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Every time I saw her smile, I was reminded that, in the end, she won.
She was truly happy. “I’ll show you pictures later, but I’m meeting my bestie right now.”
“Of course. Go, have a good lunch, we’ll talk later.” Cricket gently shoved Bristol in my direction.
I got to my feet, and she threw herself at me, wrapping her arms as far as they could go with her belly in the way. “It’s so good to see you,” she mumbled into my chest. “I can’t tell you how glad I am that you’re finally here.”
“It’s good to see you too, babe, but if you ever call me your bestie again, I’ll pretend I don’t know you.” She laughed, and I gave her a squeeze and kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad to be here, too. Can’t wait to meet the little guy.”
She made a squeaking sound and pulled away. “How did you know it’s a boy?”
“I didn’t until now.”
Her teeth sank into her lip. “Matthew doesn’t want to know.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
Her eyes got soft, and she sighed. “I know I can trust you.”
I held her hand as she sat down and then resumed my place across from her. She ordered a water and chicken tenders, and I went with a burger and fries. “So how was the ultrasound? You got one of those 4-D things, right?”
“It was good, kind of weird if I’m being honest. He looks like an alien,” she whispered as she dug in her purse, then slid a photo across the table.
I studied the ultrasound. She was right, he looked like a baby but somehow not at the same time. Even though she’d said it, there was no way I could agree. “He’s cute.”
She rolled her eyes as she took the photo back. “He will be in person. So… Now that we’ve covered that, what the hell was with you and Paris at the wedding?”
“What are you talking about?” I leaned back and crossed my arms, feigning indifference even though what I felt was as interested in a woman as I had been my whole life.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Scotty, you came looking for her right after she ran out of the reception, or I guess away from you.”
My hackles rose, and I narrowed my eyes. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“If you’re even hinting that I’d imply you would harm her, or any woman, you need to think long and hard about who you’re talking to because that’s incredibly hurtful and insulting.”
The tension in my shoulders eased up, and I huffed out a breath. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”
“I know I’m right.”
“I said I was sorry, Bristol.”
She looked out the window, and I saw her blinking rapidly. “I don’t care.”
I reached over and put my hand on her arm. “Those pregnancy hormones are really fuckin’ with you, aren’t they?”
Her lips twitched, and she tried not to smile. “Hormones have nothing to do with it.”
“It’s just a knee-jerk reaction. You know how much I don’t want anyone thinking I’m like them.”
“Yeah, I know. And you know you’re absolutely nothing like Craig or Shane, so there’s no need for you to get defensive.” She leaned in and wiggled her eyebrows playfully. “So… what happened with Paris?”
I needed to play this smart because I didn’t need Bristol meddling, at least not yet. “It was nothing. Just leave it alone, okay?”
She thanked Summer when our food was set down. “You’re totally lying, but I’m assuming it’s because you’re not ready to tell me, so I’ll just have to wait. She’s my friend, Scotty. I like her. You’d be good for her.”
“Bristol…” I took a bite and closed my eyes at how fucking good this burger was.
“You’re my friend, too. I love you, and I want you both to be happy. A lot of people warned me away from her. They said she wasn’t a nice person and couldn’t be trusted, but I didn’t listen to them. I’m not going to judge someone based on someone else’s opinion, and I just want to make sure you don’t either.”
