Page 51 of More Than Friends

“I’m not saying hecan’thave sex,” Char hurriedly gets out. I try not to notice how her cheeks turn an adorable shade of red. “It’s just that he andIaren’t having sex. And I meant he’s a dad and busy right now, and…” Her words fall off as she looks to me for help. All I do is stare at her with raised eyebrows as I keep my mouth shut. I’m looking forward to how she plans to fill in the blank myself.

She lets out an annoyed sigh when she realizes I’m not going to rescue her from Lucy’s questions. “And I can’t tell you a single detail about his sex life because it has nothing to do with me.”

To be fair, my sex life is nonexistent. It has been for a while. Sure, I like to flirt, but I can’t actually remember the last time I was intimate with someone. It’s been months and months at least, but I don’t find it necessary to point that out at the moment. Luckily, Charlotte continues to talk and leaves the topic of my sex life behind.

“And I’m living with Jude because I lost the place I was renting, and he offered me a place to stay for the summer.” She grabs Ava’s other hand and places a kiss to the top of it. “Which works out perfectly because I get to help out with my best girl and get all the baby snuggles.”

“To be clear, I’m not forcing her to help me with Ava in exchange for a place to stay. She could stay here either way. It’s just nice to have someone else here in case I fuck something up.”

Charlotte rolls her eyes as she gives me a warm smile. “How many times do I have to tell you that you’re a great dad until you believe me?”

Before I can respond, Lucy holds out her hands. “Can I hold her?”

I nod and pass Ava to her. Something in my chest tightens when I see Cal take a step closer to Lucy and the two of them begin to interact with Ava. It’s so good to see two people I care about immediately accept Ava into the fold.

“Don’t get any ideas.” Cal laughs as Ava reaches for his nose. He playfully blows a raspberry, and I’ve never seen my best friend like this. He looks at his fiancée with raised eyebrows. “We need to make it to the wedding before we start trying for a baby.”

Lucy gives him a guilty smile. “Oh, but Jude and Charlotte have a baby. Nowweneed a baby.”

Charlotte sucks in a deep breath as her eyes immediately find mine. She gives me an apologetic smile, but I don’t know why she feels the need to. I don’t mind Lucy’s words at all. The truth is, it does feel like Ava is both of ours. It feels like we’re raising a baby together, and that realization doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I can’t imagine it any other way. I don’t want to.

THIRTY

CHARLOTTE

“Spill,”Lucy demands, her eyes pinned on me as she bounces Ava on her leg. Cal and Jude have just walked away to grab a drink in the kitchen, and she’s wasted no time demanding news from me.

I sit back on the couch. “What do you want me to spill?”

Lucy raises her eyebrows. “How abouteverything? You’re living with Jude…he has a baby you’re helping him raise…you two are basically playing house. Are you dating?” She asks the question so loud that I wish I could melt into the couch from embarrassment because there’s no way Jude didn’t hear it.

My eyes go wide as my head whips in the direction of the guys. Cal and Jude are on the other side of the kitchen, doing their own catching up, and luckily, they seem to be so deep in conversation that neither one of them heard Lucy’s question.

When I look back at her, I can’t help but narrow my eyes. “You’re one of the quietest people I know, and yet, when you ask me if I’m dating Jude, you ask it so loud?”

Lucy shrugs. “I didn’t ask it loud. Look at them…neither of them heard me.”

I look over my shoulder again to find Jude and Cal still locked in conversation.

Jude has a wide smile on his face, and I try not to focus on how it makes me feel to see him happy like that. He didn’t say it out loud, but I’m sure it was bothering him to ignore Cal. I’m sure he’s feeling much better now that his best friend knows about Ava and that he doesn’t have to hide anything anymore.

“Charlotte, did you fall in love and not tell me?” Lucy accuses, her tone full of shock and stillway too loud.

I let out a choking sound, and apparently, Ava finds the noise hilarious because she gives me the biggest smile. “What the hell, Lucy?” I whisper, repeatedly aiming glances over at Jude to make sure he can’t hear the intrusive—and completely false—questions my best friend is asking. “What’s up with you today? You’re never this nosy.”

“To be fair, I’ve never seen you look at someone with actual heart eyes. This is new for me, and the only reason I can think of for you to be looking at Jude like that is if you’re in love with him.”

I scoff and shake my head. “Of course I’m not in love with Jude. We’re just friends.”

Lucy raises her eyebrows. “The way he keeps looking over here at you makes it seem like you might bemorethan friends.”

I groan as I scrub my hands over my face. Lucy never interrogates me like this. She minds her own business. Maybe all the time she’s been spending in Manhattan has made her more bold. “We’re not more than friends. We’re just…close. But close friends. You know we’ve spent a lot of time together in the off-season. Everyone else was so busy, and Jude’s fun and a good time, and we hung out a lot and grew close, but that’s all there is to it.”

Lucy tickles Ava’s stomach before giving me a look that tells me she doesn’t believe me in the slightest. “Mm-hmm. And you living with him? Helping raise his baby? There’s nothing more to that?”

I shake my head. “Besides you, he’s my closest friend. I’d do anything for him, including helping him figure things out with Ava. Plus, how could I not help when he’s giving me a free place to live? I love helping out with Ava.”

Lucy’s back to her normal self and keeps quiet. I stare at her, waiting for my best friend to respond, but it seems like now she’s deciding to keep her thoughts to herself. I wait some more, hoping the quiet between us will prompt her to say whatever she’s thinking. As I do, I let my gaze travel over her. It’s been a couple of months since I’ve seen her in person. We text daily and do the occasional call, but it’s been a long time since she and Cal have made it out here. She’s been so busy planning a wedding and putting together her first cookbook, so she hasn’t had time to come for a visit. I’ve missed her and am so excited she’s here and will be spending most of her time in the Hamptons this summer.