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The second pack of newborn diapers joins the first. “His mom loved Janessa,” she says softly. “I’m sure she’ll take the news just fine, and Nathan is blowing it out of proportion.”
“You’re probably right.” Armed with this new information, I type back a reply
.
Me: I’ll be there. You owe me ;)
The wink is a bit much, but I want to lighten his mood. I also want to imply that even though we’re taking this as just friends, I wouldn’t be against adding in a few benefits. My libido is a stoking fire as of late, and manual stimulation isn’t cutting it. It also feels like the skankiest level of hell to consider a one-night stand while the remnants of another man’s seed are firmly planted in my uterus.
Not that another man has remotely crossed my mind when I have a possible all-access pass to Nathan. Can I convince him to do the deed without crossing the friend line with our emotions?
We shouldn’t. Though the thought is tempting because I haven’t had a dry spell this long in, well, ever.
“Do you need to get going?”
I look at the pile in the cart and the remaining aisles we have yet to hit, which are a lot of them.
“I should. Can we do this another time?”
She maneuvers the cart away from me and takes charge. “Don’t even worry about it. Give me a few hours and I’ll have you all registered and a few extra goodies picked out for my new nephew or niece. And if I miss anything, we can come back.”
“You are seriously the best. Thank you!” I hug her swiftly and stride out, grateful we drove separately today.
The restaurant we’re meeting Nathan’s mom at is a cute little diner on the river just outside of Arrow Creek. His dad used to take her here for dates when he was still alive, and she prefers to celebrate their birthdays and anniversaries here to keep the tradition alive. It took a lot of pestering and waiting for him to set our lunch up, but at nearly fifteen weeks, if he waits much longer, she’ll notice my baby bump before he can tell her.
I creep up to the restaurant with a few minutes to spare and park near the back. In the flipped down visor, I touch up my lipstick and run my fingers through my hair, fluffing my bangs off my forehead. I can’t do anything about the angry hormonal zit on my chin, so I pretend it doesn’t exist. When I look as presentable as I can get on zero notice, I climb out and securely hold my leather satchel purse in front of my body. This way, I might be able to hide behind it, and Nathan, until we’re seated.
The rustic restaurant has the wooden exterior doors propped open on this gorgeous September day, and I immediately spot Nathan standing inside. Slowing my gait, I take in how clean-cut and handsome he looks outside of his uniform. His V-neck tee is a simple heather gray and shows off the peak of his biceps nicely. It follows the trim lines of his torso to his waist and delectable ass that looks damn good in a pair of jeans.
Regret simmers beneath the surface. I need to stake a claim on that backside before some other woman goes for it.
What am I talking about? I do have a claim. Make way, ladies, for the lucky woman carrying his baby. My pep talk works like an injection of confidence after Cami’s warnings, and I saunter into the restaurant as though I’m about to order the chef’s table without a reservation.
“Hey,” I greet softly when I’m close and squeeze his fingers tentatively. We haven’t been in each other’s company since the trip to my parents’ house six weeks ago, so being this close to him and smelling his smoky woodsy scent revs up the hormones again.
“Hi.” His gaze sweeps me up and down, stopping on my slight bump. A sweet smile tilts his lips. “Thanks for coming with no notice. She knows something’s up, so she put me on the spot.”
“Are you ready to do this? It can’t be any worse than enduring my family.”
He grunts and studies his dusty boots. “Let’s hope not.”
“Hey—” I lay a soothing hand on his shoulder. The words stick in my throat because I’m unsure what to say to ease his apprehension.
The hostess interrupts our conversation. “Would you like to be seated, or are you waiting for one more?”
“We can sit.” She takes his and his mother’s names before preceding us to a corner booth.
The rustic theme continues from the front door all the way through. Exposed rough wood beams cross the ceiling, and the windows facing the riverside are opened, letting in the cool breeze. The dining area is decorated with reds and greens, and each table holds a lit candle centerpiece in a glass lantern design.
I scoot in to the window seat, and Nathan sits beside me, leaving the bench across from us for his mom.
“This place is so homey. It invites you to come in and stay a while.”
Nathan glances around the space he’s seen dozens of times. “You’re right. We have a lot of good family memories here. And hopefully some new ones to come.” His large hand settles warmly atop mine in my lap.
“That was incredibly nice to say.” Tears prickle my eyes hotly.
“There’s my mom.” He pulls on my hand as he stands, indicating I should stand as well. I follow him out, still blinking away the sting, and attempt to hide my little bump behind my folded hands.
