It was because I got myself knocked up by number ninety.
Buzz. Buzz.
Sighing, I roll to the side and snag my phone, heart squeezing when I see the name on the screen.
LEO: You make it home, okay? Need me to bring anything since you didn’t eat dinner?
My new “friend” offered to drive me, but…
Yeah, no.
I couldn’t deal with being stuck in the confined space of a car with Leo and all my conflicting feelings about him—not after the scene with Shannon, not after the entire night, not after…
Everything that’s still swirling around in my head.
Like him being such a good friend to the guys, the girls—standing up for Luna, dropping everything to help Bri at the shelter, stepping in to drive Faye to the airport when Gray got food poisoning and she had a conference she couldn’t miss…and then going back to stay with Gray while he recovered, even heating him up soup when he felt like he could keep something down. Picking up cables for Kailey’s computer, bringing a TV over for Sawyer when his went on the fritz.
Dozens of things, all intensely kind and generous.
But those were for his friends, his family.
With women—with me, with Shannon…it’s like he’s a different person.
I’m not clueless. I know it’s likely because he has bad history there, trauma influencing his current relationships. It’s just…
I can’t be the person he works them out on.
I need him to get his head together. For me (his “friend”), and for our baby.
Sighing, but not wanting him to worry, I type out a reply.
HARPER: I’m home. And good. Thanks.
The “…” immediately appears but my phone buzzes again with a different message.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: It’s Smitty. Kailey and I are bringing you breakfast in the morning. We’ll be there at 9.
I’ve barely finished reading that before another text comes through.
KAILEY: Sorry about Connor. Between you and Leo, and that Blue Line Matchmaker, he’s a little…miffed. But if you don’t feel up to breakfast, we’ll give you space. I promise.
I exhale, my heart squeezing.
See? They care.
HARPER: It’s okay. Breakfast sounds great.
Then I save Smitty’s number in my phone and reply back to him.
HARPER: Those apple turnovers from Molly’s sound great.
SMITTY: Then we’ll bring Molly’s.
Another heart squeeze.
HARPER: Thank you. See you in the morning at 10?
There’s a pause.
