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“Cash Nelson is your ex?”
I nod.
“The ex?” he says, his eyes wide.
“The one.”
“Shit,” he says, blowing out a deep rush of air. “This is why we’re fake dating?”
I nod again.
“Sorry,” I whisper. I haven’t thought this through. It’s going to backfire. I’m sure of it.
“How thick do you want me to lay it on?” Graham smirks. “I’m an excellent boyfriend.”
Good god. What have I done?
“Not thick at all,” I say, turning to go back into the living room.
He smacks my ass as I walk away. I deserve that. I really do. I pause for a second and then turn back.
“He’s Lily’s father, and he’s going on the road trip with us.”
Graham’s jaw literally drops.
—
We do an awkward dancegetting everyone out to the car. Cash carries out baby gear, and he and Graham arrange and rearrange everything in the trunk several times.
God, I’m not going to survive this. No one could survive this. I should just call off the whole thing.
No. No. I won’t let Cash take this from me. It’s important, and I’m doing it.
Graham offers to drive, and I happily throw him the keys. I’m not sticking Juliette in the back with Cash, who is visibly fuming, so I guess it’s just me and him - and Lily, of course.
We settle into the back seat on either side of Lily. She’s babbling and smiling. I smile back at her as I buckle her into the car seat.
Once everyone is settled, Graham pulls the car onto the road. Juliette declares herself the navigator.
I glance over at Cash. He’s just staring at Lily. He reaches his hand toward her. I hold my breath watching him. She reaches up and grabs his hand, her tiny fingers wrapped around his.
It sends shivers racing down my spine.
Fucking shivers.
My brain flashes through a whole series of “what ifs.”
What if things hadn’t fallen apart...
What if I hadn’t kept this secret...
What if Cash and I were together, happy...
What if we were heading out on this road trip as a family instead of as enemies...
I shake my head. It’s a future that was never meant to be and never will be.
If I don’t want to focus on the future that would never be, this isn’t the way to do it. My heart literally aches. I can’t watch anymore, so I look out the window.
