Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“I don’t know.” I shake my head.
“They look more fragile than they actually are,” Willow tells me gently, and I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. “Come on, sit here.”
“Okay.” I take a seat on one of the counter stools she pulls out, and Miranda places Jenny in my arms. She’s so light but so fricking heavy at the same time, knowing how precious the tiny bundle is, and as I look down at her sweet little face, I try to imagine what it’s going to be like when I hold my son or daughter for the first time.
But it still feels like some false reality, even after the ultrasound and hearing the heartbeat.
“See? You’re a natural,” Willow says, and I meet her gaze. From the look in her eyes, she definitely knows about the baby, and I wonder if she can tell that I’m scared out of my mind. I drop my eyes back to Jenny and watch her eyes slide closed as I gently rock her like I saw Miranda doing.
“So, how do you and Dayton know each other?” Emma asks, and I drag my eyes off Jenny to focus on her.
“We met at one of my parents’ parties and found out that we both live here in the same building.”
“That’s cool.” She studies me for a moment, seeming to weigh something over in her mind. “Are you two—?”
“No,” I cut her off, already knowing what she’s about to ask. “We’re just friends.”
“Oh,” she mutters, sounding disappointed.
“Do you hold hands with all your friends?” Miranda asks, and the back of my neck starts to tingle with unease.
“You don’t have to answer that,” Willow inserts, giving Miranda a look that I might give Molly, Georgia, or Amelia if they overstepped.
“Sorry, it’s just weird for us because we’ve all known Dayton for years, and he’s never brought a woman around. And he’s for sure never held hands with anyone.”
“Our relationship is a little complicated,” I confess.
“Trust me. I’m the queen of complicated,” Miranda says, then adds, “My now ex-husband was cheating on me with Tucker’s then wife.”
“What?” I’m sure my jaw is on the floor.
“Yep, it was messy, but it all worked out in the end.” She shrugs.
Apparently, since not only does her son consider Tucker his dad—or one of them—but they are also married now and have a new baby. “So, how is your and Dayton’s story complicated?”
“I’m pregnant,” I admit, adding, “with his baby,” for clarity, so they don’t get it wrong and think I’m having some other man’s child, figuring I might as well get it out in the open now. There is no point in keeping it a secret, when it’s just a matter of time before they all find out.
“Oh my God,” Miranda breathes, followed by Emma’s, “Holy shit.”
Not surprisingly, Willow doesn’t react at all.
“The news was a surprise to me and an even bigger surprise to him, but we’re working it out.”
“How far along are you?” Miranda asks.
“About twelve weeks. We just had our first ultrasound.”
“He went with you?” Emma asks, and I nod, watching her eyes begin to fill with tears. “Sorry.” She steps away and walks into the kitchen to grab a paper towel that she uses to wipe beneath her eyes.
“Is she okay?” I whisper.
“Yeah, we’re all pretty close with Dayton,” Willow tells me, then smiles softly. “We all know how awesome he is, and we’ve all talked more than once about how we wish he’d find someone and settle down. I just don’t think any of us ever saw that happening. He’s always been pretty adamant that he wasn’t looking for that kind of thing.”
“He’s told me the same.” I don’t add that he told me about having a vasectomy in order to avoid having kids since I don’t know if that’s something he wants everyone to know. “And that’s not what this is. I… We’re really just friends, and I’m okay with that.” The lie tastes sour on my tongue, but hopefully, if I say it enough, I can convince myself that it’s the truth.
Thankfully, after that, they don’t ask any more about Dayton’s and my relationship and change to asking me about myself and my job as they get stuff together for dinner. Every once in a while, the kids or the guys will come in and join us for a few minutes to grab food from the island, where there are bowls of chips and dips and other snack-type foods, then disappear again.
As I’m sitting there with Jenny still asleep in my arms, Dayton comes in, and his gaze finds mine before dropping to the bundle tucked against my chest. I don’t know what to think about the look in his eyes, but I do know that it makes me feel warm when they find mine again.