Page 53 of The Baby Bargain
"You could say that?"
Her eyes fix on me. "Sorry… I just… uh…" She picks up her chopsticks. Uses them to grab a piece of broccoli. "Thank you."
"My pleasure."
She brings the broccoli to her mouth. Chews. Swallows. "Can I be honest?"
"Can I stop you?"
Her lips curl into a half-smile. "Remember when you told me to listen to this album?"
"After the guy in high school dumped you."
"Yeah. You thought it would help. And I guess it did. But only because this guy—" She motions to the speaker— "Annoyed me so much, I started thinking 'maybe all men are terrible. I'm better off single.'"
I can't help but laugh. "What about him?"
"He's so obsessed with his ex, but he can't even admit it. It's like… get over it, dude. You know?"
"You realize who you're talking to?"
Her eyes meet mine. "At least you know."
"Still can't get over it."
"Maybe." She presses her lips together. "Or maybe that's just the story you tell yourself."
Fuck, I have no idea how to respond to that.
"You still listen to what you loved in high school," she says.
"You don't?"
Her laugh is light. "I guess that's fair." Her gaze shifts to the speakers. "It's weird. I hated this band at first. But I'd hear you and Forest playing it and, after a while, it made me think of you. I like you. So I like it."
"You like me?"
Her cheeks flush. "You've always been a good friend." She trips over her last word. Like it's not accurate enough for the situation.
It's not. But then what do you call our current relationship? There's no word forthe woman you're helping find another man to get her pregnant.
Which is why she's here.
Not to talk about my taste in music, or gush over my cooking, or cuddle up on the couch.
She's not mine.
We're not together.
It's that familiarity in my brain. I don't invite people into my space. I don't invite women into my space. Not since Grace.
It's normal that I want to hold Ariel. That I want to take her to bed. Take care of her.
That's what I do.
Just—
I need to do it a different way here.
