Page 30 of Pretty Little Scars

“Wow,” I murmur, watching.

“Wanna feel?” Harper grins. “Go ahead. I don’t mind.”

Tentatively, I lay my hand over her belly, and the baby rolls again, making me smile.

“Well hi there, little baby.” More rolling.

“She likes you,” Harper says.

“I like her too. How are you feeling?”

“Well, let’s see. My ankles are always swollen, my hips hurt, and I can’t sleep because I can’t get comfortable because my hips hurt. I’m pretty sure you could eat off the floor of my house because I can’t stop cleaning it.”

“You’re nesting.”

“I’m psychotic,” she counters. “Blake is great about giving me back rubs and foot rubs.”

“Nice.I need a massage.”But I can’t stand to be touched, so it likely won’t happen.

“Don’t we all?” Harper says with a laugh. “I’m just ready to have this baby so I can love on her and kiss her and Ava can take her to Taylor Swift concerts.”

I lift an eyebrow and Harper laughs.

“It’s something Ava said when we found out I’m pregnant. That she hoped it was a girl so she could be the cool aunt who takes her to concerts and stuff.”

“That sounds like Ava.” The baby moves under my hand again. “She’s active in there. Doesn’t surprise me, since her parents are totally outdoorsy and stuff too.”

“Blake already bought a pack he can wear with her in it when we hike,” she says, and her eyes mist over.

“Oh geez, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“That’s the other thing. I cryall the time. The stupid backpack thing is so sweet and fun, and I can’t wait to hike with her, and it makes me all emotional.”

“Harpsichord doesn’t need a reason to cry,” Ava calls out from the kitchen. “She cried when Xander took the ice tonight before you got here.”

“Hey, I’m proud of him, okay?” She wipes a tear away. “He’s going to be such a good uncle.”

“Okay, there’s a whole lot of emotions going on over here,” I call out. “Help!”

Greg’s wiping his hands on a towel as he walks in and joins us. He scoops his girl up and sits with her in his lap, brushing his hand over her hair. “Hey, it’s okay, baby girl. There’s no need to cry.”

And just like that,Ifeel like crying. What’s it like to have a father like that? To have someone in your life—a man—who’s gentle and loving and would never,everhurt you?

I don’t know. Sure, I have Holden, and he’s the best. But I had a tyrant for a father, and I never trusted that he would touch me with anything but violence and pain.

I squeeze Harper’s hand and stand, then cross to the kitchen.

“Thanks for inviting me,” I say, mustering up a smile. I have too many emotions rolling through me, and I need to keep ittogether until I’m alone. “It was a lot of fun, and dinner was fantastic. I’m going to head out.”

“I’ll text you tomorrow,” Ava says.

Good, because I want to know what’s going on with Chad. But I can’t say that because if I talk too much, I’ll break down, and I willnotdo that here.

Everyone says goodbye except Tucker, and when I walk out, he’s following me.

God, please don’t follow me right now.

“I’ll be right back,” I hear him say as I hop down the steps. “Wait, Duchess.”