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“I’ll get a hotel for a few nights. My landlord said he was going to try to find me a temporary place. I’m sure my renter’s insurance will reimburse me for a hotel. If not, it’ll be fine. I have savings.”

“Stay with me.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I’m pregnant,” she blurts out.

My mouth falls open.

Bollocks.

Bloody hell.

Guess I’ve lost my chance with her. She’s with someone else now. She’s having another man’s child. But why isn’t he here with her? Where is he? Before I can ask the question, she laughs, a manic sound, and my chest tightens.

“I know, right. This week couldn’t get any worse. The doctor’s office called earlier with the results of my blood test, confirming what the home pregnancy tests I took earlier this week said—that I am indeed pregnant. Around eight weeks.” She cringes. “Then my apartment floods.”

“And the father?” I tip my chin toward her stomach.

She hangs her head. “It was a one-night stand. I don’t do one-night stands. The one time I wanted to have a little fun, blow off some steam, and have an orgasm given to me by someone else, which he couldn’t deliver by the way.” Fucker got her pregnant and couldn’t even satisfy her? If she was mine, she’d have all the orgasms she wanted. But she’s not mine. “No orgasms, but I got pregnant.” She sighs. “All I know is his first name, and he was in town for his brother’s wedding.”

“Shit. I’m sorry, Sutton.”

She waves me away. “It’s fine. I’m dealing with it.”

I raise an eyebrow.

She drops a hand to her stomach. “That sounded like I’m getting an abortion. I thought about it right after I took the first pregnancy test. I did. But I quickly realized it wasn’t the option for me. I thought about adoption too, and that didn’t feel right either. The minute the test showed those two pink lines, something inside me changed, and I love this little bean. So single mom life it is.” She barks out a laugh. “There goes my chances of finding my Mr. Right. Because when will I have time to date?”

I want to yell You don’t have to date anyone but me. I’ll take care of you and your baby. But I don’t say that. I can’t. Not appropriate right now. Right now, I need to be there for her as a friend.

I shove all my feelings aside. She doesn’t need that from me now. Besides, she told me last season she wasn’t interested in dating me, and although it broke my heart to hear her say no, I respect her so I stopped asking her out. Doesn’t mean my crush magically went away, because it didn’t. A small part of me is hoping that maybe she’ll change her mind. And even if she doesn’t, I’m not going to stop showing up for her, stop showing her I care about her even if we can only be friends.

“Well, even more reason for you to come home with me.”

“I can’t do that to you, Sebastian.”

“You’re not doing anything to me. I’m offering. In fact, I’m insisting.”

“Okay. Thank you,” she whispers. “But how do you feel about cats?”

“They’re fine. I guess.” I shrug. “We always had a few wandering around the farm when I was growing up. They keep the rodents away.”

She points to the corner of her office. “Well, I have two, and they’re indoor cats.” That’s when I notice the pet carrier sitting in the corner next to a bag of who knows what. “Now I’m going to be the crazy cat lady single mom. Great. Wonderful.” Her shoulders slump, and she buries her face in her hands.

My heart cracks even more because, bloody hell, the way she says those words wrecks me. My desire to take care of her—them—is growing by the second.

Because they are mine.

And I fucking protect and take care of what’s mine. But now is not the time for me to voice those crazy caveman thoughts, because we are friends. I shouldn’t be having those thoughts about my friend.

“Hey, now. Don’t talk about yourself that way.” I reach over and rub her arm. “How about we get you and your cats to my place and get you fed. I bet the baby is hungry.” My gaze drifts down to her stomach, and I swallow down the emotions.

She nods, getting up and going over to the closet. She pulls out a suitcase before grabbing the cat carrier and her laptop bag and purse.

“Woah. Let me take something.” I rush over to her and relieve her of the suitcase and laptop bag, leaving her to handle the cats and her purse. “Ready?” I ask, moving toward the door.