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Sadie peeked out from under the table when Mason tucked the sleepy little girl into her carrier. A frosty peach-colored teether was hooked onto her wrist. Even with her head falling heavy into the bumper on her pretty carrier, she shoved the cold compress to her gums with a needy sound.
Looked like I might have a long night ahead of me.
“Sorry, I got caught up with customers.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
He nodded to me as he sat down. “Don’t like the stew?”
“No, it’s amazing. You missed me eating the first half like I was starving.”
“What, my brother doesn’t feed you?”
“He feeds me fine.” I swallowed hard at the image of exactly what kind of afternoon I’d had. Food hadn’t exactly been our focus.
Mason held up a hand. “That face and the blush says it all. I really don’t need details.”
“I wasn’t giving them.”
“Then again, there’s another cousin in the pile, right? Your sister’s baby? Now you’re an aunt and a mom.”
I blew out a breath. “I’m not her mom.”
Mason frowned. “Of course you are. More than her biological one times a million. Jared is so glad to have you in her life—hell, in both of their lives. I’ve never seen him happier. In fact—”
“Just stop.”
He leaned forward with his hands folded. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. It’s just a lot, okay? Everything has been a lot. This is still all so new.”
“It’s not new. You guys have been together forever.”
“No, we’ve been friends. Friends.” I tried to take a deep breath. “Just because we got naked in a high-stress situation doesn’t mean we are ready for marriage and more babies.” Horror engulfed me as the tears started coming like a flood.
“Gina.” Mason grabbed my hands. “Hey. It’s okay.”
I pulled my hands free. “No. I just need to go, okay? I’m just overtired, and it’s been a crazy day.” I couldn’t look at him. Couldn’t stand myself right now.
“Hey, wait. Don’t go.”
I grabbed Sami’s diaper bag. “I just need to get home.”
“I don’t think you should drive like this.”
I sniffled. “I’ll be fine.”
“Let me drive you. I’ll bring the Jeep back after work.”
I shook my head. “I can’t be without a car. I already left my car at the diner because of Leo and my sister. I don’t know what time Jared will be home—I mean, back.”
The swirl of panic and tears were a thick soup, and I felt like I was drowning. I turned to Sami and found her sleeping. Her sweet cheeks were flushed, and a burbling sigh of contentment was the only peep that came out of her. She was completely clueless to my stupid breakdown.
“Okay. Hang on, I’ll figure out something.” He rose and looked around. Then he seemed to spot someone and crossed the restaurant with his long-legged stride.
God, I felt impossibly worse. I didn’t want anyone to be put out because I was a mess. It was my own fault. If I would just tell Jared about my past, then he could…
What? Break up with me?
