Page 73 of The Secrets We Built Together

"They're fine," Delaney said gently, nudging my shoulder. "Xander is probably the most competent man I've ever met, and I live with Trace, so that's saying something."

"I know, I know." I stuffed my phone back in my pocket, determined to be present. "It's just... I've never been away from her for this long."

"First separation anxiety?" Emma asked sympathetically. "Is it weird that I can’t wait for when Finn and I get to experience that?"

"Is it normal to feel like you've left a limb behind?" I asked, only half-joking.

The women nodded in unison, and even though Emma didn't have children, I appreciated the solidarity.

"So," Reece leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with mischief, "now that we've established the baby is fine, let's talk about what's really important. What's going on with you and Dr. Dreamboat?"

I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. "Really? We're going there already? I thought I'd at least get through my first drink."

"Nope," Delaney said cheerfully, sipping her virgin punch. "That's the tax for getting out of the house. Spill."

I took a long sip of my drink, playing for time. The sweet, fruity concoction hit my system fast after weeks of nothing stronger than coffee.

"There's nothing to spill," I insisted. "We're just... cohabitating. Co-parenting. Co-existing."

"Co-bullshit," Reece coughed into her hand, not even trying to be subtle.

Emma leaned in, her blue eyes curious. "But I thought you two were engaged? That's what everyone in town is saying. The amount of times I’ve had to pretend to be busy at the counter soI can listen to gossip about you is wild. You wouldn’t believe how much of a gossip hub the florist shop is becoming."

Right. Our cover story. Except it didn't feel like a cover anymore, not after everything that had happened between us. The memory of Xander's hands on my skin, his mouth against mine, sent heat crawling up my neck.

"It's complicated," I hedged.

"Oh my god," Delaney gasped, staring at my face. "You slept with him!"

"Delaney!" I hissed, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. The last thing I needed was for the Willowbrook gossip mill to get that particular tidbit.

"You did!" She clapped her hands in delight. "I knew it! When?"

The alcohol was already working its magic, loosening my tongue and lowering my defenses. "It was one time," I admitted quietly.

Billie and Reece exchanged gleeful looks.

"And?" Reece prompted.

"And what?"

"How was it?" all three women asked in unison.

I buried my face in my hands, but I couldn't stop the smile that crept across my lips. "It was... incredible, okay? Earth-shattering. Universe-altering. Are you happy now?"

They cheered so loudly that the bartender looked over in concern.

"Settle down, vultures," I muttered, but there was no heat behind it. It actually felt good to talk about it with someone. I'd been keeping so much bottled up, pretending that what was happening with Xander was just part of our arrangement, not something that was changing the foundations of my life.

"So, are you two actually together now? For real?" Billie asked, her expression genuinely interested. "Because you could do a lotworse than Xander. Trust me, I've known him since we were kids."

I traced the condensation on my glass with my finger, trying to find the right words. "I don't know what we are. We haven't really... talked about it. There was a moment after. Things were said, feelings were admitted, but then it’s like we went back to normal and we didn’t get going."

Delaney's eyebrows shot up. "You slept together, are raising a child together, living together, and you haven't talked about what you are to each other?"

When she put it like that, it did sound ridiculous.

"We're figuring it out," I defended. "Things have been... intense. With the DCFS stuff, and Amelia, and everything… else. We’re moving slow and I like that."

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