Late Night Check In

At his apartment, Ethan sat on the edge of his bed, phone in hand. He stared at the screen for a second before finally pressing call.

Official reason? He wanted to check on Nadine and the baby.

Real reason? He just really wanted to hear her voice.

"Yeah, hello?" Nadine answered softly, sounding a little tired.

"It's me. Ethan," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. Just hearing her voice did something weird to his chest. "Just wanted to check in, see how you and the baby are doing."

There was a pause on the other end.

"Hello? You still there?" he asked when she didn't reply right away.

"I'm here," she finally said. "I'm fine. The baby's fine too. Just a bit tired."

"You sure? You sound… drained."

"It's just work. And existing. While growing a human," she said dryly. "It's exhausting."

"Fair," Ethan murmured. "Well, I hope you're taking breaks. Eating well. Sleeping enough."

She gave a soft hum. "Trying. Not always succeeding."

He leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes. "Wish I could help."

He said gently after a pause "You should get some rest. I'll call you again tomorrow. Good night, Nadine."

Truth was, he wanted to keep talking. He wanted to stay on the line until she fell asleep. But he didn't want to bother her.

"Good night, Ethan."

His heart did a weird little jump when she said his name.

Seriously?

That's all it took now?

He hung up and stared at the phone for a few seconds, smiling like an idiot.

What's happening to me?

He wasn't like this. Not anymore. He had rules, walls. And for good reason.

A few years ago, his ex told him she was pregnant. Said it was his. He did the right thing, stood by her, made plans. Then he found out the baby wasn't his at all. She had lied. And just like that, his trust in people went out the window.

Since then, he didn't let anyone get close.

But Nadine… she didn't lie. She didn't chase him. She didn't even ask for anything. She just told the truth and left the rest up to him.

And that honesty?

It hit harder than anything else.

That's why he believed her. That's why he believed this baby really was his.

"I'm not marrying you."

It shouldn't have surprised him. But damn, it still stung.

Of course I'll take responsibility. What do you think I am? Some guy who bails when things get hard?

Ethan paced across his apartment, one hand gripping his phone even though the call had ended a while ago. Nadine's voice still echoed in his head.

He paused by the window, staring out at the blurry city lights. His heart was pounding for reasons he didn't want to admit out loud. Maybe it was the baby. Maybe it was her. Or maybe… it was both.

His parents would lose it if they ever found out. A baby out of wedlock? His dad would have an actual meltdown.

"So you got a girl pregnant, and now you think walking away is an option?"

Yeah. Ethan could already hear the speech forming.

He sighed, dragging a hand down his face. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. He was supposed to do the right thing, marry her, take care of her and the baby, make it work somehow. That's what men do, right?

But Nadine didn't want that.

She didn't want him.

At least, that's what she kept saying.

Still, he wasn't buying it. Not completely.

Because no matter how strong or stubborn she acted, there was something in her eyes, just a flicker that told him she was scared. And maybe, just maybe, part of her didn't want to be alone in this either.

Fine, he thought, a quiet fire sparking in his chest.

You don't want to marry me now? That's okay. I'm not going anywhere. And one day, you'll see.

His lips curved into the smallest, most dangerous smile.

You'll be mine, Nadine. I don't care how long it takes. You, me, and that baby, we're a package deal.

And whether she liked it or not, Ethan Williams was all in.

***

Ode to Joy by the legendary Beethoven floated through Nadine's office, playing from her phone speaker as she skimmed through a thick folder of her company's latest project. According to something she'd read online, classical music could help with fetal development. So now, it was her, a symphony, and a bunch of client proposals.

When she walked into the office earlier that morning, she could feel the stares. Not hostile. Just... curious. Eyes drifting to her belly, now unmistakably showing then flicking away just as fast. Whispers followed her down the hall. No ring. No groom. Just a baby bump and a very private personal life.

She didn't bother addressing it. Let them wonder.

Her phone buzzed beside her. A text.

"Just checking in. How are you feeling today?"

-Ethan.

Nadine frowned, her thumb hovering over the screen. He'd been like this for days now. Gentle. Attentive. Trying.

And she hated how part of her liked it.

Still... Ethan freaking Williams. Rockstar. Heartthrob. Tabloid regular. King of one-night headlines and ex-girlfriends with warning labels. Just because he was the father didn't mean she had to suddenly forget who he was out there.

Marriage?

Yeah. No.

She wasn't going to ruin her life just because biology got involved.

He might be serious now, but for how long? Until the next tour? The next scandal? The next impossibly pretty model backstage?

She shook her head, muttering under her breath, "Please. With my luck, we'd be divorced before the baby even starts teething."

She tossed her phone onto the desk, letting Beethoven fill the silence again. She wasn't cold. She wasn't cruel.

She was just protecting herselfand the tiny person growing inside her from a lifetime of chaos she never signed up for.

Let Ethan be upset. Let him argue. But Nadine? She was sticking to her decision.

No ring. No wedding. No fantasy ending.

Not unless love was actually in it.

***