Page 61 of Accidentally in Love

I knew he didn’t like to talk about his feelings, and I didn’t want to push him, but I was worried. Why would he put up the Christmas tree and lights on his house if it was all a reminder of the worst day of his life? I didn’t want him to be in pain because he knew how much I loved the holiday.

He rubbed a hand down his face. “Baby, I’m…”

“It’s fine. I gotta get to work,” I said sharply and gathered up my things.

Big lie, it wasn’t fine. I wanted Nolan to open up to me, but it hurt how dismissive he was. I knew this was a sour subject, but I wished he wasn’t so closed off.

He didn’t stop me from leaving, so I knew the conversation was over. I couldn’t help but feel guilty about the downtrodden look on his face, though. Maybe I’d get him to open up to me, but it definitely wouldn’t be today.

I didn’t have time to prod him, anyway. I had to make it to school early to talk to Principal Mathews. Helen was the only one at school who knew I was pregnant. I had kind of made a spectacle at the brewery when I told Nolan I’d marry him. Nolan liked to remind me we lived in a gossipy small town, so odds were the entire school knew I was pregnant by now. Maybe even the whole town.

I dropped my things off in my classroom, peed for the millionth time that day already, and walked over to the main office. Claudia, the secretary, smiled at me. “Hi, Avery, he’s waiting for you.”

“Thanks.”

“Congratulations!” she called after me as I walked into the office.

Welp, I guess my secret was out.

“Avery!” Grayson Mathews greeted me and gestured to the seat in front of him.

I gave him a tight smile and took the seat. “I guess you know why I’m here.”

“News travels fast in a small town.”

I groaned. “How did you find out?”

“Oh, Felix is my cousin. And I ran into Gemma at the coffee shop this morning.”

I sighed. Gossipy small town indeed. I didn’t think I needed to tell my sister to keep it on the down-low. I would be having some words with her later. I was still mad at her for spilling the beans with our dad.

He laughed. “When are you due?”

“Not until June. I might duck out early depending on when the baby comes.”

“What about leave? Will you use any of your personal time?”

The school I taught at didn’t give paid maternity leave. It was bullshit. If I didn’t love what I did, I’d probably look for a different career.

“Probably for whenever I end up going out on leave, but I plan to be back in the fall as usual.”

“Okay, that sounds good.”

“I’ll need to take a couple of mornings off. We’re going to get married, so I need to apply for the marriage license and then get married.”

“Oh. I didn’t realize you were engaged.”

“Not gonna lie. This pregnancy was a surprise, but the dad and I have known each other for a while, and we’re getting married.”

He furrowed his brow. “Oh. Who are you getting married to?”

“Nolan MacGregor.”

“Mac? Really?”

I hated that old nickname. Nolan would never be ‘Mac’ to me.

“What does that mean?”