Page 74 of Pieces

“Nothing,” I say, but I have to clear my throat. “Just…you. You’re kind of incredible, you know that?”

Her cheeks color, and she looks down, her hand on her stomach. “Expert rock skipping aside, I don’t feel that incredible. I feel bloated and nauseous and the only things I can even think about eating are chocolate milkshakes or McDonalds fries with extra salt, which isn’t incredible at all. In fact, it’s gross and not good for the baby, so I shouldn’t eat it.”

“Hey,” I say, stepping closer. “You’re growing a whole human being. If that doesn’t make you incredible, I don’t know what does. And honestly? If McDonald’s fries are what you need, then I say we get you some. I could totally go for some nuggets.”

“Aren’t you banned from junk food right now? My dad is the king of healthy eating. If he knew I was corrupting you and feeding you nuggets…”

“Listen, I think I’ve hit peak pissing your dad off, so let’s just go eat the junk food, princess.” I hold my hand out for her to take, and she looks down at it, then back to me.

“I’m not sure who’s the bad influence here, you or me.”

“Both, probably, which means our baby is going to be one heck of a little hellion.”

We laugh together as we collect the blankets and walk back to the car.

Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling into a drive-through. “What’s this future troublemaker craving aside from fries?”

“Fries. Extra salt. Oh, and a small chocolate milkshake.” She pauses, frowning. “I was about to say cheeseburger, but I just gagged thinking about it. Definitely no burger.”

“Fries and shake, no burger. Got it.”

When the food arrives, Daphne dives into the bag and pulls out a fry, sighing in relief as she pops it into her mouth. “Oh my god. You’re my favorite right now.”

“Aw, thanks, Daph,” I say, smiling at her.

She tilts her head, a fry dangling from the corner of her mouth, and grins. “I meant the food.”

I fake a dramatic gasp, clutching my chest. “The betrayal. I thought we had something special.”

Daphne snickers and steals another fry. “We do, right behind the fries. They’re my number one.”

“Noted,” I say with a chuckle, pulling out of the drive-through. “You and the fries can have your moment, but don’t forget who brought them to you.”

She waves a fry at me like a trophy. “You’re the delivery guy. Fries still win.”

I laugh, but an idea pops into my head. Delivery guy. Shit. I could work Door Dash to fit around my schedule. “You’re a genius.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “I am?”

I nod, excitedly bubbling inside. “I’ve been thinking about how I can make some extra cash for us—”

“Hudson, you don’t—”

“I do and I will.” I meet her gaze directly. “Listen, Door Dash is easy, it works around my training and schoolwork. It’ll be the fastest way to get us what we need.”

She swallows a fry, eyes wide and locked on me. “You…I…” Then she drops her hand to her stomach, and I track the movement. I know what she’s thinking, what she’s trying to say without saying it.

“I want to do this. For all of us, okay?” I say quietly.

She doesn’t say anything right away, she picks another fry and eats it slowly as though she’s turning my words over in her head. I let her process, giving her the space to decide if she’s going to protest again, but she doesn’t. She turns to me and those plush lips curve up into a smile that notches itself into the walls of my heart. I can tell she’s letting go of something. Letting me have control of a situation she probably wishes she could control herself. But we’re a team. And I think she’s finally letting herself believe that.

She dives back into eating her fries, a little more relaxed. “Don’t I get one?” I ask, tipping my head toward the bag, wanting to lighten the mood.

She slowly plucks a fry from the bag and holds it out toward me. The second her hand gets close, I lean over and snap my teeth at her fingers.

Daphne yelps, jerking her hand back, the fry tumbling into my lap. “Oh my god!” she gasps, eyes wide before she dissolves into laughter. “Did you just try tobite me?”

I give her an innocent look as I grab the fry from my lap and pop it into my mouth. “Better watch those fingers, princess.”

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