Jay followed, and set her bag on the floor.
“It has a nice vibe.”
“All right, then, hippie girl, this is the one you’ll sleep in.”
She turned slowly. “Are we going to talk now, Jay?”
“About what?”
“Boundaries. Rules. Contracts. You real estate types love contracts, even if that’s only your part-time job, and I have just forced myself on you.”
“I do love a good contract.”
She crossed her arms. “Well?”
He leaned against the dresser and did the same. Jay thought for a minute before speaking and kept his eyes on her the entire time. Blue wasn’t the type to blush or squirm. She just stood there looking right back.
“Okay. Boundaries,” he said finally. “You’re here because you need space and time to work through stuff, namely what you want to do going forward and when the child arrives,” he continued.
She nodded.
“I want you to know I’m not doing this out of obligation, Blue. I want you here with me.”
She blinked.
“I’m doing it because it makes sense. We can get used to the idea of a baby together.”
Something flickered in her eyes then. Something that looked suspiciously like relief. “You’re not going to try to… I don’t know. Turn this into something it’s not?” Blue said.
He understood the question and knew some of her tension was coming from the idea that he’d want more from her. They’d only had one night. One reckless, unexpected, hot night that had detonated their casual friendship into something far more complicated.
“I’m not pushing for something neither of us wants,” he said quietly. “I also want you to have space because I like my own too.”
“I know, and this may not work out, Jay, and I can always move out again.”
“It may not, but for now, let’s see where it takes us, okay?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He left the room then and returned with fresh bedding, and between them, they made up the bed.
“Have you eaten?” Jay asked when they were done.
“Does consuming candy I found in my bag on the journey here count?”
“No.”
She sighed. “Then no, I haven’t.”
“Come on.”
They went downstairs, and Jay moved through the kitchen automatically. It was equipped with everything he needed. Clean, smooth lines in white counter tops, and cabinetry, with deep green appliances Zoe had said made everything pop—whatever the fuck that meant.
Blue took a seat at the island.
“Omelet okay?” he asked. “Are there any no-nos when it comes to food for you? I read you’ll get cravings?—”
“Really just a love for chocolate and saltines at this stage, but the latter is more out of necessity. I am not a vegetarian like my mom and dad anymore. The McAllister siblings went to the dark side.”
