Letting go of her, I pushed away. Madison stepped backward, her shoulders colliding against the windows. “Van, I’m sorry. I want that baby now.”
“Well, it doesn’t work like that.”
“It can.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a small bag. “I got this from the doctor’s office. You just need to ejaculate...”
“Get the fuck out, Madison.”
“Please, Van. You’re my only hope. We can’t afford in vitro in the traditional sense. Lip is too proud to face the truth. I mean, you two are…similar.”
It was my turn to take a step back.
Maybe I wasn’t thinking straight.
Madison was presenting me with the ultimate fuck-you to my brother. Would I really pass it up? I took a deep breath. “I’ll think about it.”
“You will?”
I softened my tone.
I’d approach this as a business negotiation. Half of what was heard was tone, not words. I softened mine. “How’s your painting going?”
Her brow furrowed. “My what?”
“Your painting. You were going to be a famous artist.”
“Things change.”
“Stay here,” I offered. “Stay here in this house and paint. We can fucking burn the paintings if you want, but I’m not jacking off in a test tube. If you want my sperm, you’ll have to get it the old-fashioned way.”
She shook her head.
“What’s the matter? You afraid you’ll realize what a loser you married.”
“Van, don’t.”
I walked to the front door and opened it. “Go, Madison. You were the one who came to me. I’m sure as shit not fucking you against your will.”
“It didn’t stop you on my wedding day.”
I shook my head. “Good try. You lifted your dress and spread your legs for me.”
“I thought…”
“Did you? Or have you justified what we did by lying to yourself.” My lips came together. “Now that I think about it and really look at you, you’re a bit pathetic. Maybe I couldn’t get it up for you either.”
“How long?” Her gaze stayed fixed on me as she came closer. “How long, Van? How long do I need to stay?”
“Long enough to get a positive test.”
“And when I do, you’ll let me go. No claims on the kid.”
“You’re agreeing to my terms?”
“You’ll let me go.”
I pushed the door closed so hard that the slam reverberated through the house, rattling the front windows. I took a step toward her. “I’ve learned a few things over the years. I don’t get into negotiations unless I’ll reap the benefits.”
“The kid won’t be yours.”