Page 40 of The Baby Bargain
"Gotta be honest." His voice softens. "It's not really working out for me."
He's giving me space. I think.
He's so hard to read.
I stare into his deep blue eyes. "Isn't it?"
His expression gets contemplative. "Depends on the definition."
I press my lips together. I don't know all the details of Chase's life. Only the broad strokes.
About two years ago, his high school sweetheart left him.
Half a year later, he kicked Hunter out of Blacklist Tattoo—Holden and Forest talked about it for months.
Forest thought it was the right move. Hunter lied about his drinking. Chase needed to use a, uh, firm hand.
Holden thought it was a dick move. That Chase's brother needed unconditional love and support.
I don't know what I would have done. If it was Holden or Forest who was lying about drinking, if I could tell they had a problem, if I had no idea how best to help them.
Would I be willing to risk our relationship for their well-being?
I'm not sure I'm brave enough for that.
"You work with Hunter now," I say.
His brow knits. "Technically."
"He never forgave you?"
"He did." His gaze shifts to his coffee. He takes a long sip. Swallows hard.
"So you…"
"It's only a suggestion." He completely ignores my question. "If you insist on finding a guy the old-fashioned way."
"It's not old-fashioned."
He raises a brow.
"We're using the Internet. It's modern."
His gaze shifts to my shiny silver laptop. "It's your decision, Ariel. But are you sure you don't want a donor?"
Maybe it's not a logical decision. Maybe it's not the result of hours of crunching numbers. Maybe the numbers aren't even on my side.
But I know it in my gut.
I'm not giving that up.
"Have you used the Internet to date before?" he asks.
I shoot him areallylook.
He returns it.
"I wasn't born yesterday."
