Ignoring him, I scratch the soft spot behind her right ear. She leans into my hand, purring so hard she starts drooling. “I was considering getting a cat.”
“Then it’s fate.” He tickles the side of her cheek. “Can’t argue with the cat distribution system. Congratulations—you’ve been chosen.”
“Very funny.” She is awfully sweet. “I should take her to see Annabelle Hanlon. Vets have ways of finding the owners of lost pets, right?”
Even as I say it, I know this cat is a stray. Something just tells me she’s mine. The cat must feel the same since she snuggles up next to me, purring and kneading my hip through the blankets.
“Cheddar,” Luke says, and my stomach releases a growl. He chuckles. “You hungry?”
“No. And that’s a stupid name for a cat.”
“I thought it was cute.”
“This is why you’re not in charge of naming the babies, either.”
Chuckling, he rolls to his back. “I thought you said I could name one of them.”
“One, not both.” I ponder the names he’s suggested so far. “I actually don’t hate some of the nature-inspired baby names you’ve come up with.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“I’m serious. I like the idea of something earthy and beautiful. Some magic of nature springing out of the ground.”
He points to the cat. “You’re kinda making the case for calling her Pumpkin.”
“Not Pumpkin.” I give it some thought. “Squash. I like the sound of that.”
“So do I.” He grins. “Look at us compromising and shit.”
“Teamwork makes the dream work.” I’m kidding around, which I don’t often do. Luke brings it out in me. “I think I’m going to tell my cousins this weekend.”
He must know I don’t mean the cat. “That you’re pregnant?”
I take a deep breath. “Yes.”
His expression shifts to something I can’t quite read. Dragging his hand from the cat to my knee, he brushes the top of my calf with his thumb. “Okay.”
“I need to do it alone,” I blurt.
His forehead furrows a little. “How come?”
“Harper’s at an impressionable age, and I don’t want to confuse her into thinking we’re together. And then there’s Lucy and Peter.”
“What about them?”
God, this feels awkward. “With their fertility struggles, I just think it’d be harder if we show up looking like some sex-sated couple happily starting a family together.”
“Sex-sated, huh?” Of course he fixates on that part. Then he surprises me. “Yeah, that makes sense. But can I ask you a favor?”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t make me out to be some deadbeat dad who knocked you up and won’t take responsibility.”
“Of course.” To be honest, I’d kinda hoped I could skip right past the whodunnit part of the pregnancy announcement. Naïve, I know. “I’ll make sure they know you’re involved and completely on board with an amicable co-parenting arrangement.”
His face twists a bit at my pretentious word choice. “Your cousins are the closest thing I’ve got to family in this town. I’ve spent a lot of years becoming the kinda guy they call for poker nights or when they need help clearing brush off their property.” His fingertips tickle my thigh, and I shiver. “I like that they text me to shoot pool at Cal’s place or jump on Jake’s boat to go fishing with the rest of them.”
“I understand.” How did I ever think Luke would just sign those papers and walk away? “Family’s important to you. Even when they’re not biologically your family.”
