Page 47 of Snowed In with My Best Friend's Dad

“Yes.”

He rose from his chair. "Will you be staying with us, Lindsay?"

I shook my head. "You're not going to want what I bought. It's just from the hot bar at the store."

Lindsay's eyes sparkled. "I love food from the hot bar." She rose and picked up the bag. I stood, and she looped her arm through mine as we walked to the dining room.

My father brought out plates and utensils, and all I could do was sit and watch as my father and Lindsay developed an unlikely friendship.

As I ate my salad, I realized that with Lindsay knowing about my pregnancy, she’d likely tell her father. Could I possibly ask her not to tell him? What reason could I give her to keep the secret? Especially to him.

"So, how far along are you, anyway?" Lindsay asked as she poked at the potato salad on her plate.

"Only about six weeks." I looked at my father, hoping he wouldn't correct my lie. He was gnawing on a rib and didn't seem to notice. I figured he probably hadn't paid attention when I had told him I was pregnant. I was actually closer to eight to ten weeks. But if Lindsay told her father that I was six weeks pregnant, that would put me after Christmas and New Year’s as the time of conception.

"This is so exciting." She gave me a sheepish smile. "I mean, I know it's not planned, and it's probably scary. But you're growing a human life. A little person. And I know you well enough to know that you're going to make it work. I mean, you're still taking classes, and you're working. I have no doubt that you're going to get a really great teaching job which will be perfect for raising a baby, right? You’ll get holidays and summers off."

"Well, I haven't been hired yet, and considering when I'm due, it will be difficult to start at the beginning of the school year. I have found some online teaching opportunities. Maybe I could do that while the baby is little."

"Isn't the Internet amazing?" She beamed. It was so strange how happy she was for me. I wanted to bask in it, but all I could think about was Brett and what he was going to do when he learned I was pregnant.

"What about you, Lindsay? What are you doing when you finish school?" my father asked as he wiped barbecue sauce from his chin.

"I’d like to start a business, but I have a job lined up because my father is worried about me."

"Why is he worried?" I felt defensive for Lindsay. Granted, I had sometimes felt that she was a little too cavalier and flaky in her life, but she was surely capable of starting and running a business.

"Oh, you know, the same old stuff. But I got a job as a collections assistant at the Gardner Museum."

"Wow, Lindsay. Good for you."

She arched a brow at me. "Why do you sound so surprised?"

I laughed. "I'm not surprised you got the job. I’m surprised you applied. That’s great.” And I meant it.

"I still want to start a business, but I figure getting experience would help. I was hoping that you and I could go into business together since you know so much history. But I understand that you need a job with health insurance and a steady paycheck. But I'm not giving up. Be prepared in a couple of years for me to try to steal you away."

I do admit that the idea of owning a business sounded exciting, but I needed to keep my career grounded. Just as she said, I needed a steady job with benefits.

For the rest of the meal, the discussion was mostly between Lindsay and my father, and I just watched as the two of them talked about football and assorted other sports. I hadn't realized how much she knew about sports and decided it was probably because of Liam.

When it was time for her to leave, she gave me another hug and I embraced her back. I was genuinely happy to have my friend in my life again. It definitely complicated things where her father was concerned, and I hated that I was lying to her, but it had to be done. Now, I just had to hope that Brett wouldn’t suspect or care if or when she told him the news about me.

17

Brett

Iwas just about to walk into a charity fundraiser at the art gallery when my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID, seeing that it was Lindsay. The only thing I could think of was that she was calling me to tell me she'd seen Miranda. I wanted to ignore the call and at the same time I needed to know... was my secret out?

Thinking about it, I doubted it because Lindsay was the type of person who would confront me face-to-face about something like fucking her friend. Hell, maybe I was reading too much into her call. She probably just needed money.

Although technically, it was practically springtime, it was still cold outside, but I decided to brave it when taking her call to avoid eavesdroppers in the gallery.

"Lindsay. Is everything all right?"

"Oh, my God, Dad, everything's great. I saw Mira and you won't believe it."

Her enthusiasm was a relief. Whatever she was excited about, it wasn't that I had fucked her friend.

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