AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But, hey, now we get to be first-time dads at the same time, and our kids are going to grow up together. This is actually pretty awesome when you think about it. What a blessing, right? Blake, this is … kind of the best news ever,” he rambles, his voice thick as if he’s getting choked up, and I admittedly have to swallow the lump in my throat too.
Over the past few months, I’ve struggled with my feelings as I watched JD become more and more invested in his new family. It hasn’t been easy to balance the joys of seeing him so happy with the dread of being left behind. Then, once I found out Loren was pregnant, my focus shifted to my relationship with her and how a baby might affect our future. While a part of me relished in the idea of an accomplishment putting me on par with JD, I hadn’t really taken the time to consider that embracing fatherhood could help us grow closer instead of drift apart.
For once, I think I’m looking forward to sharing something with my little brother.
“Yeah, sure,” I choke out, willing my eyes to stop watering because there’s no way I could live it down if I cried right now.
We’re both quiet for a beat before he clears his throat. “Want to come in for coffee? Ten’s already at work, and E’s at the gym.”
I check the time on the dash and nod before I glare at him strangely. “Since when do you make coffee?”
“Happy wife, happy life, man.”
CHAPTER 17
Blake
JD leadsme inside and points out a new coffeemaker before he retrieves a carton of eggs from the fridge.
“So, uh, how are you really feeling about all this?” he asks hesitantly as he works at the stove.
“It’s not like I can take it back now,” I say, laughing sardonically. But I already know I wouldn’t take it back, even if I could.
“What about your sworn enemy becoming the mother of your child?”
He cranes his neck to look at me, but I turn away so he can’t read my expression. I’m not ready to admit that Loren is probably the reason I am more than okay with things.
“It could be worse.”
“Really? ‘It could be worse’?”
For a second, I forgot he doesn’t know about our arrangement. “Okay, so we’re obviously not enemies anymore.”
“And that’s it? Blake, is this not the first real, serious relationship you’ve had in forever? Or like, at all?”
“Who said anything about a serious relationship?” I feel my blood pressure rising. “And, by the way, being a few months into a quickie marriage doesn’t make you some kind of therapist or relationship expert. So you can spare me the condescending lecture.”
He chuckles and points a spatula at me. “I’m obviously not an expert, but knowing you better than anyone else on this planet definitely makes me qualified to call you out. And I do have experience helping Tenley overcome her commitment issues.”
I cross my arms and lean back against the counter as the coffeemaker groans. “I don’t have commitment issues. I just haven’t found a reason to commit. There’s a difference.”
“A baby isn’t a good enough reason?” he asks incredulously.
I scoff. “Loren and I agree that forcing a serious relationship would be a horrible idea. Besides, she knows I’m committed to being a decent father, and I’d like to think I’ve been very supportive so far.”
“You’re being supportive?” he clarifies, eyeing me suspiciously again. “So, you’re just friends?”
I narrow my eyes. “All right, I guess we’re more than friends, but technically, we’re not romantically attached. It’s more of an open relationship.”
“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” he deadpans.
I sigh as I pour my coffee. He’s like a damn dog with a bone, and he’s not going to quit until he’s figured me out. “Neither of us wanted to risk our ability to co-parent later. But we couldn’t just come out and tell everyone she ended up pregnant after an accidental hookup, so we agreed to make it look like we’ve been dating for a while before ultimately deciding we work better as friends,” I explain. “And you don’t know any of this, all right? I really want to save her the embarrassment.”
“You’re only fake dating, then?”
“More or less.”
He scoops scrambled eggs into a pair of plates and walks over. “How does one ‘accidentally’ hook up with a woman he’s never liked or found attractive in the first place?”
