Page 77 of Playboy

Me: Yeah?

Dream Girl: I’m really excited about our trip.

Me: Me too, baby.

TWENTY-SIX

HANNAH

“Why did I agree to this?”

I’m sweating as I rush around my apartment, confirming I have everything I need. Or hoping like hell I do. I don’t even know where we’re going, so it’s hard to know what those things might be.

We only have three nights, and he said road trip, so we aren’t flying. That means we aren’t going terribly far. So I went with summer clothing. I packed a few bathing suits, some leggings in case we’re hiking, shorts, a few maxi dresses…and I might have tossed in a sexy piece of lingerie or two, just in case.

I have the tiniest bump. It seemed to pop over the last week.

Will Daniel notice? And if so, what will he think?

“Because everyone deserves to have a day,” Noah answers.

The question was rhetorical. I didn’t even realize he was home. Typically, when Oliver is with Jen, Noah is out moping around. He hates being away from his little guy during the summer, knowing he’ll be gone so much the rest of the year, but Jen is strict about their parenting time, believing it’s best to keep Oliver on a schedule.

I can’t argue with that.

That’s one more facet of life Daniel and I will eventually have to figure out.

Maybe while we’re driving to who knows where.

“What are you talking about?” I say as he stops in the doorway.

“Who do you think suggested this little road trip?”

I smack him. “Ass.”

He chuckles. “Please, you and I both know you’re thrilled to have a few days away with your boy toy.”

“He’s not my boy toy. He’s my—my—” I scrunch my nose and have to fight the urge to stomp my foot. The jerk called him that on purpose. He’s trying to make me put a label on it. “Never mind, you. Why would you suggest a trip?”

Head tilted, he gives me a placating smile, like he thinks I’m an idiot. “You’re always the one who plans trips for the people you care about. Let us take care of you this time, Han.”

I sigh, shoulders falling. “I feel like you’re meddling.”

“You sent me on one when I found out about Oliver.”

“Yeah, without your baby mama. It was a week away to get your head on straight before you had a kid. And you could drink. And have sex with strangers.”

“You want to have sex with strangers?” he asks, brow creased in genuine curiosity.

No. I really don’t. The idea of touching anyone but Daniel makes my stomach roll. And the idea of another woman touching him? It makes my chest burn like I need an antacid. I haven’t had heartburn a single time during my pregnancy, so I can’t even blame it on the baby. No, it’s all because of Daniel and the intrusive thoughts suddenly plaguing me. Rather than answer his question, I change the subject. “Did the trip help?”

His eyes flutter shut and his lips tip in the smallest of smiles, like he’s disappearing into a memory. “When things got reallytough that first year”—he opens his eyes—“I’d think of that trip, and it was enough to get me through.”

“I still don’t understand why you didn’t look that girl up afterward.”

Though he didn’t share many details, it was clear that their time together was more than a week-long vacation fling. But he refused to speak about her then, and years later, he’s still holding strong.

He grabs my suitcase and rolls it to the door. “Do me a favor?” He doesn’t turn around, like he’s not yet ready to face me.

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