Page 102 of Jilted

I leaned back in my deck chair with a sigh. “Who would’ve thought our lives would turn out like this? I’m old and practically married, and you’re single these days.”

Andrew smirked. “That I am.”

I laughed. “Good for you. I’m happy for you. On all fronts.”

“What about you?” He pointed with his beer toward the house. “Are you happy?”

“I’ll be happier when I hear my name called in the draft in a few months.”

He nodded. “It’ll happen. But what about with the situation you got going on here? Are you happy with Whitney?”

I thought about it. “I’ll be honest. I wasn’t exactly thrilled when I found out she was pregnant. That wasn’t part of my five-year plan. Hell, I’m not sure it was part of my ten-year plan. I had to make some hard decisions. But you know what?”

“What?”

I smiled. “I’m happy now. I talk to my kid every night. Sometimes I even sing to him.”

“I’ve heard you sing. That’s cruel.”

“Shut up, knucklehead.” I laughed. “But yeah, I’m excited to meet my kid soon.”

“That’s great. But you didn’t answer my question.”

“What was your question?”

“I asked if you were happy with Whitney?”

“I’m learning to be. We had some growing pains moving in together. Like, she’s a slob and I like shit neat. But I’m happy she’s having my baby.” I paused. “I’m thinking about proposing.”

“Really?”

“Why do you sound surprised? We’re having a kid, for Christ’s sake.”

“I guess. But do me a favor and make sure you have a good prenup.”

My skin prickled. “Seriously? I tell you I’m thinking about proposing and that’s your reaction?”

“I’m just looking out for you. You guys come from two different worlds, man.”

“So do we.”

“Yeah. But I’m not entitled to half your assets if our friendship ends.”

28SLOANE

Dr. Connolly, the ER doctor who’d examined me when I first came in, knocked on the open glass door. “I think you’re in trouble when you get home,” she said.

My brows knitted.

She smiled and walked in. “Will called. He said you were supposed to call him with an update but hadn’t.”

“Shoot. I forgot. He’s worse than an overprotective father, and I have one of those already.”

“It’s sweet.”

“Not when you’re sixteen and fifteen minutes late getting home, and he’s waiting at the door with an axe.”

“An axe is pretty intimidating. My brother just took off his shirt and flexed. He went to the gym every day, so he thought he was a tough guy. But in reality he was five-foot-eight and pretty scrawny. So my dates only humored him. I would imagine Fireman Will with an axe is a lot scarier. Smart of you to pick a boyfriend who looks like he could go toe to toe with him.”

---