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“Not the first elevator shaft I’ve climbed up.” He chuckles. “Might be the tallest one yet, though.”

“You did what?” I ask, mouth agape.

“No big deal.” Suddenly, he looks a little uncomfortable. “Maybe just don’t tell Selene?”

“If I’m keeping secrets from my best friend, then you’d better hurry up and tell me what the hell you’re doing here,” I demand, turning to go back inside and letting Gunnar follow behind me to the kitchen. When I turn around, Gunnar looks at me with genuine concern.

“I already told you that part.” He says softly. “Checkin’ on you.”

“Why?” I demand with a little too much bite.

He sighs. “Because Marshall said you haven’t responded to any of his emails, and he’s worryin’ about you.”

“Well, tell Marshall to mind his own business.” I snap defensively.

Gunnar gives me a look that says he’s not putting up with my icy demeanor today.

“You are his business, Elsie.” He reminds me. “You’re literally having his kid. He’s gonna be involved much more than just makin’ your breakfast every day.”

For the first time, I realize that I’ve made a mistake.

I could have kept this to myself, kept Marshall out of all of it. Now, it’s not just me and the baby, but all three of us.

“He’s going to want to be a part of all of it, isn’t he?” I say, realization dawning.

“Part of what?” Gunnar asks. “Mind if I grab some water. That was kind of a workout.”

In a daze, I go to the cabinet, pull out a glass, walk to the fridge and fill it with water, and hand it to Gunnar. Then, on autopilot, I find myself walking over and sinking into the couch.

“Elsie?” Gunnar asks, coming around the couch and sitting across from me on the coffee table. “Elsie, when was the last time you took a break?”

“I took a nap after my meeting earlier,” I reply, my tone flat.

“No. Like a real break. A vacation even.” He pushes.

“I don’t...”

“Don’t give me that bull about not needing a break. Selene tries to pull that shit on me every week, but it’s not gonna work.” He says, cutting me off.

“Fine.” I huff and admit. “I haven’t had a real vacation since before I started Crude Coral.”

“You should consider it.” He says, reaching out and putting his massive hand on my knee. “Take Marshall and go to The Playground for a few weeks. Get to know each other.”

I look up at him and only find genuine concern in his gaze.

Selene is my best friend, but I never really thought too much about my relationship with Gunnar. He’s just her fiancé.

Right now, though, I realize he cares quite a lot about me, more than I would have presumed previously.

“Get to know him.” Gunnar continues. “If you don’t want to be with him, like in a relationship, that’s fine. But figure out how you can work together. You’re gonna have to eventually.”

Silence fills the room as Gunnar sits with me while I process.

Deep down, I know he’s right.

I chose this. I chose to bring Marshall in on all of this.

I could have not told him anything and gone through with this on my own.

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