Page 32 of Sticking Out

“I know. I mean we hang out a lot so I guess they thought that was just a natural progression of our friendship and no one cared that I used to be married to Alec.”

“Yeah, I got congrats from all the guys. They all said we make a good couple.”

“Really?” She scrunches up her nose.

“Why so surprised?”

She snorts out a laugh. “Let’s face it. I don’t look like the girls you normally date.”

What is she even talking about? I haven’t dated in years, and haven’t really felt like I missed out on anything. “Puck bunnies,” I explain. “You can’t tell one from the other.”

She nods. “The girls wanted all the details.”

“I swear women are worse than men when talking about sex.”

“Are you telling me stories aren’t shared in the locker room?”

“No.”

She laughs at that. “But I think you might be right, and no, I didn’t tell them you were amazing in the bedroom.”

I grin at her. “Amazing, huh?” She rolls her eyes at me. “Oh, I was talking to Noah, and they’re not going to their summer home until tomorrow.”

She sets her phone down. “They don’t mind staying home?”

“No, Camryn and Tate are looking forward to hanging out with Zoe, and it’s a long weekend so they’ll go to their summer home on Sunday. Besides, it’s Noah’s weekend with the cup, and he wants to have everyone over.”

Frowning, she glances at her lap. “I didn’t realize it was going to be a party.” She nibbles her lip, concern on her face.

I capture her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

She snaps back to her perky self quickly. “No, it’s okay.”

What the heck is going through her head? Did she want quiet time with Zoe and me? “Tonight, we’ll make popcorn and watch a movie with Zoe.”

She gives me a big smile. “I’d like that.” A beat of silence and then, “Are you going to have a party when it’s your turn with the cup?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t really going to.” I groan. “All that work and clean up.” I eye her. Is that disappointment on her face? “Do you want to have a party?”

“I think it could be fun. I can’t remember the last time I had a party.” She chuckles. “I think it might have been my wedding. Alec never wanted to have anyone over.”

“I can’t remember the last time I had a party either.” Maybe a party would be a good idea, a way for us to move on after…well, after Alec. I’m pretty sure Dani has just been going through the motions, right up until she asked me to be her baby daddy. How could I say no when she needs this so much, when it was her first big step in creating a new life?

“I was thinking,” she says quietly, a little too seriously.

“About me naked?”

That makes her smile. “Always,” she teases. “But seriously. I was thinking if we’re going to baby proof my place, maybe it’s time I did a bit of remodeling. Some new furniture, and maybe clean out some closets and boxes, and a new bed.”

My heart tightens and I squeeze her hand. “Yeah?” She nods, attempting a smile as she wrings her hands together. There are so many stages of grief and clearing out her place of old memories so she can make new ones in an effort to move on is not going to be easy on her. “I can help with all that.”

“No, that’s okay. I wasn’t asking that.”

Maybe she really doesn’t want me there, so she can be alone with her memories of Alec. She’s definitely still in love with him. “It’s going to be hard, Dani,” I point out quietly.

“It’s going to be hard for you too, Conner.”

I nod in agreement. “Then let’s do hard together, okay?”

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