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"It’s my life, and I make my own decisions without anyone’s permission. If worse comes to worst, I'll tell them we got drunk and hooked up. Not like my parents and grandma don't beg for more Bishop babies or anything. Once they get over the initial shock, they'll be excited."
Maize leans back in her chair. "I don't know, Kate. Maybe it'd be easier to just fake date, and then you can say you broke up but are gonna raise the baby together."
"I don't wanna lie more than I have to. They'll get over it, or maybe they won't, but it's my choice. They can either be happy and supportive, or they'll miss out."
She releases a heavy breath. "I hope you know what you're doing. I don't want you to get hurt, and even though I don't know Payton that well, I don't want him to get hurt either. He's worked at the ranch a long time, and it'd be sad to see him leave because you broke his heart."
I lean forward and lower my voice. "If he wanted more, don't you think he would've told me by now?"
She shrugs, then sips her iced tea. "Might be a reason he hasn't, but you two crossing the line will change things. Your friendship will never be the same."
"I know that, but we’ll always be close, especially while co-parenting. If I agree to this, I'll make sure all our cards are put on the table first. That way, we both know the expectations and outcome."
"God, you make it sound like a business deal."
"That's kinda what it'd be," I confirm. "No different than me buying sperm online and agreeing to their terms and conditions."
"But he isn't just a jar of sperm. He's your best friend, and he's going to rail you six ways to Sunday to get his little soldiers inside you."
I choke-laugh as I cover my mouth, not wanting to spew the lemonade I just sipped. "That was cruel. You knew I was takin' a drink."
"Better get used to liquids squirting out of you. Especially if you intend to breastfeed."
"I know that's not what you meant, you dirty little ho."
Maize grins like a little she-devil as we continue eating our lunch. I've dreamed about getting pregnant for so long that it feels surreal for it to be a possibility.
"You look like you've made a decision," Maize says after we've finished dessert.
I smile wide because she's right. "I have."
After lunch, I go back to the stables and finish the rest of my training sessions for the day, although my mind is elsewhere. Once I'm home and in a better headspace, I take a shower, then text Payton.
Kaitlyn: Can we talk tonight?
He responds almost immediately.
Payton: Yeah, I'll be done in about an hour. Meet me then?
Kaitlyn: I'll be there.
Butterflies invade my stomach as I think about how our conversation will go.
How I'm going to tell him.
How he'll react.
How everything will change.
CHAPTER SIX
PAYTON
I'm sweating as I walk into my house after work.
And not from busting my ass in the heat.
From the moment Kaitlyn texted me, I haven't been able to stop thinking about what she’ll say.
