“Will you have more?”
“Nope.” She shakes her head but doesn’t look sad at all. “This little nugget is a one-and-done for us. Trevor and I battled infertility for years. I don’t want to go through it again and miss a single second of enjoyingher.”
“Life can be so unfair, can’t it? You battled infertility, and I got pregnant while on the pill after doing it just the one time.” I watch Amelia, who’s moved to the swing now. “But I’ve never regretted it. Not since the day I heard her little heartbeat for the very first time.”
“So, what about you? Do you think there will be siblings in her future?”
I glance down the street. DownCarter’sstreet. And for the second time in as many minutes, my heart longs for something I never thought I wanted.
“Oh my God. Kenna… are you in love with him?”
I whip my head around. “Him?”
She snorts in amusement. “When I asked about another baby, your eyes immediately looked in the direction of Carter Cruz’s house.”
“I… uh… well, it is where I live now.”
She raises an inquisitive brow in the same manner a teacher might when their question has yet to be answered.
I let my head fall back, enjoying a quick moment of being warmed by the sun. “It’s complicated.”
“The best relationships are.”
“No. Ava, we’re not in a relationship.”
“Mmm. Well, you could have fooled me. Based on how you two were looking at each other on Sunday—and from what Trevor tells me Carter tells him—you guys aren’t fooling anyone but yourselves.”
“Carter talks to Trevor about me?”
Her eyes become saucers and she nods. “Oh, yeah.”
Internally, I’m cheering. But that elation quickly turns sour when I see the countdown clock in the corner of my mind. I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. I’m leaving as soon as my car’s fixed.”
She cocks her head, studying me. “But you don’t want to.”
I look down at Jordan, unable to meet Ava’s eyes. “But I have to.”
“It’s a shame you can’t stay longer. I get the idea we’d have become good friends, you and I.”
I smile at her. “Me too.”
Amelia races up, finally realizing who’s here. “Can I hold her? Please, Mommy?”
“Only if it’s okay with Miss Ava.”
Ava smiles. “Of course. Climb up here between us, sweetie. Jordan would be happy to have you hold her for a little while.”
I spend the next few seconds watching Amelia, dreaming of what it would be like were she holding her own little sister or brother. Then I spend the following five minutes trying to distract myself from those very thoughts. Because wishing for something that could never happen is torture in its purest form.
~ ~ ~
Carter has been a lot quieter while we make dinner. He’s been working on the enchiladas and I’ve been preparing the rice. There’s usually a lot more flirty banter going on. And it’s bothering me way more than it should.
When he comes closer, I knock my hip into him. “You okay?”
I’m used to hearing that question coming in the other direction. He definitely seems to ask me that all the time. And I realize this may be the first time I’ve asked him.
He puts the enchiladas in the oven, leans against the counter, and sighs. “Your parts came in.”
