I get an anxious call from Ethan, asking if he can come around straight away. The only thing I can think of is he got the paternity results. Since he rang, I’ve been pacing the floor, thinking that whatever it is can’t be good. Maybe Kyle is the father. The thought brings tears to my eyes. No matter what, I want this baby. What I don’t want is Kyle to use it as leverage. I know I won’t ever go back to him, but I also know he will make it extremely difficult one way or another.

Sarah’s not helping, either. Since the incident a few days ago, I’ve had nothing but a string of texts and voicemails threatening to take me to court and calling me every name under the sun. Ethan keeps saying they’re just words, but they’re still not nice to receive. At first, I deleted them, then thought it best to keep them as evidence. I’ll never know when I might need them, but if she keeps this up, I may not have choice but to threaten to go to the police. I don’t want to do that to her, but she may leave me no other choice.

As I pace, biting my nails, I hear a car door slam. I run to the window and see Ethan walking up, clutching an envelope. What if I don’t want to hear the results? I try and gauge Ethan’s expression as he rings the doorbell. He seems...perturbed.

Bile rises in my throat as I walk to the door. “Come in.” Ethan quickly walks through, holding out the envelope. I look at it, then back at him as I swallow the lump in my throat. “What does it say?”

“I haven’t opened it yet.”

I breathe out a sigh. “When you came in looking like you did, I thought it was really bad news.”

He gives me an apologetic look before ripping it open. “I guess we shall see together, won’t we?”

Immediately, I feel my heart pound. As he pulls the letter out, I sit down on one of the sofa chairs and start biting my nails again. For someone who’s never done this before, I’m certainly catching up on it now.

I feel the adrenaline pump. I can’t take it much longer. When I look up at Ethan, he smiles, handing me the results. “The baby’s mine, Alice.” He starts laughing in jubilation. “The baby’s mine.”

I jump up and hug him. The tears come, but so does the euphoria of finally knowing it’s over. Now maybe Kyle will leave me alone.

“Thank you,” I say, snuggling into his chest.

I feel his hot breath against my hair as he places a gentle kiss on top of my head. “There’s no getting rid of me now,” he whispers, stroking my hair.

I don’t want to move. The feel of him against me makes me feel things I know I shouldn’t. My loins wake up, my breathing quickens. His smell invades my nostrils, making me want more. I clutch onto him, but I know I’m going to have to break away at some point. When Ethan doesn’t move, I become paranoid that he’s just being a gentleman and waiting for me to break away first.

I pull away, sniffling. “You don’t realise how much of a relief this is.”

He gives me that boyish grin I have come to love. “I’m glad you feel that way. It’s actually quite an ego boost knowing a woman would rather be carrying my baby than her husband’s.”

I start laughing. “Well, when you put it that way... Kyle is the exception to the rule, though.”

“Hey,” he feigns hurt, making me laugh more. “Way to put a man down. I was enjoying my moment.”

“I’m sorry. Enjoy your moment. The way you’ve looked after me, despite the fact that you may not have been the father, is exceptional. Not every man would be as accommodating and caring as you’ve been.”

He smiles. “That’s because I have nothing to worry about.”

I have an idea and reach my hand out. “Can I have that letter a moment? Kyle has a scanner in the spare room.” At some point, I’m going to have to start decorating it to get ready for the baby. That thought makes me smile.

Ethan looks very hesitant, but he lets me take it.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“I’m fine. I just don’t see what any of this has to do with him. I hate that he is part of something private between us.”

“I know it’s hard, but this will get him off our backs. He can’t dispute the facts.” I look over Ethan’s shoulder at my phone. “In fact, this will be faster.” I sit, placing the letter down on the table. I pick up my phone, position it, and take a picture, making sure the most important information is visible. I then attach it in WhatsApp.

I took my own paternity test. There’s no disputing the results. Please sign the divorce papers and leave me alone. It’s over.

I click to send it. “There,” I say, not bothering to see if Kyle’s seen it. “Maybe he will leave me alone now. It’ll be nice to feel what it’s like to be free.”

Ethan smiles as he takes a seat next to me. “Now you’ll get to see for yourself. As you say, he can’t dispute facts.” He takes my hand. “I’m this baby’s father. No matter what, I’m going to be here. I doubt Kyle can say the same.”

I see the sincerity in his eyes, making me feel all tingly inside. Lately, just about everything Ethan does gives me tingles. Our eyes lock. I feel my body heat with a rich intensity. His eyes sparkle, foretelling mischief I wish to explore. I wonder what mischief we could get into, I think, absentmindedly letting my eyes drop to his lips. The same lips I find myself dreaming about lately. The other day, I was in the middle of dreaming about kissing him. He was just about to lower my dress strap when the alarm on my phone woke me up. I was so pissed off, I actually threw the phone across the room.

When I look into Ethan’s eyes, I see he’s looking at my lips, too. Surely he doesn’t feel the same way I do. I must be missing the signals somewhere. However, the thought makes my loins wake up like never before. Feeling my face flush, I rub my knees together a little to try and ease the ache that’s developing. As his eyes come back up to meet mine, I almost moan at the need to kiss him. It overwhelms me so much, I start to lean forward, the pinging of my phone startling me.

The spell broken, I look down. “I’d better check this,” I say, breathless. I notice the slight look of annoyance on Ethan’s face.

I read Kyle’s message and sigh. “What is it?” Ethan asks. I show him the message, which basically asks if I or “Dr. Fuckwit” ordered the paternity test.

Ethan shrugs. “Ignore it. He’ll eventually get the message and go away.”

I place the phone down and sigh. God, I really hope so.