Page 30 of Can We Try?

“Second house on the right,” I tell him.

He pulls into the driveway and leaves the engine running. “Maggie, my heart breaks for you and everything you’ve been through.”

“I need to get this out before we go in. When I met Eric in college, he said all the right things. He was charming and said he wanted to be my family. I fell hard and fast, and then he changed. He thrived on control and manipulation, and I was so lost in wanting a family that I let him.” Taking off my seat belt, I turn to face Lachlan. “He made me feel a lot of things. He made me think a lot of things that I know now were just his need to control and manipulate, but I fell for it. All of it.”

“Prick,” he mutters.

I laugh, feeling instantly calmer. Telling him that story takes a heavy weight off my shoulders. “So, today, when you meet my grandma, don’t worry if she’s not as welcoming as your family was with me. We’ve been through a battle, and we made it out the other side, but she’s a protective mama bear. I just needed you to know that.”

“I can handle it. I’m ready to meet our baby’s great-grandmother.” He smiles. There’s something in his eyes that I can’t name, but I believe him. I hope like hell my gut is right this time. I’ve known Lachlan for a while, all of them, and I truly believe he’s a good man. I thought that about Eric too. However, looking back, there were signs. Warnings that I didn’t heed. This time, my eyes are wide open, and I already know without a shadow of a doubt that Lachlan isn’t Eric.

“Ready?” he asks.

I nod. “Let’s do this.”

“Wait for me.” He quickly climbs out of the truck and comes to my door to pull it open for me. “Practice, remember?” He winks, and even though I roll my eyes, I’m smiling. I just can’t seem to help myself where Lachlan is concerned.

He helps me out of the truck and places his hand on the small of my back, allowing me to lead us to the front door. I don’t bother knocking. Grandma knows I’m on my way, and I hate making her get up to get to the door. She doesn’t move as fast as she used to. I’ve tried talking to her about assisted living, but she’s stubborn.

“Grandma!” I call out. “Where are you?”

“In the living room, dear,” she calls back.

“You ready?” I whisper to Lachlan.

“So ready.” He grins and rubs his hands together as if he’s truly excited about meeting my grandmother. What do I know? Maybe he really is. We’re about to find out.

“There she is.” Grandma smiles. “Oh, you brought a friend. A handsome friend,” she coos.

“Grandma, this is Lachlan Noble. He works at Everlasting Ink with Emerson, Monroe, Briar, and Brogan’s husbands.”

“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am,” Lachlan says. He steps closer to offer her his hand.

“Oh, phooey, come over here.” Grandma opens her arms, and Lachlan’s muttered, “Yes, ma’am,” has me smiling as he bends to hug her where she sits in her chair.

She never hugged Eric. Grandma is an excellent judge of character, and I can tell she likes Lachlan already. That’s good. Maybe she’ll take it easy on him, hell, on both of us once she finds out our news.

I take a seat on the couch, and once Grandma releases Lachlan from her hug, he takes the spot next to me.

“Tell me about this.” Grandma waves her hands in the air.

“About what?” I play dumb, and she gives me a knowing look.

“I didn’t know you had a man in your life.” She tosses it out there. One thing about my grandmother is you never have to guess what she’s thinking or where she stands on any topic.

“We’re friends,” I tell her. “Lachlan owns the tattoo studio with the girls’ husbands,” I remind her.

“Yes, so you’ve said. But this”—she waves her hands between us once again—“is more than that.”

I nod. “You’re right. Lachlan and I are friends, but um… we’re also going to be parents together.”

The look on her face never changes, but I can tell by the look in her eyes, she’s processing my words. “You’re pregnant?” she finally asks.

“I am. Just out of my first trimester.”

“And Lachlan is the father. Your friend?” she says, emphasizing the word.

“Yes.”

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