“I said I wouldn’t judge, and I’m not. If anything, I want to drive over to your landlord’s house and give him a fucking earful. You can’t stay here.”
My shoulders drop. “Is it broken?”
“It’s a health hazard. There shouldn’t be water in here, and it’s fucked up the electrics. Plus, I can smell the damp on the walls. I’m nervous to see what’s behind the wallpaper, but if I had to bet, I’d say black mold.”
My bottom lip wobbles, and his grim expression cracks.
“Ah, shit. Harriet, this isn’t your fault. How were you to know?” I’m dragged into his embrace, his big arms wrapping around me like a weighted blanket. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t. I knew it wasn’t Buckingham Palace, but black mold?” I peer up at him, failing to hold off the tears. “That could be dangerous for the baby.”
“You’re not experiencing any respiratory issues or reactions, right?”
I shake my head, sniffling.
“What matters is finding you somewhere else to stay until we get this sorted.” He strokes my messy waves. “Do any of the girls have room?”
The drop of disappointment in my stomach from him not offering up his place is ridiculous. For one, he lives in a suburb of Nashville, so it would make sense for me to stay with my friends. It’s a silly thought I promptly brush aside.
Parker lives with her dad in a small house barely big enough for the two of them, and Margot has Willow to worry about, not her homeless friend. “Talia. She lives in a big house and won’t mind me staying for a few nights.”
“Okay. Do you want me to call her while you pack a bag?”
“That would be great. Let me grab my phone and I’ll get you her number.”
An awkward smile pulls at his lips.
“What?” I ask.
“I already have her number.” He looks off to theside. “We all exchanged numbers when you were finishing your set. I wanted to have them in case there was ever an emergency.”
“It’s pretty inappropriate to chat up other women when the mother of your child is present,” I joke.
The stern look he fixes me with sends heat swirling to my core and when he steps closer, all I can do is gulp. “Sweetheart, let’s get one thing straight: I only had eyes for you tonight.”
Welp.
“Grab your things.” My body screams when he makes space between us, gently nudging me toward my bedroom. “I’ve got you.”
Talia blows out a long breath.“Listen, I’m ready to throw over the patriarchy tomorrow, but why does a man saying ‘I’ve got you’ do things to my insides?”
I fling my arms up. “Thank you! It’s sorcery.”
“Warren has that whole stern daddy thing going for him.” She tongues her cheek. “I can’t believe he wants to come watch you perform again. Do you think he means a date?”
My mouth drops open. “No, of course not. We’ve been over this; we’re friends.”
“But you like him?” She pokes me in the thigh with her toe, our limbs hidden underneath the thick wool blanket as we lounge on her sofa.
“Liking him is a key detail to this co-parenting agreement working.” I nudge her back.
She rolls her eyes dismissively. “Don’t act coy, Harry. Your horniness is stamped across your forehead.Needs a good railing.”
“It is not.” I smack my hands to my cheeks, the heat fromthem warming my palms. “Can’t a woman get a little lightheaded when a man does something genuinely nice for her? Where is the crime?”
She surrenders. “Hey, you can do whatever you want. My cousin said she wanted to mount her husband like a prize-winning stallion during the second trimester. Maybe that’s what you need?”
“You’re not serious.”
