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Man, I could get used to this?—
“What was that for?” she asks immediately, her eyelashes fluttering after I pull away.
“I, uh … just felt like you needed it,” I explain, trying to sound as unaffected as possible.
“Oh, okay. Um, hold onto that thought. I’ll be right back.”
She spins on her heels and hurries off again. I’m unsure whether I should follow her at first, but then I hear her coughing. I knock gently before I open the bathroom door and let myself in. She’s hunched over the toilet, so I grab a hair clip from the counter and use it to gather her long, brown locks and secure them behind her head. She heaves a couple more times while I find a clean washcloth for her, then she takes it gratefully.
I step out to give her some space, sitting on the edge of her bed and allowing my eyes to roam around the room, making note of the random clutter and the stacks of books dotting every surface. I could have guessed that Loren’s a junk collector.
I’m reaching over to pick up the book on her nightstand when she walks in.
“Sorry about that,” she apologizes as she sits beside me.
“No, no—it was the only fitting ending to that moment.” I bump her shoulder playfully. “In fact, I almost joined you.”
She huffs out a laugh. “I’m sure you’re not used to garnering this kind of reaction from women.”
I frown, because I can’t help but feel embarrassed or even ashamed at my behavior every time someone uses it to make me the butt of a joke lately, especially when it’s Loren.
“No, I guess not. But that seems to be a recurring theme when I’m with you.”
She sighs before she speaks again, ignoring my last comment. “Blake, I don’t expect you to respond to any of this now. But you should know that I plan to go through with this pregnancy. The alternative is not even a consideration, at least not for me.”
I can’t help but smile at the protective air in her tone. “I’m actually very relieved to hear that.”
“And this probably goes without saying, but you’re the only possible candidate, you know, as the father.”
A sense of relief washes over me, which manifests as a cocky smirk. “So, you and Doc?—”
“Blake,” she cuts me off, pinning me with a sharp glare.
“Sorry. It’s not my place to make any assumptions or judgments about your life, so I appreciate your honesty,” I say, hoping she can sense my sincerity. “Thank you for telling me that.”
She looks down at her hands again. “I’m sure all of this sounds incredibly cliché, but I really don’t want you to feel like you’re stuck. You don’t owe me anything.”
“Hey, hey,” I interrupt her when her eyes begin watering again. I reach over and grab one of her hands to hold onto. “I thought we weren’t doing this stuff tonight, hmm? I’m only supposed to be here as a supportive frenemy, not as the guy who put a baby in you, right?”
She smiles at me, despite my voice cracking at the end. “You’re handling this way better than I expected, for the record.”
I shrug. “Don’t give me too much credit just yet. I’m sure there’s an early mid-life crisis looming on the horizon.”
“I bet you’d mid-life crisis really well, too.”
“Oh, definitely. I’ve already made a list of must haves: douchey sports car, tanning bed, new hunting camp, girlfriend who needs a sponsorship for fake boobs …” I let go of her hand to check each item off on my fingers, hoping to make her laugh.
I’m rewarded with a giggle, and she surprises me by reaching up to run her hand through my hair, giving me the chills. “At least you’re doing it before you need hair plugs.”
I smile once I remember she said I had nice hair before. “Hmm. I like it when you touch me.”
I didn’t mean to say it out loud. Hell, I didn’t even mean to think it. But I can’t help how weird I’m becoming lately, and I don’t foresee it getting any better after tonight. I’m afraid the realization that Loren and I are now linked for the rest of our lives may have already activated something on a subconscious level.
She gulps and slowly brings her hand back to her lap, her eyes locked onto mine the whole time. “And just like that, you keep surprising me, Blake Bourgeois.”
“I think I’m surprised at myself too.”
She turns away quickly and stifles a yawn. “I’m sorry. Is it just me or has this been the longest day ever?”
