Silence again.
He pushed off the counter and moved to sit opposite her.
“I’m not asking for more than you’re willing to give.”
“Good.”
In fact, he had no idea what he was asking for, but he plowed on. “But I’m not pretending this is nothing either. The baby changes everything between us, Blue.”
“I know,” she whispered.
“Okay, then,” he finished. Then he got up to make himself coffee because, let’s face it, he wasn’t likely to get a good night’s sleep anyway.
“If I snore, you can’t evict me.”
“If you snore, I’m charging rent.”
“You’re not charging me rent anyway?” Blue frowned.
“We’ll work the logistics out, Blue, but not tonight,” Jay said. “You want anything else?”
“No, thanks.” When she finished eating, she stood and then rinsed her plate and loaded it into the dishwasher, which was more than Dan had ever done.
“I’m tired, Jay. I’m going to turn in.”
“Okay.”
She hesitated. Then stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. He froze for half a second, then slowly wrapped hisarms around her. Carefully. Like she might break. She didn’t. She fit. Jay closed his eyes and just held her.
Her cheek rested against his chest. His chin brushed the top of her head, and he thought he could get used to this.
“Thank you,” she murmured, releasing him. He missed her in his arms immediately.
“For carrying a bag?”
“For being you.”
He leaned down to kiss her. It was just meant to be a comforting, brief brush of lips, but with that single touch he remembered what they’d shared.
“Jay.” Blue whispered the words against his lip’s long seconds later. “That will complicate everything.” She stepped back out of his arms.
He nodded. “Go to bed, Blue.”
She turned and walked away without speaking again.
Blue was someone he’d known for years. A friend, and the mother of his child, and maybe—he cut that thought off.
One step at a time.
Jay turned off the kitchen lights and headed upstairs.
The door to her room was slightly ajar, but he kept walking to his. After a shower, he lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
For the first time in a long time, he wouldn’t sleep here alone. Someone else was in his house.
Blue Jay McAllister was unpacking her life into his… for now.
Chapter 22
