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Dylan laughed.

“You know, I’m also terrified of becoming a parent,” Lucy told him. “And I’m already comparing myself to Carrie.”

“What?” exclaimed her friend. “Please tell me you don’t actually do that!”

“Of course I do,” said Lucy, with a little shrug. “It’s a natural thing to do. You’re my friend and you’re a great mum and now we’re pregnant at the same time.”

“Lucy, don’t be ridiculous!” said Carrie.

“Carrie’s married and has her whole life in order,” Lucy continued, looking again at Dylan, “and here I am only holding on to my business because of you, who also knocked me up—”

“Lucy!” gasped Carrie.

“You’re not only holding on to your business because of me,” replied Dylan firmly. “My buying into your successful business was the most sensible move for you. Now you own the building and you’re in a much stronger position.”

“Except that I have you as my business partner,” muttered Lucy.

“There is that,” Dylan agreed.

“I’ll admit that going into business with you hasn’t been quite as terrible as I’d anticipated,” Lucy said.

Dylan raised his eyebrows.

“In fact,” Lucy continued, “there have been certain advantages to the arrangement — although your baking is not one of them.”

Dylan smiled. “But the fact remains that we’re going to be parenting a child together, and, let’s face it, we’ve never exactly got on . . .”

“That’s an understatement,” muttered Michael, earning him an elbow in his side from his wife.

“That’s your fault,” said Lucy to Dylan.

“I’ve always been an absolute delight to you.”

“That’s just the problem — you were too nice, too charming. It was suspicious!”

“I can’t help it!” said Dylan, dramatically.

“See, it’s stuff like that that makes me concerned what this child is going to come out like!” replied Lucy, making Dylan laugh. “The important thing is we’ll both love this baby and we’ll just take things as they go. Making our own rules. And we’ve got great friends close by who can help us.”

“The offer’s still open if you want to get married,” Dylan said. “If you did want to do things more traditionally.”

“Oh my God!” exclaimed Carrie, almost jumping up from her chair.

“No!” Lucy rejected Dylan’s proposal immediately. For a second, she thought she glimpsed a flash of hurt in his eyes, but it disappeared before she could be sure. “Though I appreciate the offer,” she added to soften her outburst.

“Spoilsport,” Carrie muttered grumpily.

Lucy took a sip of her drink, suddenly feeling awkward.

“If everyone’s finished, why don’t we clear the table and get some games out?” Michael suggested.

“Great idea,” said Dylan, standing up and beginning to collect together crockery.

Lucy threw Michael a grateful glance.

She felt a little rub on the small of her back, and turned slightly to meet Dylan’s eyes. She quickly responded to the questioning look he gave her with a smile, letting him know everything was all right between them.

As she helped to load the dishwasher, however, she wondered how she’d react to a genuine proposal from Dylan. One because he wanted her, and not just a family for their baby. Stupid pregnancy hormones.