Page 197 of The Baby Bargain
Chase nodsyeah. "She's good for him."
"Was Grace good for you?"
"Sometimes. I miss those times. But it's not about her, not really. I miss that feeling of walking on the beach, talking about our futures like we really believed they could go anywhere."
"They still could."
"Maybe. But it doesn't feel the same."
I nod. I know what he means. I remember that feeling of being seventeen and having the world at my fingertips. "Like when you finally get your driver's license."
He nodsexactly.
"The rush of your first kiss with someone new. The first time you sayI love you. The first time—"
"Your friend asks you to get her pregnant."
My laugh is nervous. "Are you expecting a second time?"
He shakes his head. "Not sure I could go through this again."
"Because, um… so…" I can't ask about our future. Not yet. I'm not ready for an answer. "She's pretty."
He stands. Shakes his headso not going there. "You're gorgeous, Ariel. I'm not gonna let anyone say otherwise. Including you."
"But she's prettier—"
"I don't compare you to Grace."
"Ever?"
"Ever."
"But you must think about how she has blond hair or how she gets art—"
"Your mom was an artist. You surround yourself with everything she loved. You know more about pop art than I do."
Oh. That might be true. "So you think about how I'm smarter."
"Princess…" His voice is sincere. "This has been haunting you."
"No."
"Yeah."
"A little."
He sits next to me. Turns to face me. "I don't love her anymore."
"Okay."
"I'm not saying I'm over the damage she did. Not that she did it—"
"I know what you mean."
"But I am over her."
"Yeah?" My voice is needy. "Are you sure? You don't think about her ditching Pirate Boy for you?"
