Page 53 of Pieces

And then he leaves me in a puddle on my floor.

For the second time, I’m wondering why I’ve even set these rules.

Chapter twenty-four

Hudson

TheLakesideDinerispacked, as always, the buzz of conversation mixing with the clatter of dishes and the faint sound of the jukebox. We’ve claimed our usual booth, the one in the corner by the window. Miles sits across from me, while Jay pokes at his fries next to me. Seb is wedged next to Indie, who’s scrolling through her phone with an air of disinterest, while Quinn leans forward, her chin propped on her hand, talking to Miles.

I fidget with the sleeve of my Henley, suddenly wondering if I should’ve worn something different? No, because this is just friends meeting another friend. No big deal.

Jay nudges me. “You’re quiet today. Everything okay with, uh, y’know?”

I quickly look at our friends to see who’s watching and no one is. “Yeah, everything’s fine.”

I’m just a big bag of nerves. For a guy who Daphne thinks is calm and collected lately, which, in my defense, I usually am, all I’ve been feeling is scared and overwhelmed. It isn’t every day a beautiful girl who’s pregnant with your baby meets your best friends. I can afford a few jitters. My leg bounces under the table. I guess I’ve never done this before—not the baby part, obviously, but the girl thing. I’m not the commitment guy, and she’s not even officially my girl…yet. There’s no doubt in my mind that she will be, though. I see how she looks at me. I just need to give her time to see that we belong together. I can be patient.

But no matter my nerves, it’s happening. Today.

I clear my throat, readying myself. “Guys?” I say. “I’ve got a new friend.”

All eyes snap to me, conversation and fries forgotten. Seb is the first to react. “Anewfriend?”

Miles chuckles, wiping a pretend tear from his eye. “Our boy is growing up so fast.”

Seb laughs as he shoves a fry into his mouth, and I grumble, “Shut up. She’s really cool.” They’ll see when they meet her. “She’s also, uh…” I begin, but stop myself, because I don’t want to accidentally blurt out that she’s pregnant. “She’s also a girl.”

Eyes flicker around the table, confused faces staring back at me. “We got that part when you said she, like, three times,” Indie says.

“Do you know how to be friends with a girl and not get in her pants?” Miles asks.

And the answer is no, but I do need tips on how to be friends with my baby mama, especially when she’s easily the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen, and I’m not allowed to date her, touch her, kiss her, hold her hand. “I can be friends with girls, right? I’m friends with you two without getting in your pants.” I look over to Indie and Quinn, and one of them nods enthusiastically.

“I love being your friend,” says Quinn, while Indie mumbles, “You’d never get in my pants.”

Ugh, well, now I’m feeling insecure again. Can dads get baby hormones too? Is that a thing, because I’m super sensitive.

“So when do we get to meet thisfriendof yours? Or are you keeping her a secret because you’re scared we’ll scare her off?” Seb asks.

“I’m not scared,” I shoot back, but my tone is a little too defensive.

“Hudson,” Quinn says, drawing out my name. “If you’re not scared, why do you look like…that?”

“I don’t look likethat,” I grumble, whateverthatis, but my hand goes to the back of my neck out of habit, rubbing at the tension that’s been building all morning. “And you’ll meet her. Soon. Just…don’t be weird, okay?”

Jay snorts, his laugh sharp. “You’re askingthemnot to be weird? You know who you’re talking to, right?”

“Hey,” Quinn protests. “We’re nice. Right, everyone? We’ll be nice to Hudson’s friend?” She glares around the table, and there’s a chorus of mumbled agreements, none of which fill me with much confidence.

“If she’s cool, we’ll be cool. But if she’s your ‘friend,’ why are you acting all cagey about her…” Miles narrows his eyes at me like he’s trying to read my mind. “Are you sure you’re not into her?”

I freeze for a second too long, and that’s all it takes for him to jump in. “Oh my god. Youare. You totally have a thing for her.”

“I don’t,” I say quickly. Too quickly. I kind of wish I had time to prep Jay with this so he could support me, but I ran late and everyone was already here.

Seb leans forward, grinning. “Oh, this is good. I need to meet her. Like, yesterday.”

Quinn taps her brother’s chest with the back of her hand, a pointed look aimed his way, before turning to me. “You’re making this way harder on yourself, you know. Just bring her by, and we’ll play nice.”

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