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“Either that or I’m going to a sperm bank. Then I can be as picky as I want without having to deal with a man’s bullshit.”
Everleigh chooses at least a dozen items for me to try on. I end up buying three tops and bottoms even though I’ll be lucky if they fit me for more than six weeks.
“Hey, Gemma,” Everleigh greets.
“Are you having a shopping day without me?” she immediately scolds.
Gemma’s been working part-time at the boutique ever since Jerry retired, but she’s down to only once a week since the gym opened.
“No, I stopped in early before Everleigh and I met for coffee. I’m out of cute things to wear,” I explain.
“Well, we do have the best maternity clothes. Also, I’m insulted y’all planned a coffee date on the one night I work.” She pouts with her hands on her hips.
“It’s a coffee date to planyourbaby shower,” Everleigh tells her. “So that means you can’t be there.”
“Aw…you guys! I can’t wait to see what you two come up with!” Gemma beams.
“It’ll be nothing if you keep whining about it,” Everleigh teases.
“Don’t worry, we have the date already set and the venue reserved. Just need to plan the little things,” I reassure her.
“Okay, well don’t forget that I love, like really love cake.”
“There will most definitely be plenty of that.” I smirk.
After checking out and saying our goodbyes, I drop off my bags at my car and grab my binder of notes. Then we walk to the Coffee Palace and find a cozy spot in the corner.
“Alright, before we dive in, I have to ask…” I say, sipping on my chai tea latte. “Are you seriously considering letting Archer move in with you? A guy you’ve never met before?”
Everleigh nods. “Yeah, I mean, I’m at the boutique all the time anyway, and he’ll be working at the gym, so it’s not like we’ll be around each other that much. Tyler said he’s a good guy and very protective. Sounds like someone I need in my life anyway.”
“Gemma says he comes witha lotof baggage. Hope you’re prepared for what’s to come after he’s served his time.”
“Well, not any more prepared than you or Gemma were,” she says with a casual shrug.
“Gemma and I both had a history with the guys we ended up with. You’ve never spoken to Archer.”
“No, but it’d only be temporary. If he wasn’t Tyler’s friend, then I would think twice about allowing it, but he needs help just like Tyler and Noah did.”
“Yeah, I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”
It’s not that I don’t trust her instincts, but neither of us knows Archer.
“Tyler told me why he’s in prison,” Everleigh states. “And it’s not what you think.”
“All I know is that he went to prison for killing his sister’s abusive boyfriend. His lawyers were able to prove self-defense, which helped him get a shorter sentence,” I say.
“His sister actually shot her boyfriend, and he took the fall. Fabricated the evidence so his fingerprints were on the gun instead of hers.”
My brows shoot up in shock. “Wait, really?”
“He walked in right after she shot him and didn’t think twice about it. A few weeks later, she found out she was pregnant.”
“Oh my God. That’s…crazy.”
“I know. So even though he’s rough around the edges, he’s a decent guy. Anyone who would do that for their family has to be,” Everleigh says.
“Well, just please be careful. I know the damaged kind is just your type,” I tease with a smirk.
