Chapter 37

I got up for work as usual and went on about my morning like I usually would. I spent the night at my parents,’ so I didn’t have to worry about packing my lunch. Today, I was supposed to get my paternity results for the baby. Oddly, I was nervous, even when I was 100% certain what the results would be.

I had managed to successfully avoid Calvin these past few days. As for Janelle, I didn’t get to avoid her, and I didn’t want to avoid her. She was a good friend, or we were starting to become good friends; plus, she was a mom already and about to have another child. I was sure I’d be getting some tips and advice from her when it came to the baby. We actually had plans to meet up for lunch today. I wasn’t too happy with the lunch plan, but she seemed excited about it.

The only reason I didn’t like the idea of it was because she’d prepare the food at home, and she’d bring it to the office and would have lunch with me. Ines convinced me it was a good idea—perhaps if people still thought of me and Calvin being a thing, it could easily be squashed because the only reason we’re seen together other than work was because I was a good friend of his sister-in-law.

“Did you take your lunch?” Mom asked before I took a step out the door.

“Yes, Mom, I did.” I shook my head and slipped on my shoes.

“Okay, Lilybug. Let me know when you get there,” she said as she was busy preparing her own morning smoothie. I had mine in my to-go cup.

“I will.” I laughed to myself. Yup, this was totally giving me high school vibes. I got to my car, and on the way to the office, I devoured the smoothie. It wasn’t the best smoothie, but I knew it had lots of vitamins and many other things that were supposed to be good for me and the baby.

I got to the office and settled in, starting straight away with my tasks. Along the way, Topher joined my side; the desk next to mine was free. In the office I worked, there were three desks and one of the men, Mr. Kingsley, had surgery, so he was taking time off, and today, Mrs. Jill was off from work, leaving me alone in the office.

Topher and I began to talk while I did my work. Once again, the man seemed like such a lovely guy and took so much interest in my life.

“How’s it going with your pregnancy?” Topher then asked, twirling the pencil between his fingers.

“It’s going great so far,” I replied, rubbing my stomach.

“How many weeks along are you?” he then asked. I always found it sweet how he’d ask.

“Eleven now. How far along is your sister-in-law?” I answered. I remembered he mentioned his sister-in-law being pregnant.

“Oh, she’s twenty weeks now. Can’t wait to meet my nephew or niece,” he answered with a huge grin on his face. I could tell just how excited he was about that.

“First grandchild, right?” I asked and turned back to my screen, typing in the information.

“Yup, I already know that child is going to be spoiled rotten.” Topher smiled happily.

“Do you want kids?” I then asked. He seemed so cheerful about the whole kids thing, so I could only assume he would want one of his own.

“Yup, at least two and max four.” Topher smirked. My eyes widened at the number four. Being an only child made it wild for me when people said they’d have more than two kids.

“Oh, wow,” I said out loud, looking at him with my eyes still wide.

“Yep, you?” Topher wondered, rolling over to me with his chair and leaned over my desk.

“I think maybe just two.” I shrugged. I wasn’t too sure myself if I wanted just one. Perhaps if things go well with the first, I might want a second.

“You’ll make an incredible mother,” he said out of the blue, which made me frown and turn to him immediately.

“What makes you say that?” Sure, we worked together, but did he truly know me? That I doubted a bit.

“Because you always put others before yourself and you take genuine interest in people and you’re quite caring. You try not to show it often, but you are,” Topher began to explain, his dazzling eyes focused on me and those pink lips in a slight smile. I was so lucky to have such great co-workers. I really got lucky here because things could’ve been much worse.

“Thank you for saying that, Topher,” I said sincerely. Hearing people say I’d make a good mother calmed the worries I had. I heard the office door open. We both turned around and saw Calvin walking in. The look on his face wasn’t the best, which made me wonder what he was here for. Well, I could guess what he was here for, but it wasn’t time just yet.

“Topher? What are you doing here?” he asked in a stern tone. I looked over at Topher. He straightened up as he looked at our boss.

“Morning, sir. I’m working,” Topher answered.

“Why are you not in your own office?” he then asked, looking over at me who raised a brow at him.

“Lily was by herself, so I figured I’d keep her company,” Topher answered, pointing to me.

“Ms. Lily,” he said quietly, almost as if he was correcting Topher on how he should refer to me. “It will be lunch soon. I have something to discuss with her and my sister-in-law, so could you pack up and go for now?” Calvin asked, but it seemed more like a command.

“Yes, sir.” Topher shrugged and got up, taking his bag and phone with him.

“See you after lunch.” He smiled at me and walked to the door.

“Yes, enjoy, Topher.” I smiled back at him.

I watched as Calvin stared Topher down until he exited the office then walked over to me slowly. He took a seat across from me and stared at me. I raised a brow at him, trying to figure out what he was even here for.

“The results should be mailed to us both,” he finally spoke up when he realized I wasn’t saying anything. “Correct?” he asked for confirmation.

“Oh, right,” I mumbled and looked over at the time on my watch. “It should be soon, actually,” I realized when I saw the time. In less than five minutes, we should get the results, if Doctor Julia was serious about the results coming back to us in time.

“So, you and Topher are close now?” Calvin asked, looking at me with this weird look on his face.

“Yes, we’re co-workers, and he’s quite friendly,” I answered, pulling out my phone to distract myself a bit.

“Where will you and Janelle have lunch?” he then asked, clearly wanting my attention.

“Um, I have no idea. She didn’t exactly say anything.” I looked around. “I suppose here would do. Nobody’s around, so we’d have enough privacy,” I pointed out and looked back at Calvin. Right at the moment, the door opened. We both turned around to look and saw Janelle walking in with a tray of drinks in one hand, her purse hanging from her shoulder, and the other hand occupied with brown paper bags.

She walked to the nearest desk, put everything down, and took a deep breath. “Hello, Lily.” She smiled at me. “Calv, didn’t expect you to be here,” she said with a slight frown on her face.

“I came here to see the results with her together,” Calvin explained. “You’re here early

“Well, I picked up some lunch for you as well and figured I’d have to bring it up for you but now you’re here,” she said while gathering one of the bags and a drink and bringing them to him.

“Thank you for these.” Calvin smiled briefly at her and began to sip the drink he had. It had a fruity smell that somehow started irritating me, but I didn’t want to say anything.

“I forgot the results were coming in today.” Janelle sat down at the desk next to me and looked at me.

“It’s okay. It’ll be over soon.” I shrugged, but I could feel my heart racing faster again, my palms becoming quite sweaty.

“Oh my god. The results are in,” I said nervously. I could feel my heartbeat going way too fast. I looked over at Calvin and noticed he too had gotten the email at the same time. We both stared at each other for a split second before pressing on the email and clicked on, “see results.”

“What is it, guys?” Janelle asked, dying to know the results as well.