Page 26 of Happily Ever Maybe

I sighed at the familiar refrain. “Things happen every dayeverywhere. I like being in a position where I can help, you know?”

My mom was silent for a while before she finally replied. “Iknow, I know. And I’m grateful you’re in that position, too. Now, let yourbrother take care of you. And maybe that young woman who was in the room nextdoor. You know, the one you never stop talking about?” There was a question inher voice, and I could practically see the smile on her face, even through the phone.

“Okay, Mom. I’m going to let you go. Thank you, though.”

“I will get details out of you, mister. Just you wait.”

I said my goodbyes, and we hung up. Oh, she was going to getsome details soon. Because Jennifer and I needed to talk. Everything remainedunresolved after the nurses kicked me out of her hospital room. Then my parentsshowed up, and the doctors discharged me. Now, I was home, it had beentwenty-four hours since I’d seen her, and I was on a loaner phone until I couldget a replacement. I wanted to text her just to see how she was. Ask how thebaby was.

I nearly freaked out at that thought. Baby. She waspregnant.

I mean, I knew how it happened. I knew when it happened. Butit still didn’t seem real.

It had been over two months since I’d kissed her, held her.Since we’d let the heat between us burn. Now, everything had changed.

What was I supposed to do with that?

The doorbell rang, and since I didn’t have my phone where Icould see the camera, I heaved myself up off the couch and made my way to thefront of the house. My heart raced when I saw who stood outside.

I opened the door quickly, fumbling with the locks. Iwatched Jennifer play with her fingers and bite her lip—those luscious lipsthat I’d tasted, still craved.

“Jen. You’re here.”

“I could have asked Daisy for your new number, but then shewould have asked why, and she kind of already knows. I just want this to bebetween us for now. Which is probably a lot in retrospect. I thought it wasfinally time we have that talk.” She let out a breath. “And I’m saying a lot ofwords all at once without really letting you respond. Are you okay? Do you wantme to let you be?”

I quickly reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her to myside. Just the heat of her, the feel of her, did things to me. I was a goner,and I didn’t even know when it happened. Was it the first time I saw her? Thefirst time I worked with her?

I closed the door behind her and just stood there, feelingawkward as hell. I wasn’t sure what to say, let alone how to feel. But I wantedto feel something. I loved this woman. I had for months, and I hadn’t even realizedit.

I just needed to figure out exactly what to do with thatfeeling.

There was no going back now. We were beyond that.

“Can I get you something to drink? Do you need to sit down?Are you feeling okay? What about morning sickness?” I kept asking questions, myvoice pitching higher with each one.

She smiled at me and shook her head.

“I’m kind of glad I’m not the only person freaking out rightnow. Because I’m really freaking out.”

“Oh, good. So, we’re in the same position. That is good toknow.”

“None of this is what I expected. I was trying to get overyou, and now here we are, doing this.” She pressed her lips together, and Ifelt triumphant. But I figured that probably wasn’t the best way to get her tostay still for one minute and talk with me.

“Let’s sit down and think. Because it’s been a busy fewdays.”

“Tell me about it. Once I’m done here, I get to go into workand have a discussion with the crew and figure out what the hell I’m going todo.”

I faltered as we sat, ignoring the twinge inmy shoulder. “With work? Or in general?”

She gave me a small smile and swallowed. “That’s the thing.I don’t want to be out in the field if I’m a liability or could hurt the baby.”

A sense of relief hit me so hard, it must have shown on myface. Because she narrowed her eyes. “I can handle anything, Gus. I can takecare of myself. And I know that’s something you’ve had trouble with in thepast.”

I scowled. “I know you can handle yourself.”

“Do you? Because you’re constantly pushing me out of the wayor trying to take over things to help me. And while I appreciate that somewhatas a partner, I feel like you sometimes forget that I can handle things myself.That I’m trained just as much as you. We’ve always butted heads like that. Andit’s not just because I’m a woman. You don’t do those things with Daisy.”

“Because I don’t feel the same things for Daisy.”