that. I’ll feel better about being your marketing manager if I’ve actually completed my degree.”
They continued through the campus until they reached the quad. Lydia searched the area where Phillip liked to hang out, but she didn’t see him. She walked the perimeter of the quad just in case she’d missed him. Just when she was about to lead Gryf in another direction, she did a double take. There was a guy hanging out near the ornamental garden that looked vaguely familiar. She tugged Gryf behind her as she got a little closer, and then she gasped. It had been a while since she’d seen Phillip, at least a month or more. In that time, he’d grown a scraggly beard, his hair had gotten longer, and he’d dropped a considerable amount of weight. He looked horrific.
Lydia approached him cautiously, not sure what to expect. He didn’t seem to
recognize her at first and then his eyes lit with a calculating gleam. That didn’t bode well. Unless it meant he was desperate enough to accept the cash Gryf had taken out.
She didn’t dare let go of Gryf’s hand, needing his strength now more than ever.
“Phillip.”
“Lydia, right?”
She nodded.
“I haven’t seen you around lately.” His gaze jerked from her to Gryf then back again. “New boyfriend?”
“I’m taking a semester off,” she said. “There’s something I need to tell you. I know it’s been a while since we saw each other, but the last time we were together…I think the condom must have broken.”
His gaze zeroed in on her slightly swollen belly.
“No way you’re trying to tell me that kid is mine.” His jaw jutted. “I’m not
paying child support or any of that shit.”
“So you don’t want anything to do with her?”
“Her? It’s a girl?” His brow furrowed. “What the fuck would I do with a little girl? Don’t you have to dress them up with bows and shit?”
Lydia took the document from Gryf. “Yes, you do. And they require lots of time and attention, as well as money. But if you don’t want to do any of that…”
“Fuck no, I don’t want to!”
“Then just sign this document, waiving your rights to the baby, and you’ll never hear from me again.” She watched him sign his name, but while she felt giddy about it, she could tell there was something wrong with him. “Are you all right, Phillip?”
“I’ve been sick. What of it?”
Unease trickled down her spine. “Sick with what? And for how long?”
“I had the flu for a while, and then some kind of bug.” He fidgeted. “I, ah…I was diagnosed as HIV positive a few weeks ago.”
Lydia felt faint ,and if Gryf hadn’t wrapped an arm around her waist, she
probably would have gone down for the count. “HIV? How long?”
“They aren’t sure, but they think it could have happened a few months ago.”
“Months?” she squeaked.
“Lydia, calm down,” Gryf said. “I’m sure something would have shown up in
your blood work at either the hospital or the doctor’s office if you had it. But if it will make you feel better, I’ll take you straight to the hospital and they can do more tests.”
“Gryf, if I have it… the baby…”
Gryf glowered at Phillip. “I think we’re done here. I don’t want you to have any
“Let’s go find this asshole and get this paper signed.”
She nodded and got into the vehicle. They made a quick stop by the bank before continuing to the college. When they reached campus, she pointed Gryf toward the visitors entrance and he signed in with the guard. It wasn’t too difficult to find a place to park, and within minutes, they were walking toward the quad. Gryf paused here and there to take in some of the more unusual looking buildings and she tried to give him a brief tour along the way.
“After the baby is born, I’ll pay for you to finish your degree. If you need me to stay with the baby while you’re in class, I have no problem doing that.”
“I think I’ll take you up on that. I’ll feel better about being your marketing manager if I’ve actually completed my degree.”
They continued through the campus until they reached the quad. Lydia searched the area where Phillip liked to hang out, but she didn’t see him. She walked the perimeter of the quad just in case she’d missed him. Just when she was about to lead Gryf in another direction, she did a double take. There was a guy hanging out near the ornamental garden that looked vaguely familiar. She tugged Gryf behind her as she got a little closer, and then she gasped. It had been a while since she’d seen Phillip, at least a month or more. In that time, he’d grown a scraggly beard, his hair had gotten longer, and he’d dropped a considerable amount of weight. He looked horrific.
Lydia approached him cautiously, not sure what to expect. He didn’t seem to
recognize her at first and then his eyes lit with a calculating gleam. That didn’t bode well. Unless it meant he was desperate enough to accept the cash Gryf had taken out.
She didn’t dare let go of Gryf’s hand, needing his strength now more than ever.
“Phillip.”
“Lydia, right?”
She nodded.
“I haven’t seen you around lately.” His gaze jerked from her to Gryf then back again. “New boyfriend?”
“I’m taking a semester off,” she said. “There’s something I need to tell you. I know it’s been a while since we saw each other, but the last time we were together…I think the condom must have broken.”
His gaze zeroed in on her slightly swollen belly.
“No way you’re trying to tell me that kid is mine.” His jaw jutted. “I’m not
paying child support or any of that shit.”
“So you don’t want anything to do with her?”
“Her? It’s a girl?” His brow furrowed. “What the fuck would I do with a little girl? Don’t you have to dress them up with bows and shit?”
Lydia took the document from Gryf. “Yes, you do. And they require lots of time and attention, as well as money. But if you don’t want to do any of that…”
“Fuck no, I don’t want to!”
“Then just sign this document, waiving your rights to the baby, and you’ll never hear from me again.” She watched him sign his name, but while she felt giddy about it, she could tell there was something wrong with him. “Are you all right, Phillip?”
“I’ve been sick. What of it?”
Unease trickled down her spine. “Sick with what? And for how long?”
“I had the flu for a while, and then some kind of bug.” He fidgeted. “I, ah…I was diagnosed as HIV positive a few weeks ago.”
Lydia felt faint ,and if Gryf hadn’t wrapped an arm around her waist, she
probably would have gone down for the count. “HIV? How long?”
“They aren’t sure, but they think it could have happened a few months ago.”
“Months?” she squeaked.
“Lydia, calm down,” Gryf said. “I’m sure something would have shown up in
your blood work at either the hospital or the doctor’s office if you had it. But if it will make you feel better, I’ll take you straight to the hospital and they can do more tests.”
“Gryf, if I have it… the baby…”
Gryf glowered at Phillip. “I think we’re done here. I don’t want you to have any
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