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Zo raises her eyebrow. “And what if I don’t like the name Mellie?”
“What’s not to like?” I ask with mock offence. “She’s our little watermelon that you so bravely pushed out of your beautiful, sweet p—”
Zoe interrupts me before I can finish. “Please for the love of all that’s holy, do not”—she shoots me a pointed look—“continue that sentence.” She’s trying to scold me, but I don’t miss the little blush she is now spotting.
“Like I was saying. She’s the perfect watermelon, hence Mellie.”
“Your logic is unmatched, Matteo,” Zoe says in dry tone.
I shoot her a crooked smile, a wink and watch that little blush deepen. “See, I knew you’d love it too.”
A nurse confirms we are going with that name and runs to get the paperwork done, handing me a swaddled Mellie to hold. For a second when she was carrying her my way, I thought how bizarre it all is.
Me, about to hold my daughter. Talk about life curves.
But then a warmth so bright spilled over my heart, I felt it bursting through me as soon as she was settled in my arms.
That feeling of rightness is back.
“You are so, so tiny Mellie. But don’t worry, Daddy will be here to protect you. Always,” I whisper to her and gently kiss her cute, button nose.
I’m still rocking and gazing at her when I hear Zoe clear her throat and call my name.
“Matteo,” Zoe says a little unsure, making my eyes snap to hers. Those beautiful eyes that are filled to the brink with tears and I rush over to her.
“Hey, what’s wrong, Sunshine? Why are you crying?” I ask, whipping the tear sliding down her cheek.
“Because I’m an idiot.”
“What?” I ask, confused what’s she talking about.
“I really should have told you right away, as soon as I saw you this morning but…” She trails of cryptically.
“But?”
Zoe exhales. “You were so funny and sweet and caring that I got carried away with this. Pretending this was something it was never meant to be.” She exhales some more. “You are not the father.”
What did she just say?
“What?” I hear myself asking, but my brain is stuck somewhere else.
“Matteo, I really really appreciate all your help and support here today.” Zoe leans into me, placing her hand on mine. “I’m not sure I could do this without you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away.”
“Hold up here one second.” I swallow the thick lump, stuck in my throat while feeling my world tilt upside down for the hundredth time today. Yet this one feels the fucking worst. “You are trying to say that that sweetest little bundle I just watched being born, the one I’m holding, is not mine?”
Zoe sighs, lowering her eyes. “Yes. Unfortunately, she’s is not.”
My heart squeezes painfully, doubling over inside my chest, and I start breathing heavily. “Matteo?”
“One second,” I whisper, my voice growing coarse and drawing Mellie a little closer to my chest as if afraid that someone will come and steal her away from my arms. “I just need one fudging moment over here.”
Not Mine.
“Shouldn’t this be a dream come true? You, not being stuck to one woman who you barely know because you knocked her up?” Zoe asks without looking at me, hiding away her face.
Yeah, it should be.
But it sounds more like a nightmare at this moment.