“Not much. I go back in a few weeks, and I’ll monitoreverything. I’m not ready to tell anyone yet.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want anyone at work to know. I’ve seen what happensto a woman’s career once they say they’re starting a family. The partners at myfirm are great, but I would like to continue proving myself before I sayanything. As for everyone else, we’re really early into this pregnancy. Thingscan happen, and…I don’t want to tell people we’re pregnant to then tell peoplewe’re not pregnant.”
Cayden nods. “I respect that. I’m assuming Melanie knows?”
“Yes,” I say with a soft laugh. “She brought me the test andwas there when I took it. My sister, Bethanne, also knows. She doesn’t knowyou’re the father, but just that I’m pregnant. I am not really sure why I toldher, other than I had gotten home from the doctor and needed to talk tosomeone…”
“You could’ve called me,” he suggests.
I could’ve. Maybe even should’ve. I just wasn’t really readyto do that. It was too real to talk to Cayden about the child we created. Inever thought he would flip or be unsupportive, not that I thought we’d end upbeing together at the end, but I just needed to sit with it.
“Next time I need to talk, I will.”
“I hope so. I really do love you, Hadley. I know it’s crazyand it feels like it came out of nowhere.”
I stop him there, resting my palm on his face. “It doesn’t.I think you’re right, we’ve been falling in love for years. It’s just finallycome to light. We definitely did all this backwards though.”
He laughs. “No shit. But going forward it’ll be different.”
“How so?”
“Well, for starters, we’re going to go on a real date. Onewhere I ask you, not accost you outside your building.”
I nod. “That’s a good start.”
“Then, we’ll go on said date, and you’ll be unable to stoptouching me.”
“Really? Why is that?”
“Because I’m charming and handsome.”
I lean back in my chair with a smile. “Is that so?”
“Clearly, you’re already in love with me.”
“This is true. I also am pregnant with your baby, so ittotally could be that.”
Cayden shakes his head as though it’s not even possibly thereason. “It’s my charm.”
“I’m so glad you are able to tell the difference.”
“Considering you are the first and only woman to have or becarrying my child, and others have also found me to be rather irresistible, wecan draw a very clear conclusion that it is, in fact, me.”
I raise one brow, fighting back the urge to giggle like afreaking school girl. “I feel that your argument lacks substance and isleading. You haven’t disproved the evidence of the hormones and pheromones beingpresent during this encounter. Professor Stein would be very displeased withyour argument.”
“He liked you better anyway”
“This is true.”
Our next course is served and the conversation turns to morelighthearted things. He wants me to come to a game with him next week and meethis brother. As much as I hate admitting that this excites me, it does. Hisbrother is freaking amazing, even my Uncle Sean thinks it.
“I’m totally going to be nervous,” I admit between bites.
“Meeting Logan?”
“Yeah, he’s…well, he’s Logan Benson-Hennington.”
