Page 12 of Sticking Out

A long moment of silence and then. “You didn’t have a lot of sex.”

“I shouldn’t have said that.” He nods in understanding, and because I feel the need to explain, I continue. “When we met in high school, he was busy keeping his grades high and then college and then his busy job, and there was never much time. Anyway, that’s why I said my body must have liked Alec’s sperm, because although we didn’t have much sex, I got pregnant when we did.” He nods, and now it’s his turn to avert his gaze. Does he know something I don’t? A burst of unease worms its way through my blood.

“So, I guess the good news is we probably won’t have to have sex too many times.”

His gaze jerks my way. “What?”

“DNA. Sperm. With any luck we’ll be one and done.”

“One and done,” he mutters absently.

“I mean, if you decide to do this.” I grip my purse and twist the strap around my hand, working to shut down my brain and zip my mouth. “No pressure, Conner. It’s a big decision, for sure.”

“I’m actually surprised Alec wanted kids,” he says quietly. “He always just seemed so focused on his career.” He gives me a smile. “I guess marrying an amazing woman has a way of making people change their minds.”

“I was actually surprised that he wanted kids so fast. We never really talked about it a whole lot and then I brought it up after we were married…” I pause and think about that. “Actually, it came up because of you.”

“Me?”

I laugh. “Yeah. I remember when you were dating Summer, and she said she never wanted kids.”

“I don’t ever remember her saying that.”

“It was girl talk. Anyway, I had mentioned to Alec that maybe you two weren’t right for each other, because I knew you liked kids.” He frowns and goes quiet. I fall silent too, as I take a painful trip down memory lane. We round the corner and I point. “My sister’s place is right there.”

“Not my first time here, Dani.”

Of course it’s not. What the heck am I even saying? Conner’s been here numerous times with me and my sister’s kids call him Uncle Conner. I guess I just needed a change in conversation. He eases the car into her driveway, and I reach for the door handle, needing to make an exit before I say anything else stupid. I tug open the back door and grab the salad. Laughter comes from around the back of their two-story home in suburbia, and I double my steps to get there. Conner is tight on my heels and I plaster on a smile when I circle the house and find Jared at the grill, five-year-old Ava and three-year-old Jack playing on the swing set, and little baby Brynn nursing in my sister’s arms.

I stop instantly, my maternal instincts flaring at the perfect scene playing out before my eyes. This, right here. This is all I’ve ever wanted, and I almost had it with the only man who ever showed romantic interest in me—a man I loved, of course. But was I ever really in love with him?

“Aunt Dani, Uncle Conner.” Ava jumps from the swing and comes running over. She wraps her arms around my legs and then throws herself at Conner, who picks her up.

“Congratulations,” she yells, cupping his cheeks and squeezing before she kisses him on the nose. “Did you bring the cup?”

He laughs. “No, I don’t have it with me.”

“Did you kiss it?” she asks and makes a face like that’s the weirdest thing in the world. “Daddy says you kiss the cup.”

“I kissed the cup,” he admits and stretches out an arm. “It’s this big and some people even drink out of it.”

“Silly, that’s what cups are for.”

“Do you know one guy once made a big cheesy dip and filled the cup with it at a party.” He laughs like he’s remembering. “Phil Prichard, the keeper of the cup loves to tell all the stories. “Lots of guys even put their babies in it for pictures.”

“That’s weird.” She wiggles out of his arms, runs over to the table, grabs her plastic cup and takes a big drink. “See. Cups are for drinking.”

We all laugh and Rylee says, “Leave your uncle alone. He just got here.”

I eye him. “Is that true?”

“It’s true.”

“People are weird,” I agree with Ava. Conner nods in agreement as he walks over to Jared. Ava runs back to Jack, who’s far too interested in whatever it is crawling in the grass to greet us. God, boys are so different from girls. That makes me smile. I want one of each. I quickly look at Conner, who’s clinking bottles with Jared. Look at me getting greedy when he hasn’t even agreed to the first one yet.

“Drink?” Rylee asks me. “Please say yes, so I can live vicariously through you.”

“Then yes.” She pours me a glass of chilled white wine and I take a big sip. “Mmm, delicious.” I lick my bottom lip and when I do, I notice Conner watching me. When my gaze meets his, he quickly looks away. Okay, that was odd.

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