Page 47 of Won’t Let You Get Away

Rounding the car first, I block the driver’s side door and wait for her to look up at me.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

Bri blinks once, then again as if she hadn’t quite processed my words. She nods with a strained smile. “Yeah, just thinking about work.”

I raise an eyebrow but don’t challenge her obvious lie. Instead, I reach for the handle and open her car door.

The drive back to the farm is short, but tense with a strained silence lingering between us.

“Bri, are you sure everything is ok?—”

“It’s really happening,” she cuts me off. “There’s a baby inside of me. I’m carrying a freaking human.”

She glances at me, eyes wide and slightly wild—not that I would tell her that. I open my mouth to say something reassuring, but nothing comes out. She’s had so much goingon since finding out about the baby, but has she actually given herself time to let the fact sink in?

The answer is easy to deduce based on the hysterical laugh that escapes from her mouth. Her grip on the steering wheel tightens, knuckles turning white from the intensity of it.

“How am I supposed to take care of a baby when I can’t even spell bananas without singing that Gwen Stefani song?” she asks, and doesn’t give me a second to process the question before her breath hitches audibly.

“Bri?”

She’s on the verge of hyperventilating, which could lead to multiple problems since she’s the one driving.

From the corner of my eye, I spot a dirt road pull-off coming up and get an idea. Reaching over the center console, I place a hand on her knee and gently rub my thumb to help keep her grounded.

“Bri, could you do me a favor and turn down that road on the right?”

Drawing in a ragged breath, she flips her turn signal and heads down the road without hesitation.

I continue to gently rub her knee as she cautiously navigates the overgrown road. It isn’t until we’re halfway down that she finally voices her uncertainty.

“Wait, where are we going?”

“You’ll see in a minute.”

“It looks like I’m driving us to a secluded shack in the woods.” She frowns, but eventually, her shoulders relax, and her breathing steadies as she continues driving.

Spotting the weathered sign, I smile and give her knee another reassuring squeeze before turning to gauge her reaction.

Her frown quickly fades into surprise, and she gasps softly. Sitting straighter in her seat, she leans forward with wide eyes and brings the car to a stop.

“Where are we?” She asks without taking her eyes off the view before her.

Following her gaze, I smile softly at the sight of freshly bloomed wildflowers framing the water.

“Clover Pond.”

Before she can ask anything else, I’m out of the car and at her door. Offering my hand, I help her out and sneak a quick glance at her shoes. I hadn’t planned on taking her for a trek around the pond but the walk to the bench near the water’s edge would be quite a challenge in heels. Fortunately, she’s wearing ankle boots.

We walk in silence down the short path to the pond. The bench comes into view just a few feet back from the water’s edge. I guide us over and release Bri’s hand. Taking off my flannel shirt, I spread it out on the bench and gesture for her to sit.

“I haven’t had a chance to come out here yet and clean it off.”

“I’m pretty sure my leggings can handle a little dirt,” she retorts playfully. Despite her sassiness, the shy smile and blush on her cheeks hint that I made a smart move.

“True enough, but now you won’t have to worry about me gawking at your ass because of the dirt on it.”

“Should I be worrying about you checking me out for other reasons?” Bri teases as she settles herself on the bench, looking up at me with a raised eyebrow.

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