“No. I think it’s weird because you’re my age and you’ve already decided you’re not likely to meet someone to fall for in a real sense. You have years to spread your seed and find a woman who’ll put up with this.” She waved a hand over me.
I mimicked her action. “This?”
“I’ve never seen the appeal personally, but you’re not a complete troll, Jason. Some women think you’re hot—in fact, you’re trending in the top ten of HILFs right now.”
“HILFs?”
“Hockey Hunks I’d like to, uh, get to know better. The second H is silent.”
Those stupid lists. Like they had any reflection on real life.
Lauren narrowed her gaze. “Would this have anything to do with Everly recently announcing her pregnancy with Ryan Coughlan?”
“Good for her.”
“Sure.” Only Lauren knew how much it had hurt. “She’s just one woman. One relationship that didn’t pan out.”
I took a seat and faced her. “I can’t say seeing Everly happy and knocked up with Coughlan didn’t throw me. But she’s not the first time I’ve struck out.”
“The supermodel?”
Zara was probably out of my league, not that I’d have ever told her.
“Or that influencer chick?”
“She was kind of on the young side.” I could admit it now.
“And using you for clout. Have you ever thought that these women you date are just incompatible because of …” She counted off on her fingers. “Age, intelligence, different time in their lives? You should be using a matchmaking service or swiping right on women who are in the market for marriage and kids! Not fathering a kid with someone you’ve never liked because you think it’s your last shot.”
“Matchmaking service? Are you doing that?”
She reddened slightly. “I’m the same age as you, J. The options are even less viable for a woman.” Lauren had never seemed all that interested in settling down. Then neither was I. “I’m alpha testing Landon’s app,” she added.
“So how’s it going?”
“We’re not talking about my sex life.”
I sighed. “These women I’ve dated—I never went in with the intention of long-term until Everly. And now I see she wanted someone younger, with more potential.” Coughlan was barely twenty-five, Hatch’s age, and I suspected now that they’d been together before we parted. It had all happened so fast.
Everly had wounded me, not going to lie. When someone betrays you like that, it turns a part of you inward. My heart might be ice-compacted when it came to women, but not with others. I had a lot of love to give, only now it would be all for my kid.
“It made me realize that the relationship stuff is too complicated.”
“And a kid with a stranger isn’t?”
The doorbell chimed and I hopped up like a scalded cat. Why the hell was I nervous? This was Franky St. James, who I had known for years. I was doing her a favor.
I moved toward the door and called out over my shoulder. “Maybe you shouldn’t be here if you’re going to be all Negative Nelly about it.”
Lauren cackled. “Oh, you couldn’t pay me to leave.”
“How about twenty percent instead of ten?” I pulled the door open.
I was determined to be stone-faced and serious. No giving Franky any leeway when I had important things to discuss, such as the minimum age for the kid to get a tattoo.
Unfortunately, she looked hella cute in her glasses—duct-tape free today—and flowy peach dress with boots and an oversized sweater, a battered leather satchel over her shoulder. Her hair was pushed back and piled high in a clip, though tendrils fell, softly framing her face. For a second, I could only stare, which meant she was forced to speak first.
“Hello?”
