Page 17 of The Christmas Gift

“Bro.” Wren pointed to the movers. “They’re taking your couch!”

“Isn’t that the couch you and that redhead couldn’t get off of for like three days?” Spencer raised a brow.

“It’s practically a souvenir!” Wren elbowed Spencer.

He’d let them have their fun, Cor decided. Getting rid of every piece of furniture not linked to the memories he hoped to build with Ivy and the baby was reason enough for the change.

“Bro! The bed too?” Wren gaped. “Didn’t you used to call it the love machine?”

Spencer chuckled. “Mind telling us…your best friends, what the hell is going on?”

“Remember my marketing meeting on Thursday?”

“Yeah,” Spencer said, “You blew me off and stuck me with this one.” He jabbed a finger in Wren’s direction.

“You blew me off too,” Wren protested. “Try being stuck with two gorgeous ladies.”

“We’re discussing Cor, not you.” Spencer rolled his eyes, facing Cor again. His long locks draped his shoulders.

“Wait!” Cor interrupted. “You didn’t show up for your date? What happened between my office and the restaurant?”

“Something came up,” Spencer said. When both men faced him, a shadow of disbelief marring their brows. “We’re talking about Ivy people. Stick to the program.”

Cor shook his head, he wouldn’t put it past Spencer to have found a reason to avoid socializing with strangers. “Dad hired Ivy’s company to head the marketing for the new launch.”

“And let me guess…” Wren grinned. “Miss-by-the-book rejects any suggestion of future hanky-panky.”

“Not fucking going to happen.” Cor blew out a frustrated breath. He’d played by her rules before, now she was going to play by his. This time she wouldn’t sneak out on him. “You should also know she’s pregnant.” Just uttering the words made his chest squeeze. He was scared and excited all at once.

His friends on the other hand were shocked speechless. Their eyes were wide with disbelief.

“Guys, I’m about to be a father, don’t you have something to say?”

“I call dibs on being godfather,” Wren said.

“Like hell,” Spencer countered. “The kid needs a proper role model.”

He exhaled in relief at his friends’ unequivocal support. They didn’t ask bullshit questions about if the baby was his or suggest he think about it. He’d decided, and they were going to support him no matter what. It had always been that way between them and he shouldn’t have expected anything different, but this was so much bigger than past decisions. Yet, here they were debating their role in his child’s life.

“Clearing out your place makes sense now.” Wren looked around the now empty room as the movers took the last traces of furniture. “I would want to get rid of all traces of DNA from other chicks too. Can’t have my niece playing on the same couch you were rolling around naked—”

“Get out!” Cor growled, shoving them towards the door. “Both of you.”

“When are we going to meet Ivy?”

Never. Their enthusiasm was going to scare her away before he got her moved in. “I’ll let you know when,” he said, closing the door on the pair who were grinning like idiots.

Not only was Ivy in the building, but he knew which apartment. He was going to convince her his bed was the only one worth sleeping in.

Chapter Five

Ivy

Ivy opened the door to her friend’s apartment and squeaked. “You startled me.”

Standing across the hallway, with his back bracing against the wall was Cor. One hand was in the pants pocket of his black suit, and in the other was a small cup of something that smelled distinctly like cinnamon.

“How did you know I was staying with Blair?” She was surprised he hadn’t found out much sooner with an entire complex of friends who spent a lot of time at the pool, condo bar, or in the coffee shop.

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