Page 77 of Triplet Babies for my Ex's Best Friend

The city beyond the windows blurs into light.

The apartment goes silent.

He shifts slightly, just enough that I can feel the possibility of movement before it even happens.

My pulse is everywhere, my skin is hot, and I know that if one of us moves even an inch, this whole carefully built thing is going to crack wide open.

He reaches out. One slow movement, hand coming to rest against the counter between us, close enough that if I leaned forward…

No.

Absolutely not.

My whole body jolts with panic. Real, bright panic. Because I want it, and that's exactly why I can’t let it happen.

I push off the stool so fast it nearly scrapes. “I can’t do this.”

The words come out breathless.

His expression changes instantly. “Addy…”

But I’m already backing away.

“No. I’m sorry. I just… no.” I shake my head, heart pounding so hard it feels embarrassing. “This is a bad idea. A really bad idea.”

He straightens, but he doesn’t come after me.

Thank goodness. Or maybe damn him for that too. I don’t even know anymore.

“I know,” he says.

Which somehow makes it worse, because he does know, and he still looked at me like that.

I laugh once, small, shaky, completely humorless. “Right. Great. Good. We agree.”

My face feels hot.

My hands are shaking.

This is ridiculous.

I’m twenty-eight years old and fleeing a kitchen because my hot boss almost maybe might have kissed me over takeout pasta and emotional honesty.

Luci is going to have a field day.

I point vaguely toward the hallway. “I should… go. I have… things. To do.”

“At night?”

“Yes.”

“In your room?”

“Yes.”

He watches me.

Then gives one short nod. “Goodnight, Addy.”