Chapter 7

chapter

seven

Audrey

Current time…

I lean against the passenger side door, gripping my phone. My instructions are to take it easy—maybe no more ladders, and to ice my knee. I also got a prescription for prenatal vitamins because I'm pregnant.

Let's all take a hot minute to let that soak in.

I'm pregnant.

Per-reg-nant.

My oven has been bunned.

My up has been knocked.

It's inconceivable. Or rather conceived .

How did this happen? I mean, yes. I know how. But I'd been told over and over again that it might never happen for me and that if it did happen, it would take a lot of work and special treatments and weird diets involving slimey foods and odorous teas that some "expert" said might help. (Trust me when I tell you there's a lot of bizarro information online about it.)

I thought getting pregnant would be a full-time job.

But nope. Apparently all I needed was Jared and his super sperm?

Oh! What are my parents gonna say?

They'll be happy. Of course they will. But they'll also be disappointed that I'm not married and that I won't be getting married any time soon.

I feel fairly certain Jared is going to ask—or demand—that we tie the knot because that's just the kind of man he is. But having a baby with him is one thing. Being in a one-sided marriage with him is quite another.

I sneak a glance at his stoic features while he drives. He's quiet, as usual. Jared isn't much of a talker. It's never bothered me that he's not chatty. Not like his friend, Garrett, who is most definitely a talker. With Jared, things are comfortable. He speaks when he has something to say; the rest of the time he's content to listen.

I sigh. Why does he have to be so handsome and such a good, good guy?

My heart would break over and over again until I was nothing but an empty shell.

I need some advice, but I've got to lay this info out carefully. Otherwise it'll be blasted on the Saddle Peek, and I won't be able to control the spread.

I pull up my most recent group chat with my favorite girls. Despite the fact that they're all married now, they still include me in most things they do.

Just rip off the bandage.

Me: Jared and I hooked up.

Harper: When? I demand all the details!

Savannah: About damn time!

Olive: So how big is he? Baker is sizable. Not that I have anything to compare him to.

Harper: That's my brother! Gross! Overshare, Olive.

Savannah: I kinda wanna know too. I mean Jared is a beast of a man.

I shouldn't be surprised they've asked this. I've been to their girls' nights and they're always talking about their sex lives. I know more about Johnny Crawford—whom I grew up with—than I ever wanted to know.

I sneak a glance at Jared. He looks like he always does. One hand on the steering wheel, backwards ball cap sitting on his dark brown hair. His beard is thick, but trimmed tight to his face. How does he look so calm right now when my insides feel like they've been tossed into a blender?

I refuse to drop my gaze to his lap where I know he has an anaconda between his meaty thighs. I shiver at the thought of how good he felt sliding in and out of my body.

Get it together, Audrey. You cannot fall into that trap again.

Me: Big. He's really, really big.

But also perfect. I exhale a shaky breath. So very perfect.

Me: This is only part of the story.

Harper: When did this happen?

Me: A couple of months ago.

Savannah: And you're just telling us now?

Olive: Ouch

Harper: So, wait a minute. Y'all have been together for months and you waited this long to tell us?

Me: We're not together.

Olive: What?

Me: It was just a one night thing. We've never even talked about it.

Harper: Asshole!

Savannah: I'm pretty sure Ren could kill him and make it look like an accident.

Olive: Baker will help.

Olive: But also, what do you mean you never talked about. You shagged a couple of months ago and then what? You've just gone about working together as if you haven't seen his dangly bits?

I snort a laugh.

Me: Y'all are nuts.

Me: He doesn't need to die.

Me: And yes, that's pretty much what happened.

Harper: Was it not good? Is that why you haven't talked about it?

Me: No. It was amazing.

Olive: Did you spend the whole night together?

Me: We were at the shop. I left while he was sleeping.

Harper: Maybe that's why he hasn't talked about it.

Savannah: Yeah. He might think you think it was a mistake and that's why you left.

Olive: Or he could think it wasn't good for you.

Me: That's not it.

Harper: How do you know?

Me: I just know. We're not like that.

Olive: But you were. That night?

Me: Yes. That was different though.

Savannah: Have you tried to talk to him?

Me: Not exactly.

Me: There's more.

Me: I'm pregnant.

Three dots appear, then disappear, then reappear.I glance out the window to see that we're not going into town.

"Where are we going?" I ask.

"My house."

My stomach knots. "Why?"

"We need to talk."

"Right now? There's nothing to discuss. I'm still processing."

"You can process at my house."

"Aren't you processing?" I ask.

"Nothing to process. Just have to discuss next steps."

Next steps?

Yep. It's exactly what I thought. He's going to want to put a ring on it.

Unfortunately the "it" in question has nothing to do with me. It's not me or my finger he cares about. He's just in it for the baby bump.

Maybe I should see if Ren is available. Ugh, what am I saying?

Savannah: How do you feel about that?

Harper: Does Jared know?

Olive: Are you okay?

Me: He was with me when I found out. Kind of a long story.

Me: I'm with him right now.

Harper: Do you need anything?

Me: I don't think so. He's taking me to his house. I'll let you know if I need someone to come get me.

Savannah: We love you.

Olive: When you're ready, we're going to be so bloody excited about that wee one.

I wipe my eyes and flip my phone over so I can't see the screen.