“You’d do that for me?”
“I’d do anything for you, Molly. You’re the mother of my child.”
Well, shucks.
“Maggie does make a mean banana split,” I said, imagining big scoops of Neapolitan ice cream tucked between two banana slices, topped with delicious strawberries, sweet chocolate syrup, and whipped cream.
I peeked around the kitchen wall, through the living room, and out the front window. “Do we have to take your Jeep, though?”
He clutched his chest as if I’d wounded him. “What’s wrong with my Jeep?”
“You could be a terrible driver for all I know.”
He laughed. “I’m trained to chase people at high speeds, Molly. My driving is probably better than most people’s. Besides, I don’t know if you’ve compared my height to yours lately, but there’s no way I’m fitting comfortably in your Toyota Camry.”
“We seemed to be the same height when I was straddling your lap,” I said, before I registered that my internal thought had accidentally become external.
What the hell, Molly?
Liam’s cheeks perked in a small smile as he bit his bottom lip, clearly trying to suppress his laugh. And he was probably thinking about the night in question, just like I was right now.
“How many times in your life has that mouth of yours managed to get you in trouble?” he asked, crossing his arms.
I pretended to count on my fingers as if the number wasn’t astronomically higher. “A ridiculous amount, but I’m just as good at bullshitting my way out anything, so it’s always evened out in the end.”
“How do you plan to talk yourself out of this one?”
“I don’t. I can tell by your smirk you liked my reference to the night in question. Am I wrong?”
He grabbed his toolbox and turned toward the door. “Let’s go get you your banana split, wild child,” he called over his shoulder as he walked out of the kitchen. A victorious smile spread across my face behind his back.
We both headed out the door, Liam making a point to keep his distance from every chicken wandering through my yard. After noticing his movements, I hurried up behind him, grabbed his lower back, and made a clucking sound. He jumped, spinning around like he was about to fight off a wild animal.
I doubled over, laughing so hard I nearly peed my pants.
He shot me his signature scowl. “Not funny, Molls.”
“You make it so easy though,” I said, still laughing.
“One of these days, I’m going to get you back,” he said, scowling as we approached his Jeep.
I climbed into the passenger seat as Liam got behind the steering wheel.Climbedwas a generous word. Liam hopped in effortlessly, while I, on the other hand, struggled to haul myself up using the oh-shit handle and the running board. Another month or two and getting into this thing would be absolute hell.
Who was I kidding? I’d probably never get into this thing again after tonight.
Liam slid the key into the ignition, bringing the engine to life. Country music crackled through the speakers as he pulled out of my driveway.
I gathered my hair into a messy bun on top of my head, grateful I’d decided to bring a hair tie with me. The wind started blowing it in every direction as soon as Liam’s foot pressed down on the gas pedal.
“Are you comfortable?” he asked loudly over the rushing wind, as he pulled onto the two-lane highway that ran through Silver Creek.
Instead of yelling back, I gave him two thumbs up and a smile. He laughed as he continued to drive down the road.
After a few minutes, Liam pulled into the parking lot of Maggie’s—the best diner in Silver Creek. The only diner in Silver Creek too, but whatever. The food was the best around, and I would argue with anyone who said otherwise.
Liam held the door open for me, and as I stepped inside, the summer humidity was replaced by blessedair-conditioning. The smell of fresh cheeseburgers and salty fries hit me immediately. It was every pregnant woman’s dream.
We slid into one of the vinyl booths, the seat cool against the backs of my legs. The waitress immediately walked over, handing us two menus. I flipped it open, suddenly hungrier than I’d been before we had gotten here.
