Page 58 of Craving You

Unfortunately, that hadn’t happened yet.

“Um…guys?” Marcus prompted, startling him out of his reverie.

“What’s up? Is everything okay? You’re looking kind of serious.”

“We’re going to Paris for a few weeks,” Billie blurted out. “We’re leaving tomorrow. The two of you need some privacy and you’re not going to get it if we’re here hovering.”

“Bill, this is your house,” Max reminded her. “Why should you be the one to leave?”

“Because it’s not only about the two of you. This is something Marcus and I have talked about doing, and this just seemed like the perfect excuse to make it happen. Like an early babymoon.”

“Billie, no,” Hailey said, shaking her head. “Now I feel terrible! I’m ruining everyone’s lives! I…I…I’m so sorry! You’re newlyweds and I’m intruding by staying so long!”

“You’re not ruining anyone’s lives, Hales,” her cousin gently said. “Sometimes things happen in life that seem like a bad thing, but ultimately turn into something great. I think that’s what’s happening with you guys right now. I’m sure things seem insurmountable, but it’s going to get better. You just need fewer people around you watching.”

“I know I’d feel better,” Max said under his breath.

“We’re a lot,” Billie said to him with amusement. “And sometimes we don’t realize that all our advice and hovering really isn’t helping and you need to work things out for yourselves. So starting tomorrow, this house is yours.”

“For a few weeks,” Marcus added for emphasis.

“Take that time to live under the same roof and figure out what your lives are going to look like moving forward.” Pausing, she studied Hailey for a moment. “I know the job search isn’t going so well, but we can always use help at Books & Beans if you’re looking for something temporary. It’s a great way to meet people and get the word out about what you’re looking for.”

“Sadly, what I’m looking for doesn’t exist here,” she said miserably. “I took it for granted that there would be a yoga studio nearby or gym or a spa.”

“I know what you mean,” Marcus said, sounding sympathetic. “Moving from a major city to a small town comes with a certain amount of culture shock. Sometimes you have to create the things you want.”

“Yeah, well…I can’t create a studio. I’m unemployed. There’s no way I can open my own business. The closest gym is forty-five minutes away. I know that’s not terrible, but I was looking to only spend half that time commuting. Plus, they were only offering part-time hours.”

She watched as Billie and Marcus exchanged looks before her cousin said, “It’s all going to work out. For now, we could really use the help at the coffee shop, and I know you had talked to Patrick about some houses, but maybe reach out again and see if anything else has come on the market.”

“Again, no rush,” Marcus added.

“You have a lot on your plates, and we’re just going to step out of your way so you can figure some of it out privately.”

They talked about their plans for Paris after that until Billie had to leave to run some errands and Marcus had a business call. When it was just the two of them again, she seemed hesitant to look at him. “So, um…maybe checking in with Patrick isn’t the worst idea. There were a few houses we wanted to set up tours with, right?”

Max was about to readily agree, but she looked miserable and sounded the same.

Leaning back in his chair, he sighed. “Okay, what’s going on?”

Her eyes went wide. “What? What do you mean?”

To his credit, Max laughed softly as he shook his head. “Um, Hales, we’ve been talking about this for weeks and I thought you’d be a little more excited about the whole thing. I’m sure you’ve got to be tired of not having your own space.”

“I am,” she agreed with a small but forced smile. “I guess now that it’s all happening, I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed. Again. The job thing is weighing heavily on me because I need one. I’m going to need insurance and to have money put aside for when I’m on maternity leave and…”

He let out such a long, loud breath that she stopped speaking.

“Hailey, I honestly think you and I need to have an actual conversation about life. I can’t do anything about the job situation, but believe me, I wish I could. However…” Pausing, he mentally crossed his fingers and hoped he wasn’t about to undo all the progress they’d been making. “If you need health insurance, we can get married, and I will add you to my policy. We’ve already talked about how you don’t have to worry about anything once you go on maternity leave. I’m more than okay with supporting you and…”

“But it’s not fair, Max! We should be…”

“You know what’s not fair?” he snapped. “That you had to give up the life you had in Florida! How you had to come here and live with a man you barely know, while having to stand up to your family! How a private situation between the two of us has become the subject of the Donovan gossip line! You gave up your job and your home to completely start over!”

“Okay, but…”

“And you know what I’ve had to do? Nothing! I have literally had to do nothing! I was already going to buy a house because living in Marcus’s attic isn’t my goal in life! I didn’t have to give up my job! My family is basically just two other people—which reminds me, I haven’t even told my father about any of this, but he’s going to thrilled. You keep saying how you’re ruining everything or messing everything up, but you know what the truth is? I’m the one that ruined everything, Hailey! Me! I pursued you that weekend! I seduced you and invited you to my hotel room! I’m the reason you’re pregnant!”

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