Page 37 of Waiting to Love You

I make it back home in no time, heading up the driveway and hopping into the car.

“I need to see my baby girl,” I mumble into my empty car as I pull out and head a few blocks over to Connor’s house.

Although Audrey and Connor hadn’t been together for very long, they were eager to start their life together. Thankfully, Audrey was only renting and could get out of the lease without too much hassle. It also helps that Connor will do anything to make sure he can come home to his girls every night. Last I heard, the owner put the place up for sale instead of searching for new tenants.

I pull into the driveway and take a deep breath. Just as I thought, all the girls are here, almost certainly waiting to get all the dirty details about my date with Seth last night. Trying to put off having this conversation, I recline my seat slightly and close my eyes.

I haven’t even had time to process everything that went on last night. Seth told me he had been in love with me for over a year. That in itself is a lot to handle, but the fact that I think I might feel the same way should make me feel giddy with joy. However, what I’m feeling now is the exact opposite. Seth has retired from the military and uprooted his entire life to move closer to me, removing every obstacle that I listed for why we can’t be together. He’s everything I could ever imagine wanting in a partner and a father for our daughter, but I have no idea how he is going to react when I tell him. Until I do, there’s no way I can let him anywhere near her.

“Hey! Don’t think you can get out of talking to us.”

I bolt up from my seat and spin toward the window. Selina’s face is practically plastered to the glass, a bright smile covering her face.

“What the fuck, girl?” I open the car door, bumping her lightly on the stomach. “You could have given me a heart attack.”

“I know, but I didn’t.” She smiles, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “Besides, I drew the short straw to come and get you. Audrey and Leia were tired of waiting for you to come inside and spill the beans.”

“I kind of figured that, hence my hiding in the car,” I respond as I rub the top of her belly and head toward the front door.

“No rubbing the belly without permission,” she grumbles as she follows quickly, reaching the door a few moments after I pull it open.

We both push through the door and head right to the kitchen. Everyone but Leia is seated around the large island in the kitchen; a pitcher of mimosas is sitting in the center, and everyone has a full glass. Leia is sitting at the table with Rebekah in the Moby wrap strapped to her chest, fast asleep.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” Selina announces as I slide into the kitchen, heading directly for Rebekah.

“You need to lay her down. I don’t want her to get used to being held while she’s sleeping,” I murmur to Leia before gently kissing the top of my daughter’s head.

“Chill out, Mama Bear. She just fell asleep a few minutes ago.” Leia pushes back from the table. “I was just about to lay her down in the playpen in the family room. Jade and Love are in there watching TV. They can keep an eye on her so we can talk.” She throws a wink over her shoulder before brushing past me and striding toward the family room.

Jade is Connor’s daughter from his marriage to Lydia. Lydia died during childbirth, but I hear from everyone that Jade looks just like her, with long dark hair and sparkling green eyes like her father’s. She’s the sweetest girl you’ll ever meet, but I may be a little biased.

Love is Audrey’s daughter and my favorite niece, but don’t tell Jade I said that. I’ve known Love for most of her life, and she will always hold a special place in my heart. She has wavy black hair, the same color as her mother’s, that she always has in a messy bun on the top of her head. Love was my entire world until I got pregnant with Rebekah, but she’s a close second. Jade and Love are both fifteen and gorgeous. I feel sorry for Connor when those two start dating.

I take a seat at one of the empty stools at the island and reach for the pitcher of mimosas, pouring myself a glass and drinking it down with one gulp. “Did she give you any problems?” I’m going to need to pump and dump after drinking, but I need it.

Audrey smiles. “She was a gem. Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

No one else says a word. They just look at me expectantly, clearly waiting for me to tell them everything about my date. Just as I open my mouth to make more small talk, my phone chimes in my bag. I reach in and pull it out, and Seth’s name is flashing across the screen.

“Are you going to answer that?” Selina asks as she leans over, trying to catch a glimpse over my shoulder. “It must be important if he’s calling less than an hour after you left his place.”

“Seth is calling you?” Leia chimes in as she comes back into the kitchen.

“Yes, but he can wait.”

“That man has been waiting over a year for you already.” Audrey giggles as she fills three glasses with the champagne and orange juice mixture, before grabbing mine and refilling it.

“Exactly. What is another few minutes going to hurt?” I snap before turning the volume off and shoving the phone back into my bag. The last thing I need is them asking a million questions every time my phone rings.

“Now that we have your full attention, are you going to tell us what happened last night?” Leia questions as she takes a seat at the opposite end of the bar.

I look around the room, trying not to make eye contact with any of them. They will know as soon as I look into their eyes how things have changed. “I can’t tell him about Rebekah yet.”

“You can’t hide her forever, Bri.” Leia reaches around Selina and squeezes my shoulder to get my attention.

“I can, and I will,” I snap.

I clench my eyes shut tightly and inhale deeply. I need to get control of the fear and anger by taking a large gulp of my mimosa. I know my friends want what’s best for me, but there are so many unanswered questions. I need to figure out how serious Seth is about all of this before I can even think about introducing him to our daughter. “I’m sorry, but I need to protect her. He said he came back to town for me. That he retired from the military for me so that we could be together. But he might change his mind once he finds out about her.”

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