She didn’t know what this could be about. It wasn’t like him to stop in unannounced.
Between the texts and calls constantly asking her if she was okay, or if they’d have dinner, when she was coming over, she was losing her patience.
She didn’t think he’d be this emotionally smothering.
Would it stop or get worse if they lived together?
She put a polite smile on her face and walked to the front. There he was, with flowers in his hand and a box of chocolates.
It was hard to be mad when he did those things.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
He moved closer, gave her a kiss on the cheek, handed over his goodies and stood back. “I was thinking of you.”
“It makes me think you’re guilty of something instead.”
“Not really. Kind of. A change of plans. My grandmother is under the weather. She doesn’t want to fly here because, you know, doesn’t want to get us sick.”
There were too many eyes on them. “Why don’t we go to my office? Has she been to the doctor?”
“I think she’s going later but only because I was on her case to do it.”
“Good. At that age, you never know what could turn into something worse.”
“Don’t say that to her,” he said, the mock fear on his face.
She bumped her shoulder into his as they stepped into her office. “I won’t. But you didn’t have to come down here to give me this and say that. You could have told me tonight.”
“I won’t see you until Friday night. And... I decided to go to Baltimore instead since the flight was booked. I know there is no shot of you taking the time and going with me.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t. Not with Fourth of July two days away. There is too much going on.”
“Stop,” he said, putting his hand on her arm. “I’m not asking, just making a statement. I’m going to tell my parents about the baby and check in on my grandmother just in case she’s not telling me how sick she really is. I don’t think she’d lie, but it doesn’t hurt to see her.”
She found that super sweet he was so concerned to check on Sophie.
But it didn’t stop the surprising news he was telling his parents about the baby.
“How come you’re telling your parents? You said you were going to wait as long as possible.”
“Because there is no reason not to and it’s not something I want to do over the phone. After I tell them, I’m going to take a flight to Seattle.”
“Okay.”
“You’re okay with it?”
“Arik. Please don’t take this the wrong way. But go. Just go. I need some space.”
He stepped back as if she’d burned him. Maybe she should have chosen her words more carefully. Or it could be that was a change in her body she hadn’t fully recognized. Less patience for her hovering baby daddy.
“What does that mean?”
She shut her door. “It means you’re driving me nuts. I’m trying not to get into it with you here. Or even at home. I’ve got a job, you’ve got one too. You seem busy, but you’re... smothering. Not really clingy, but bordering on overbearing. Is this how it’s going to be?”
“Why haven’t you said anything?”
“I am. Now. I can’t take it. I don’t know why you’re doing it.”
