“Did you or did you not tell him?”
“Well…”
“You didn’t,” Macy accused.
“I meant to,” Riley whined. Macy just looked her all squinty-eyed. Riley insisted, “I really did. But then I got…distracted.”
“Distracted.” There was an eye roll. “So that’s what you’re calling it now?”
Riley felt awful. “I meant to do it. I vowed to myself that I would do it. But then we made love, and it was great. We were both just lying there, limp and satisfied, completely relaxed, whispering together, laughing at silly things… I felt so…happy, Mace. So relaxed. And Josh seemed happy, too. I just couldn’t do it—couldn’t make love with him and then announce, ‘Oh, by the way, I’m pregnant and it’s yours.’”
“I understand,” said Macy. She sounded weary but resigned.
“Oh, Mace. Do you really?”
“Absolutely. It would have been much betternotto fallinto bed with him first. And that’s why you were going to tell him right after he showed up, remember?”
“And I was all set to do that. But then he kissed me and…” With a little moan, she let her shoulders droop. “I blew it again, okay? I know that I did. And now I just have to get it right the next time I see him.”
Macy’s judgy expression softened. “Aw, honey…” She reached over and patted Riley’s knee. “All you have to do is get the words out. Do it before you let him near you. Just tell him, and it will all work out, you’ll see.”
Would it? Really? Sometimes she wondered. They had an agreement. They were having a hot fling for as long as it lasted. So far, it had lasted a pretty long time. And she still didn’t want it to end. He didn’t seem to want to stop, either. “I’m afraid that when I tell him, he’s never going to speak to me again.”
Macy leaned across her sleeping child to squeeze Riley’s shoulder. “Josh is a good guy. He’ll do what’s right.”
Riley groaned. “Please. You mean like marry me? He’s already married one woman because there was a baby coming. He’s not going to want to do that again—and if he volunteers to put a ring on it for the sake of the baby, I’ll remind him of what he already knows. I loved TJ.” There would always be an ache in the center of her chest for her lost husband. “He was everything to me, and I had to watch him die in my arms. I’m not getting married again. It’s not going to happen.”
Macy gave her a look full of tender understanding. “I know. You’ve made that very clear. And I get it. I do. I’m just saying that you will work it out one way or another, together, you and Josh.”
“Oh, I do hope so…”
“You will. Wait and see.”
“Yeah, but the last thing Josh is going to want to hear is that his secret lover is accidentally pregnant. It’s what happened with Lenore all over again—well, I mean minus the secret fling thing.”
“Please,” Macy scoffed. “Lenore’s a nightmare with serious neediness issues. You are not his ex-wife.”
“But still, here I am having his surprise baby just like Lenore.”
“Josh loves Shane. He’ll love this new baby, too.”
Riley nodded slowly. “Yeah. I know. I know he will.”
Macy reached out, and Riley did, too. They hugged over the sleeping child between them.
“Josh is a great guy and a terrific dad,” Macy said. “And it’s not your fault that Lenore is a clinger. Just tell him what’s happened. Just take the first step.”
Riley heaved a giant sigh and whispered, “I feel extra guilty for being such a hopeless chicken.”
“Next time you’ll do it right.”
“Actually, I’ve been thinking that maybe I should just avoid Josh for a while.”
“Oh, please.” Macy hung her head and then gave Riley a long, accusing look from under her lashes. “Wrong. What you need to do is tell the man the truth. Now.”
Riley moaned. “I hate this.”
“Do it. Just tell him—on the phone, if you have to. But you need to get that over with so you can move on to working things out.”
