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Steven: Yeah, my problem is all my friends are lushes.
Steven: So does this mean you’re in?
Aiden: I’m in. Text me your address.
Steven: Awesome. See you tomorrow! Whit and I are going down tonight, so you can come anytime. Just not too early.
Aiden: I’ll be there around noon. Thanks again for the invite.
He stood up, checked his desk drawers one more time to make sure he hadn’t left anything important, then flipped the light switch and locked the door.
At least he had something to do when he got home—pack for his trip.
Now he just needed to stop thinking about that hippy chick who was not his type.
Not at all.
Chapter Six
Dakota
She could smell the ocean when she turned onto the long, circular driveway of the beach house.
As she pulled up to the front door and saw the wraparound porch, a vision of Whitney, a blond man, and a blond toddler sitting on the porch swing popped in her head. More images—the three of them playing in the surf, snuggling in bed—reading a book, dancing around the kitchen, appeared almost like a movie reel in her mind as she walked through the door and Whitney introduced her to Steven.
Whitney was glowing. As Dakota considered her, she knew it was more than just the honeymoon phase of a new relationship. Her friend was pregnant.
“You two are going to have beautiful babies,” she declared, and Whitney started coughing, like she was choking, while Steven gently patted her back.
Finally, Whitney eeked out, “I’m not having kids. Ever.”
So, she doesn’t know yet.
Dakota had learned a long time ago that unless specifically asked, she needed to keep her mouth shut about things she’d been shown intuitively.
She observed the couple, and the reel of them as a family with a child kept playing. It was obvious Whitney needed to ease into the idea of being a mother, but looking at Steven, there was no doubt he’d welcome the news and be a wonderful father.
She smiled as she reached for her friend’s hand. “Everyone forges their own path. Whatever you decide, it will be for the best.”
Steven’s posture stiffened, and he reached for the handle of her suitcase. “Let me show you to the guestroom.”
She could tell he was unhappy with Whitney’s response. Dakota wanted to tell him to be patient, but she’d probably said enough already.
Still, she couldn’t resist squeezing Whitney’s hand one more time before the two left her in the guest room to get situated.
“Thank you for having me.”
“Of course. We’re glad you could make it.”
Once the door was closed, she sat down on the bed and took a deep breath. A strange sense washed over her; something she couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t ominous, it felt more hopeful than foreboding.
She wanted to attribute the feeling to what she knew would soon transpire between Whitney and Steven, but her gut told her that wasn’t it.
It was something different. More personal.
What it could be, though, she had no idea.
But as she walked down the hall, she noticed a black duffel bag in the entry that hadn’t been there when she’d arrived. And she sensed it had something to do with this feeling.
