“Lulu and Hilary knew I was prego. They thought it was Lamar.”
This got me the dirtiest of looks from Drew. If you googledif looks could kill, his snarl would come up.
“Who’s jealous now, Drew-y?”
“Don’t go there,” he grumbled. “You’re talking about my woman and my daughter, so there’s no need to mention Lamar in the same breath. Yes, I was foolishly jealous of him back then. But you had my baby and you’re back where you belong, so fuck him.”
“Well, they knew. They swore they wouldn’t tell, but we also pinkie-promised to stay in touch, and I didn’t.”
“Lord knows, no one could find Claire Smith. That’s like looking for a musclehead on a motorcycle down here.”
“Maybe they told someone when I never kept in touch, but they didn’t know it was you. I don’t even think they expected.”
“It would be fun to see their faces if they found out. We’re definitely inviting them to the wedding, Jules-y.”
“One step at a time, Drew,” I said with a scowl, but he was wearing me down.
“Go ahead. Text Molly and have them go back to my place so I can take my time later with you. That’s my one step for tonight.”
“Drew, listen.” I set my glass down and looked into his eyes. “We have to do this my way. I’m not having Molly uproot Darla to your place. If you want to come back to my place, you can.”
“I don’t want Molly watching her tomorrow night. I want Darla with me. I’m sick of the food at the Southern, and I don’t feel like watching you work. All those nasty guys and Bryce, and there’s no reason for it.”
I’m pretty sure I growled, “Enough.”
“Okay, okay. But Darla’s with me.” Drew stood and helped me up. “Want to walk on the sand before we get back in the car?”
“Sure.”
Once we took off our shoes, Drew held both pairs in his hand and took my fingers in his other. Our bare feet in the sand, we walked along the ocean’s edge.
“I love your hair down like this.” Drew stopped in his tracks and spun me toward him, never letting go of my hand.
“I’m such a rebel without my bun.”
His laugh was warm like honey and deep like the Atlantic. It coated my soul, soothing my nerves.
“We should make another baby.”
This time I laughed. “Drew, let’s get through telling our first baby that you’re my baby daddy.”
“I know, but I want more kids.”
“I can’t right now, can’t discuss it. Tell me what you’re going to do with Darla tomorrow instead.”
He squeezed my hand and started us moving again. “Tennis. Probably go to the club so we can eat afterward. Please don’t laugh, but I also have these math workbooks ...”
“What?”
“Yeah, I ordered them online because she’s so smart. I know she likes Ms. Green, but I think she needs more. Numbers are my thing, so I thought I’d do a little extra.”
It was like a fuse went off in my brain—like a short circuiting of all that was reasonable and right.
“I think I just fell in love with you all over again,” came tumbling out of my mouth. I couldn’t snatch my hand back fast enough, slapping it across my own lips.
“Oh yeah?” Drew turned to face me, and even in the moonlight, I could make out his cocked eyebrow mocking me.
“Yeah.” My reply was so quiet, it was almost lost in the crashing waves.
