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“Yeah, your baby. Causing me grief and nausea already,” she jokes, elbowing me in the gut as she passes by and walks toward the door.
“Like father, like son,” I mutter as I move around the cabin and secure the windows I had opened earlier to help air the place out. I make sure the back door is locked and return to the front where Hallie waits.
“I should probably just head home. I’m not sure I want to be around food right now,” she tells me, sticking out her tongue and making a face.
“Come on, Cupcake. You gotta eat. I’ll even buy,” I tell her, placing my hand on her lower back and guiding her toward her Jeep.
She pauses halfway and narrows her eyes. “This isn’t a date. I can buy my own dinner.”
“Fine, you buy yours. I’ll buy the baby’s,” I state, trying to fight off my cocky grin and failing.
She sighs loudly and opens her driver’s side door. “You’re impossible.”
“It’s one of my many charming qualities, Hal. Now let’s go. I’m starving.”
Once she’s safely tucked in her vehicle, I grab the tools from the small porch and toss them in the bed of my truck. Then, I climb in and follow her down the lane and toward town.
My mind spins. In the last thirty minutes, my life was flipped upside down. I’m suddenly a man who’s going to be a father. A jolt of excitement races through my veins. I’ve always wanted kids and pictured myself as a dad for a long time. Of course, this isn’t exactly how I pictured it happening. Even though we argue all the time, I still consider Hallie a friend. We’re not in a relationship, despite the amazing sex we’ve had. Those two nights were based off tension, chemistry, and a bit of necessity, not love.
Things have definitely changed, and surprisingly, I realize I’m not afraid of it. Despite the most shocking news ever being dumped in my lap just a short time ago, I won’t run or hide. Not from Hallie or our child.
I’m going to be a dad, and I couldn’t be happier.
Chapter Thirteen
Hallie
My stomach has been fine, despite the nausea-inducing anxiety I’ve felt since finding out I was pregnant. I had every intention of going home and trying to figure out my next step, but the next thing I knew, I was in my vehicle and looking for Logan. Well, I wasn’t looking for him per se, but I was trying to find some clarity when my world was flipped upside down, and that clarity came in the form of Logan.
Still, it was incredibly difficult to tell him I was pregnant. This wasn’t how I pictured this moment happening. You know, hunting down the guy you slept with to tell him you’d both made the mistake of not wearing a condom? Definitely not on the list of ways I pictured this going down. And even though he seemed out of sorts and shocked at first, he took the news really well. I also have no doubt that he’ll be one-hundred-percent involved moving forward. Logan is that type of man. Loyal and good, and he’ll be a wonderful dad to my little peanut, even if the circumstances in which he or she was conceived were less than ideal.
Oh my God, what are my parents going to say?
As I hit the main street through town, I find it somewhat deserted. Everyone appears to be at the football field, enjoying the scrimmage night and kickoff to the season. Part of me wants to drive right past Frannie’s and head home, but there’s nothing in my fridge that sounds remotely appetizing, despite having several options available for quick meals. The thought of Frannie’s fluffy strawberry and banana pancakes actually makes my mouth water, and I find myself pulling into the first spot adjacent to the diner and parking.
When I get out, Logan is there, having parked behind me. “Ready?”
“I guess,” I reply, worried the scent of what’s inside might make this visit a bad idea.
“Come on, Hal. Let’s feed my baby,” he replies, placing his hand on my lower back to escort me inside the diner. I try not to think about the zip of electricity racing through my blood at the slight touch, especially since it’s not meant to be sexual in any way.
It’s also hard to ignore the tingle I get every time he says my baby.
I glance around to make sure no one heard his comment before we enter the diner, finding it fairly empty. There are a few tables occupied by out-of-towners, but otherwise, we have our pick of the booths. “How about that one?” he asks, pointing to one of the back spots, farthest away from the other patrons.
“Sure,” I reply, heading in that direction.
I take the closest bench and slide in, knowing Logan prefers to be facing the room. He’s always been like that, dislikes having his back turned. I don’t know why I just thought of that, but it’s definitely something I’ve picked up on over the years.
“Hi, guys. What can I get you to drink?” Susie, one of the servers, asks as she sets two menus down on the table.
“Ice water for me,” I reply after Logan waves for me to go first.
“Same. Thanks, Susie,” Logan says, glancing at the menu.
“Sure thing. Be right back.”
“What sounds good?” he asks when we’re sitting alone once more.
