“You have a kid.” His tone is serious.
“And that’s not the reason I want her, just a bonus,” I admit out loud.
Spencer hisses a breath. “Ford, buddy, I am rooting for you both. I mean, it’s obvious that you two are kind of hung up on each other. Just don’t… I don’t know… ruin an already good thing. You both co-parent so well. Now you’re taking risks. You’re taking a big chance here; don’t pressure her or it could ruin everything.”
I rub my face with my hands. “I’ve been patient long enough, and I finally have her here right here under my roof, alone time, me and her. I don’t know how to do anything else right now.”
“Yeah, I can tell. You look like a distressed retriever looking for his ball,” Spencer informs me.
Hudson wobbles back and forth for the baby who is cooing and staring at me in wonder. “I get it, I really do. We’ve all been crazed by the women of our lives. There is no backing down, and I think you owe it to yourselves to figure it out.”
“Thank you.”
Spencer snorts a laugh. “I completely want status updates this week.”
“I’m hoping to be too occupied for that.”
Hudson chuckles at my reply. “By the looks of it from a few minutes ago, you may need to work a little extra hard. Brielle is in quite a state.”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I smile tightly. “Oh, I know. But it just means she is contemplating.” For some reason, I’m at ease; everything feels promising, or maybe I’m just optimistic.
But we are at the edge of our cliff, and I won’t let us fall. Well, metaphorically, because figuratively I have every intention that we fall onto my mattress.
“Well, we’ll let you head into your house of tension.” Spencer waves two fingers in the air and begins to head off.
Hudson takes Gracie’s little chubby arm and waves it in the air. “Good luck.”
I wave them all off then take a moment to prepare myself. Blowing out a breath, I wonder for a second if I’m being selfish in this scenario.
I’m not. Because I’m only satisfied if Brielle is happy.
That means this plan can only go one way, which is why my feet move in the direction of the back door. I’ve always been supportive, gentle, and respectful of our dynamic.
But I’m throwing in the towel because persistence is key.
6
BRIELLE
Back and forth.
That’s all I have been doing for the past few minutes, tossing the small black box between my fingers.
Enraged is what I should feel. Ford tricked me and then dropped a bombshell proposition.
But, well, I’m not that furious. Or am I?
I stormed upstairs to one of the spare bedrooms. I’m growing slightly irritated that the designer did a good job, I can’t deny that. This room is fresh with white, except for one accent wall of turquoise with matching throw pillows on the white bed.
I flop onto the mattress, blow out a long breath, and am thankful that Ford is outside with Hudson and Spencer, as it buys me time. I drop the ring box onto the mattress so I can pull out my phone which barely fits in my back pocket. Scrolling the screen, I hit Lena’s name for a video call.
She picks up after two rings.
“Hey! How’s the getaway?” She smiles, and it looks like she’s at her desk in her home office, as her hand seems busy with a computer mouse.
“Something has happened. Something bad. Like,reallybad.”
Lena sits up and abandons the mouse. “Is everyone okay? Connor?”
