Page 55 of Last Minute Fiancé

I was not going to think about how attractive that was.

There was seriously something wrong with me, but then again, I always thought Addison was attractive. And that was just one of the many problems with us.

“I realized that I’ve been trying for a promotion at a job that I don’t even know if I like anymore. I mean, I should have liked the job. It’s what I’ve been working towards since college.”

“Why don’t you take a seat?”

She scowled at me. “I don’t need to sit. I’m just pacing. Going belly first because apparently I’m showing now and that is starting to really settle in so let me panic first over this and then we’ll deal with the next step, okay?”

I nodded in silence before standing up and getting her a glass of water. She smiled, took a sip, and then set the glass down.

She was going to balk at me taking care of her, but I’d find a way. Even if I had to be sneaky about it.

“I was a freshman in college and I knew I wanted to go into finance. I loved numbers and I loved trying to make things work. And everything just led to this moment where I knew what company I wanted to work with because they were the best, and I wanted to be the best. I was a gifted student. Of course, you know that, you graduated early and went to vet school before I was even out of college. I’m two years older than you. I’m basically a cougar.”

I shook my head. “Baby, you’re not a cougar. You’re only two years older than me. That doesn’t really make you an older woman.”

“Excuse me, but math says so. I’m preying on you.”

“Addison.”

She threw her hands in the air. “I know I sound ridiculous now but I’m losing my fucking mind. I worked so hard for that promotion, I made you lie for me, and in the end it didn’t matter.”

“Because I ruined it.”

She shook her head. “But you didn’t. I was never going to get that job, you know. It was always going to be Travis because it’s a boys’ club. And they would’ve found a way to make it so HR wouldn’t notice, because it’s not like our HR even paid attention to anything anyway. But there would have always been reasons for me to never get ahead. I would always have worked twice as hard, and never had any time for a life. Because the one time I actually had a moment of life, we did this.” She pointed to her belly. “And I don’t regret that, because I’m somehow really excited for this and scared to death, even though I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I realized as my boss was reprimanding me and making sure I knew I was going to pay for lying, even though I was never going to get the promotion in the first place, that I couldn’t do it anymore. I hadn’t wanted to be there for a while and it took me too long to realize that.”

“Then why were you trying so hard for the promotion?” I asked, knowing it was probably the wrong question.

“Because I want to be the best. Just like you are. Just like all of our friends. We are all overachievers. I wanted to prove that I could do it, even though I didn’t like doing it anymore. I quit my job. So now I don’t get unemployment or severance or anything. But it’s okay, I have a plan.”

I leaned forward, interested. “Okay, that’s good.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Okay I lied. I don’t have a plan. But I’m pregnant and I don’t have medical insurance and I have no idea what I’m going to do.”

“We could get married,” I blurted, wondering if I had just lost my damn mind. But it did make sense. I had medical insurance, and getting married would give her medical insurance. It would probably help the whole “how are we going to raise this child together” question, though not really. I knew I was falling in love with Addison, and I had no idea how she felt about me. As it was, we had spent our entire “relationship” trying to get her this promotion so she would have time off for our child, and now that was all thrown out the window.

Nothing made sense anymore, and I had no idea what to even say in this moment, so of course blurting out we could get married was the perfect solution.

In answer, Addison threw her head back and laughed.

I didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed in my random and horribly timed indecent proposal.

“One fake thing at a time, but thank you.” She shook her head, smiling at me. “This is absolutely ridiculous. I had a five- and ten-year plan, and now I have no plan. Everything has gone off the rails and nothing makes sense.”

“You really didn’t want to work there anymore? Even without my involvement or the baby?”

Addison reached out and gripped my hand, and I frowned down at where we connected. I didn’t know when I had started to need her touch, to crave it, but that was something I was going to have to deal with at some point, I just didn’t know when.

When would it all make sense?

“I haven’t been happy in a long time. Between my hours at work, and life in general, I just haven’t. I kept working for the next thing and then I realized that I was fighting for something that I didn’t even want anymore. And yes, quitting my job was ridiculous and impulsive, and I should have stuck it out until I had a backup plan, but I didn’t, and now I’m going to have to deal with the consequences.”

“We will. I’ll help. I’ll do whatever I can.”

My lips twitched, even as I held onto her hand for dear life. “I don’t think you need my help at the vet clinic. I wouldn’t be very good at anything there.”

“You’d be okay at it,” I said softly, “But no, you’re right. I didn’t mean at my job, but in general. I’m here. Whatever you need. We’re in this together.”

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