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So, nice guy it is.
I stand and shove my hands into the pockets of my sweats before I continue. “Well, uh, thank you for that, for considering my feelings. And I’m sorry being pregnant makes you so …” I clear my throat, trying to choose my words wisely. “Uncomfortable. Just know I don’t mind helping out in any way I can. Goodnight, Lo.”
“Yeah. Goodnight, Blake,” she returns softly, looking surprisingly disappointed.
Then I shuffle back to my own bedroom.
CHAPTER 32
Loren
“This ought to be interesting,”I mumble as we drive up in front of the church office.
Blake sighs when JD and Tenley pull up beside us, and we turn and watch as he walks around his truck to open the door for her. As per the norm, JD stops to kiss Tenley’s hand, which leads to them staring at each other with a silly look, and eventually them making out in the parking lot.
I smirk as I turn away, slightly embarrassed. Then my eyes meet Blake’s, and I worry he can read the longing in my expression. I hope he isn’t able to figure out whether I’m pining over him or just for the chance to be loved that passionately before I can sort it out myself.
He clears his throat after a second. “Ready?”
I shoot him a panicked look. “What’s our game plan again? Are we together? Are we friends? I’m so confused these days.”
“You’re not the only one,” he mutters to himself. Then he looks away thoughtfully.
“Blake?” I ask, bringing him back.
“Sorry,” he mumbles, and I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking. “What do you want to tell Father?”
“I certainly don’t want to lie to a priest,” I return. “Maybe he won’t notice I’m pregnant?”
He laughs and reaches over to cup his hand over my belly. “I think that ship has sailed, babe.”
“Right. But I can’t imagine he’ll want to hear that we’re cohabitatingandpregnant, much less that we’re not even in a committed relationship.”
He frowns and pulls his hand back. “At least we can tell him we’re not sleeping together. I’m sure that’s all that matters, right?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Don’t you think he’ll say playing house has the potential to develop into more? That there’s too much temptation?”
“Yes,” he replies after a while, his voice thick. And that one word is so loaded with emotion that it makes my stomach flutter.
“Let’s not volunteer that information, then,” I offer, trying to lighten things up.
He nods. “Okay. We’ll tell Father Conrad the truth, but on a need-to-know basis. If he asks, we’ll be honest.”
“The problem is that I’m not even sure I know the truth at this point.”
Blake groans and shakes his head, seemingly frustrated with me. “It’s a good thing I’m heartless, Reed. Or you’d have formed a habit of ripping it out and tap dancing on it every day.”
I gape at him, unsure of how to respond to his uncharacteristically emotional outburst.
“I’m kidding,” he says, looking embarrassed. “It’s just so impressive, your ability to draw out the kind of information I’ve spent a lifetime suppressing from myself. You would have made an amazing interrogator.”
I swallow, my eyebrows still drawn together in concern. “Blake …”
“Please stop looking at me like that,” he begs quietly. “I can’t tell whether you love or pity me when you do.”
My breath catches in my throat when I try to answer. “I don’t?—”
“Look, we’re going to go in and act like our situation is perfectly normal, and if he asks questions, we’ll tell him the same thing we plan to tell everyone else, that we’re better off as friends. It’s not completely true, but it’s not a lie, right?”
