Page 48 of Lyrical

“Wouldn’t dream of it, honey.” She looked at me and winked like it was all going to work out whether he thought so or not.

After that, the subject was dropped for the rest of the night. Wengo’s didn’t have live bands on Mondays, so we just kicked back and listened to an eclectic mix of Depeche Mode and Motley Crue pumping through the speakers while we bullshitted about whatever.

I opened my mouth and almost spilled about Candace’s pregnancy but stopped myself in time. I didn’t want to announce it until Daniel knew. If Mike hadn’t messed up the date, six weeks was still pretty early yet. She had a long way to go, and I wished her a healthy full-term.

It was strange to think that Daniel would have a half-brother or sister before Christmas. How would he feel about that? Would he and Candace grow any closer? He’d never cared much for her, but I imagined a lot would change after they shared a common bond.

“Jillian?” I looked down to Chase stroking my arm, then back up to his eyes. The gold was shining through. “You ready to go?”

“Oh. Yeah, let me just get my purse.” I grabbed it off the chair and slung it over my shoulder.

“Before I forget,” Perry said, “Sam’s been hinting around for something to do with the wedding, and I thought the safest thing would be for her to plan the bachelorette party.”

“Safest?”

“Well, you know my sister. She’s such a prude, and since I’m not looking for anything wild—been there, done that—or really looking for anything at all, she’d be perfect for this. We’ll probably end up having a knitting party or something.” She pinched her bottom lip. “Um, hope you don’t mind? I mean, you’re still doing the shower, and you already have enough things to worry about and—”

I laughed. “Perry, it’s no problem. She’s the head bridesmaid. Of course she should be involved in some way.”

“Whew.” She gave me a hug. “Thanks. I was too scared to let her do anything else.”

Chase clasped my hand, and we followed Perry and Stephen out to the car. They drove separately and parked closer to the building, so we said our goodbyes to them first.

I swung my arm back and forth as we walked to Chase’s Ford. It was a warm night for March. It’d hit a high of fifty-five, and my yard was a swamp that’d turn into an ice rink once it got colder again in a couple days. But for the time being, I was going to enjoy it like we’d just landed someplace tropical.

“Feel like taking a walk before we go home?” I asked. “It’s so nice out.”

“Around the parking lot?”

Down just a little ways was an outdoor strip mall that was closed for the night. I pointed in that direction. “We could just head over there and walk up and down the sidewalk.”

He nodded and we went hand in hand, the light diminishing the closer we got. “What was bothering you back there?”

“Back where?” I asked, confused.

We stepped from asphalt to concrete and neared the first store, Callie’s Cookie Corner. I could just make out a bouquet of baseball cookies through the window.

He took both my hands. “Back when we were leaving, and I had to get your attention. Something was on your mind.”

“What if I was just zoning out?”

“That wasn’t your zoned-out face.”

I laughed, reaching up and pressing my lips to his. “I love you, Chase Nolan.” He knew me like a stalker, minus the creepy.

“And I love you, Jillian… Hudson.” He pulled me against him. “Did you ever want to change your name?”

“I thought about going back to Davidson but never bothered. I’ve had Hudson almost as long as my maiden name, and it’s Daniel’s last name too, so….” I shrugged. Again, why bother with all the rigamarole?

He nodded and I made a move to start walking again, but he kept me there. “You haven’t told me what’s bothering you.”

I debated a few seconds about mentioning anything. If it was private, he’d respect that, but I figured, why wouldn’t I share everything with him? “Daniel doesn’t know yet, and I don’t want him to know until Mike tells him, but Candace is pregnant.”

“And that upsets you?”

“Upsets me? No, why would it? I’m happy for her. And you’re the only one who knows right now. Mike only told me because he was hoping I’d break the news to Daniel first.”

“It sounds like he’s less than thrilled about it.”

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