Page 17 of Line Change

She hands me a few tissues, and I wipe my face.

“This wasn’t part of the plan. Although I don’t know how my plan would ever work out since I couldn’t ever find Mr. Right.”

Well, I might have found him, but I can’t have him. Besides, it’s too late now. I need to focus on my child, make sure they have a safe and loving environment to grow up in. That I’m a present mother, unlike my own who was barely around before she died unexpectedly. My stomach drops. What if I’m a terrible mother?

“Plans change.”

“I know.” I step out of her embrace, and she lets me go. “Thank you for listening.” I take a deep breath, feeling a little better now that someone else knows.

She takes her seat again. “I’m always here if you need to talk.”

“I appreciate it.”

She leans back in her chair, resting her palms in her lap. “What’s your plan now?”

“Find a place to live so I don’t overstay my welcome with Sebastian.”

“Find anything good?”

I drop my head into my hands. “No, all the listings in the nicer part of town are out of my price range. I thought about expanding my search area, but that means dealing with traffic on the highway, and we all know how bad that can be during rush hour.” I checked this morning while I was waiting for a conference call to begin and was shocked at the prices of one-bedroom apartments. “I’m thinking of hiring a realtor, but honestly, I don’t know if it would help.” This is why I loved my old place so much: the rent was doable, it was in a good part of town, and the commute wasn’t bad.

“Hear me out …”

“No.”

She laughs. “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

“I don’t need to, not when you start with hear me out.”

She crosses her arms, leveling me with a look. “For all you know I was going to suggest you move in with us.”

“Were you?”

She chuckles. “No. But I was going to say maybe you should take Sebastian up on his offer to live with him for a while.” I cringe. She points at me. “What?”

“I already asked if I could stay for a few weeks. Longer feels like a risky move.” I shake my head. “No, I need to find a place soon.”

She scoffs. “Men and women live together all the time, and it’s fine. You need boundaries. Rules. Besides, it’s not like I’m telling you to find a random roommate on the internet.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

“No. Do not do that. You’re pregnant. You don’t want to live with just anyone.” Her gaze flashes to my stomach, and I instinctively drop a hand to it.

“Fine. You’re probably right.” What choices do I have? Commute miles to work. Live in a bad area. Use my savings to pay an exorbitant amount in rent each month. I’d rather use the savings to pay for whatever I’ll need for the baby. “I’ll think about it and talk to him when he gets back. Although I just told him I’d stay for a few weeks, so it might give him whiplash if I say, ‘Oh, by the way, can I stay indefinitely?’” I snort.

“Doubtful, but you keep telling yourself that. What I came in here for was to see if you want to go to lunch.”

My stomach chooses that moment to rumble, and I realize I’m starving since I didn’t eat breakfast because I was too nauseous.

“Yes, please.” I lock my computer and grab my purse then follow her out of my office and toward the elevator.

I spend most of lunch trying not to think about the conversation with Sebastian I’ll have to have once he’s back in town.

How awkward it’s going to be to ask him if I can stay with him for a while.

But that’s for future Sutton to worry about.

Why does that feel like it’s going to become my newest mantra?