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“I’m pregnant,” I say. It’s the first time I’ve said it aloud. And I certainly didn’t think the first person I would tell would be my dad.
“Have you been seeing someone or…”
“It’s complicated,” I say quickly, unable to meet his gaze.
Dad reaches across the table and holds his palm out to me. “I don’t need to know anything you aren’t ready to tell me.”
“Don’t tell anyone,” I say. “You’re the only one who knows.”
Dad smiles softly. “I’m honored.”
I take his hand and feel like a complete monster for being comforted by his touch. He’s sending all his love into me and what have I done in thanks? Slept with his best friend.Fellfor his best friend. And now I’m having his friend’s baby. My father’sgrandchildwill belong to Grant in some way, even if Grant never knows it.
I always do things I know won’t be good for me. What kind of fucked up person does that?
“I know it’s scary,” Dad begins again. “I can’t imagine how it is from your side of things. But we are all going to be here for you. And…I know if your mother knew, she would be too.”
My body tightens. I don’t want her near me or my child. Not after the hollow hug and conversations. “It wouldn’t be fair to Gillian.”
“That’s not how life works, Harley.”
“It’s how it works for me. Right now. That’s how it works for me,” I say definitively.
Dad purses his lips, then squeezes my hand and nods. “Alright. That’s…that’s fine. Just think about it, would you?”
“I’ll think about it if you can promise me coffee cake every morning I stay here,” I say with a sneaking smile.
Dad grins. “I can do that. Anything for you and your…” he leans in and whispers, “you-know-what.”
I laugh and, for a moment, let the guilt wash away. Because my dad is along for this adventure with me.
And I hope to keep it that way.
20
GRANT
When Resa told me that she had arranged for Flick to do a weeklong stint on Harley’s radio show, I just about combusted.
For the past two weeks, I have been slaving away over building a case to protect Infinium from Malcolm. I’ve been going through the back catalogs of old emails and receipts, desperate to find something that will prove that the check he wrote me wasa gift. His claim might be weak without a contract or anything in writing, but he can make a case against me all he wants as long as he pays the proper lawyers for it.
So, when Resa broke the news of Flick’s interview, I admittedly didn’t have the best reaction.
“Why the fuck would you do that?!”
“I thought you liked her show!” she said defensively.
Luckily, I was able to couch it in Flick Harrison’s antics. “We don’t need more visibility on Flick.”
“From Harley Solace, I don’t think it can hurt. She manages to get people to pour their souls out without sticking their foot in their mouth. I think it’s perfect.”
I was silent, mind swelling with thoughts of Harley. I never heard back from her. And I’m slightly grateful our will-they-won’t-they has come to an end; however unceremonious it was. Life just got too complicated to add another complication to it. Of course, I’m still listening to her show, although one of the weeks, the one right in the wake of Malcolm and Aileen’s return, was hosted entirely by her producer Dre.
It was good. But not nearly as good as if Harley had been hosting. And his voice didn’t stir my soul quite like Harley’s.
Now, she was going to be in my sphere again. And…I just couldn’t let well enough alone.
“Let me go with him. Just to prep him and Harley. I don’t want him saying something stupid.”
