Page 50 of Fall for You (Flirting with Forever 4)

Sophia’s the first to ask the big question. “When are you due?”

Damon’s masculine lips curve into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen out of him. “November twenty-third.”

“Oh, wow.”

“Aw, I’m so happy for you guys!”

“Amazing news.”

“Congrats, guys, that’s great.”

Heath grins. “Looks like Damon does get to be department chair all by himself for a while next year.”

That last one makes everyone laugh and Damon smirks playfully at Piper just as she shouts, “Crap!”

As I watch them enjoying this moment of revelation with our friends, I realize I won’t have the shared laughter, the intimacy, or the support—none of it. Damon is so loving with Piper, so sweet. This is the way it should be when you find out you’re pregnant for the first time and get to tell people about it. Instead, I’m going to have to go through this alone. And holy fuck, how the hell do I tell Liam? He’s on the verge of pushing his little one out of the nest in just two years. And here I am, putting him on the hook for eighteen more? I think I’m going to be sick.

I want to cry.

Run away.

Something.

The parents-to-be look at each other once more before giving each other these funny looks before they meet our eyes again. Piper lifts one finger to get our attention. “Um. There’s something you should know.”

Hadleigh covers her mouth and mumbles through her hands, “I can’t handle this kind of drama.”

Sawyer laughs and pulls her from her perch on the arm of his chair right into his lap. “We’ve had enough drama to last us a lifetime, that’s for sure. By the way, did you know the term drama comes from a Greek word meaning action? Kind of confusing when you consider we have both action and drama movies.”

That gets everyone laughing and shaking their heads, and I almost think I’m in the clear.

But no.

Piper points to the pregnancy test. “That isn’t my test. I took one several days ago. I’m pretty sure I didn’t hallucinate and pee on a test here.”

Aw, shit. Not that I really thought there was any chance that Piper had also peed on a test here at Sophia and Heath’s, but I was kind of hoping for any possible way out of explaining myself right now.

The blood rushes straight to my cheeks. I drop my head into my hands, covering my face. My head pounds, my ears buzz, and I feel a little queasy.

From beside me, an arm wraps around my back, and Zoey’s soft voice asks, “Quinn? Is it your test?”

Chapter 29

Liam

I’ve spent the entire day attempting to repair the broken pieces of my relationship with my daughter. I’d fixed her favorite breakfast and bought her favorite flavor of ice cream. I’d convinced her to bake banana bread with me, and then we’d watched a movie. But she’s still distant, and it’s killing me. Crushing my heart.

Around eleven, I knock lightly on her door, and she calls for me to come in. She’s curled up on her bed, hair still damp from her shower. Even though I know she’s sixteen, she looks small there, reminding me of the little girl she used to be. Of the sweet child who thought I could do no wrong. I want that back. I want to be the man my daughter looks up to and respects.

As I approach the bed, she watches me warily.

“Can I sit?” I point to the side of the bed.

She shrugs. “Do what you want.”

I close my eyes. Not the response I wanted. I sit anyway. “You hold one hell of a grudge, O.”

Her eyes dart to mine. “What do you expect? You get to go to work or stay home and no one taunts you all day about your dad and your teacher getting it on.”

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