Page 27 of Last Minute Fiancé

“And then we’ll come up with something else to worry about, like the fact that what, Paisley and August are somehow not fighting? Or that something will happen with someone’s job, or I’ll get busy at work, or you’ll get the promotion, and then there’s a whole new set of issues. Life is always going to be in the way, but we created it. Actual life. Maybe we should talk about it.”

“What do you want to talk about? We’re having a baby. An actual baby. We’re in the first trimester. I’m reading the books. Are you reading the books?”

My hands tightened on the steering wheel.

“I got the checklist of books we were supposed to read. And while I’m only a vet, I’m still a doctor. I know how pregnancy works.”

“You’re not an obstetrician, or a neonatal surgeon. You’re not a fertility doctor. You help deliver puppies and kittens. Not babies.”

“Fine, I get that. And I’m reading the books, Addison. But we’re still not talking about it.”

“I don’t know what there is to talk about right now when we have to deal with this. This farce of a weekend.” She put her hands over her face and let out a little growl. A damn sexy growl, but I didn’t let myself focus on that.

“I’m keeping the baby.”

“I know.” My chest tightened because I was feeling that tiny spark of excitement. The need to know more about this baby.

Because this was real. Whatever happened this weekend, it might have some reality to it, but what was happening between us? That was real. Whatever that was.

Ever since that drunken night, I had wanted more. Fuck, I had wanted more before that night. But we had put ourselves in the boxes that said friends only, and I had accepted it. I lived with it because that made the most sense. It would screw up the dynamic of our friendship and our friend group otherwise.

But we were blowing that all out of proportion now, weren’t we?

So, how did you tell your best friend and mother of your future child that you wanted to date her?

You didn’t.

Hell, I was a complication here.

“So we read the books, we have this baby, and what?”

“And we raise this baby. I have more space than you, it just makes sense, right?”

“You’re right. It does. And you’re not doing this alone.” I let out a breath as I took the exit off the highway. “We’re going to talk about it more when we get back from this trip. I know that. But I want you to know that I’m here. I know that this part is real. And that we’re going to have to tell our family and friends and then they’re going to want answers we don’t have.”

“Then we’ll ask the questions first. I’m just trying to live in my bubble of insecurity and non-reality for a little while longer, okay?”

I snorted, shaking my head. “Well, panic with me, won’t you?”

“Always. We’re good at panicking together.”

I sighed, then gestured towards the glove box. “Open it. I have a gift.”

I was suddenly nervous, not knowing if this had been the right move or not. But if we were going to go along with the charade, we might as well lean into it.

She frowned at me before leaning forward and opening the glove box.

When she just sat there, not saying anything, I nearly pulled over.

“Addison?”

“There’s a ring box in here.”

“Yes. It’s a ring. I figured it’d be a good idea to have one. Don’t you?”

“You got me a ring.”

Suddenly aware that I had probably stepped in it, I sucked in a breath.

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