He shrugged, but he’d always known the truth. It was fun to flirt. To be the carefree friend. The onewho never talked about settling down. To let everyone think that he wanted the bachelor life for the rest of his life. But it wasn’t the truth. He wanted the happiness and the love his friends had all found. He wanted to be a husband, and a father.
And he wanted that with Jess.
Six
Jessie’s eyes burned as she stared at the laptop screen. She’d been switching between her class work and Lachlan’s expense report for last quarter, not retaining anything. She needed a distraction. Something other than the churning in her belly…
Her phone chimed and Hawk’s name lit up the screen.
How are you feeling this morning?
Terrible. Awful. Like she wanted to curl up in a ball under her covers at home and cry…
I’m okay.
Did you go into work? Do you need anything?
I’m good. I promise.
When can I see you? We need to talk about whatcomes next.
I made a doctor’s appointment for Thursday. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Shouldn’t I be there for it?
It’s just blood work and they’ll take my IUD out. We’ll figure out what we’re doing when it’s time for baby appointments.
Are you taking some time off from the diner?
No.
Then I can come see you this morning?
I’m at the garage. I help Lachlan out on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I’ll be at the diner later. Closing shift again.
Okay. I’ll be there again tonight.
You don’t need to do that. I can handle it.
I know you can. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to be there. It’s been nice having that time with you these past few days.
“Hey, Jess—wow, you look like shit,” Lach’s voice drifted over Jessie’s shoulder as she set her phone down and flipped through last month’s ledger. “Saw you through the glass and thought you were about to throw up in here.”
She groaned, her hand itching to press into her stomach, but she wouldn’t let it. “I was.”
“Is the profit that bad this month?”
Jessie rolled her eyes. “You need to stop giving oil changes away for free.”
“I only do that for the little old ladies in town, and I’m not charging them no matter what. You know it’s good for business to have them on my side.”
“Lach, I love you, but you literally have no competition in town. You don’t need to have them on your side. But you do need to be able to pay the bank for your loan. I don’t… It's going to be tight this month. Again.”
“We’ll be okay. I always am.”
“You always are because I look out for you.”
“Hate to break it to you, but you were almost still in diapers when I opened this place up.”
