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“Screwed,” I correct. “A one-timething.”
“Have you decided what you’re going to do?” Stella asks. “You do know, Dallas isn’t going to let you freeze himout.”
“No.” I was so hell-bent on keeping this a secret, I never thought about what would happen if the truth came out. “We’re talkinglater.”
Stella perks up. “Like, adate?”
Lauren cracks a smile. “Survey says they’ve surpassed dating. She’s carrying hisbaby.”
I flip her off, and my throat tightens while I prepare myself to ask her a question I’ve been trying to avoid. I stare at Lauren. “So, you’re not mad atme?”
Dallas’s family’s reaction is another reason I wanted to keep this private. They loved his wife, Lucy, like she was their own, maybe even more than Dallas. He’d started dating her before he even knew his dick could get hard, and I’m some random one-night stand crawling in to replaceher.
“Why would I be mad?” Lauren questions. “As long as you’re not screwing the same man as me, I couldn’t care less, and inbreeding isn’t my thing.” She skips around the counter to wrap me in a hug. “It’s no secret that I loved Lucy, but I understand the circumstances. I want my brother to be happy. Heneedsto move on.” She pulls away and settles her hands on her hips. “Now, my answer would be different had you kept this fromhim.”
She’s acting cool but also letting me know where her loyalty stands. If she has to pick a side, it won’t be mine. If she thinks I’m the one Dallas needs to move on with, she’s out of her mind, but like so many other times, I choose to keep my mouthshut.
Chapter Seven
Dallas
“Now,there’s a sight for soreeyes.”
Hudson’s voice sends a rumble through my skull. I had too many drinks and bombs thrown at me last night. The way he sluggishly climbs up the stairs and collapses into the red rocking chair next to me tells me he didn’t get much sleep either. Hopefully, for a better reason thanmine.
“You’re on my shit list,” hegrumbles.
I point to his rib cage that’s exposed by his cutoff T-shirt. “Those scratches of anger orpleasure?”
He holds up his arm and inspects the skin with an amused, almost boyish smile. “Pleasure. Most definitelypleasure.”
I never thought I’d see him happy again after his ex dumped him for his best friend while he was stationed overseas, but Stella came along and changedeverything.
“Then, I beg to differ that I’m on your shit list. Had you slept on the couch, I’d feel sorry for you, but from those marks, I’m positive you didn’t. End of discussion.” I hand him the extra cup of coffee I poured while waiting for him to show up, certain he’d make an appearance thismorning.
“Not end of discussion. Stella ran off at the ass crack of dawn to gossip at Lauren’s because you knocked up her bestfriend.”
“Fine, I owe you one. I’ll mow your grass. Work one of yourshifts.”
“You going to tell me what wentdown?”
I snort. “I see Stella isn’t the only gossip enthusiast in yourhome.”
He scratches his unshaved cheek. “She’s rubbing off onme.”
I drum my fingers against the wooden arm of my chair. “Willow didn’t deny she was pregnant, so I’d say that confirmsit.”
The wordsI’m pregnantnever left her mouth, but she would’ve been hell-bent on denying it if it weren’t true. She’s spent years working with Stella’s publicist, making up stories to clean up gossip about Stella. She would’ve had a good-ass comeback if it weren’t true. Hell, I’m surprised she didn’t have an excuse already laid out, waiting for when shit hit thefan.
“And?” hepushes.
“There’s a possibility I’m thefather.”
“A possibility? She seemed pretty damn sure about it lastnight.”
She stilldoes.
“What if it’s not minethough?”
