Page 36 of The Bartender's Baby

I’d lost my head, my heart, my whole fucking cool for this girl.

And clearly, I’d have to call in backup, but for now, I texted my friends an update.

Went to the ultrasound today.

Saw the baby.

I’m going to convince her to move in with me.

I don’t want to hear any of your I told you so bullshit.

TEN

TABBY

It had been one week since Nate had come to my rescue for the ultrasound appointment and completely ambushed me with his demand that I move in with him. One week of him hovering over me until I finally snapped at him, yelling at him, “I’m pregnant, not an invalid!” One week of waking up to texts from him, ranging from the standard “good morning” to random, ridiculous ideas, like a picture of a T-shirt he wanted to buy me that read “Pregosaurus” or the matching frog Halloween costumes for Frogger and me. When I reminded him that October was more than six months away, he sent another photo of a family dressed as breakfast foods. Couldn’t help but notice, it was a family with a man, woman, and couple of children included.

Subtlety? Never heard of it.

And whenever he tried to bring up the topic of my moving in with him, I usually used the “gotta pee” excuse. Pregnancy was handy like that sometimes.

But I knew I had to come to a decision soon. Especially since Ming-Yue had informed me last night that she had someone interested in moving in. “No rush, though,” she’d said, staring at my baby bump like it was contagious.

The future loomed ahead, a huge unknown I didn’t know how to prepare for.IfI was even really prepared and capable of raising a child alone. Yes, I had Nate’s support, but he had made it clear for years that kids were not in his life plan. What if I moved in, and he suddenly realized this was all too much?

Not to mention the fear of how moving in to his house would change everything. I would have nowhere to run or hide, and I’d have to face thisthingthat had always been between us. The thing that had started ten years ago with a handshake and had steadily grown, with patience and understanding on his part and my desire to be in his orbit.

Sometimes it felt like déjà vu. When I’d catch him looking at me or when he’d offer a light pat to my shoulder or when I’d crack a smile at one of his dumb jokes and he’d pump his fist like hegot me, it felt like we’d done it all before.

And his plan toget methis time involved his sister. Because she had texted me last night to see if I would meet her for manicures and pedicures then lunch. Before I could even answer thanks but no thanks, she replied that her brother was treating us, and he was always one goddamn step ahead.

That was why I found myself perusing the hundreds of nail polishes to choose from while Genevieve tried to decide between two reds that appeared exactly the same to me. “I like how this one sparkles a little more, right?” When I shrugged, she nodded to herself. “What are you getting? I like that glittery one.” She pointed to the iridescent one in front of me that was black, green, or purple, depending on the angle. “Reminds me of space.”

I turned to her. “That’s what I thought too.”

She flipped the bottle upside down and read the name. “Stardust.”

Well, hell. I guess I had to get it now. Absently touching my necklace, I accepted the bottle back from her as we were escortedback to pedicure chairs next to each other and already filled with bubbly water.

“You didn’t have to go to any trouble for me,” I told her once we were settled, and she waved a dismissive hand.

“You’re growing a tiny human. The least I could do is pamper you a bit. Plus, I wanted to spend some time with you and have a chat.”

“Because your brother asked you to?”

“Yes and no. Even if he didn’t want me to convince you of all his wonderful qualities, I would’ve texted you anyway.”

“You wanted to hang out?”

She snorted a little laugh. “We are friends, aren’t we? I hope you weren’t faking it this whole time.”

I’d met Genevieve a handful of times in the ten or so years I’d worked at Walt’s, but when she’d moved back to West Chester about two years ago, that was when I’d really gotten to know her as she’d bartended with me. Gen was exactly as easygoing and approachable as Nate but without the aggressively pushy attitude, so it was easy to be around her. She was just soniceall the time.

I used to be nice. Until life got hard, and then I didn’t have the patience for it. To smile and have conversations. I didn’t have any fucks left to give. But I gave a fuck about Gen. Gave even more about her brother.

Didn’t have enough hands to carry all the fucks I gave about him.

Fuck.

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