Page 25 of Happily Ever Never

I could still hear the tires screeching, and the sound ofmetal bending where it shouldn’t. The airbag had hit me forcefully—I hadn’teven realized they could do that. I knew they were supposed to help with theimpact, but if that was helping, I couldn’t even imagine what it would feellike if I had been going faster. The other car had hit me at the perfect anglefor all the airbags to deploy. Compounded by the fact that I was starving andslightly dehydrated, and I had been in a bad position. But the two dissolvablestitches on my forehead were gone now, and I no longer ached.

In the couple of weeks since the accident, I had returned towork, although even Luke still treated me with tiny little kids’ gloves. It wasas if they were all afraid I would break. I didn’t blame them for beingworried, but I still felt bad that they were all taking so much time to ensureI was safe.

“The only thing truly broken right now is my car. And the loanerfrom the dealership and insurance is great and all, but I really need my own.”

“So, it’s a complete loss?” Brooke asked.

“It is. And now I deal with all the red tape so I can get anew one. They totaled it because of the damage to the engine. The worst angleever.”

“Leo was saying the neighborhood is trying to get a four-waystop there. With a flashing light or reflective surface or something. Becauseit’s not safe. Not with that cross traffic.”

“You spoke to Leo about it?” I asked, my stomach tensing. Ididn’t know why. Leo was just Leo. Though he had been there to save me. Maybethat was why I got butterflies in my stomach whenever I thought about him. Ireally needed to put him out of my mind. After all, I had given up dating.Therefore, I would give up daydreaming, too, especially about a person thatcould be my friend. He wasn’t technically a friend yet, but he was anacquaintance. Someone I saw often, who was friends with my friends. Perhapsthat could count as being a friend. But he wasn’t someone I could daydreamabout. He had a life of his own. And didn’t want me like that. We had been ineach other’s circle enough that if he had wanted something to happen on hisend, it would have. So, I wasn’t going to think about that.

“Why did you get that look on your face?” Brooke asked, asmile playing on her lips.

I took a big gulp of my mimosa and set the glass down. “I’mjust thinking. What did Leo say? Was it the HOA or something?”

“The neighborhood is going to try to fix the intersection.They’ll probably contact you if they need to. If they need a statement orsomething.”

“Anything to help the next person. That must be terrifyingfor Leo, though. To have the intersection right in front of his house likethat. I wonder how many accidents he’s seen.”

The girls gave each other looks, and I wanted to smackmyself for asking more about him. I did not want them thinking I had a crush onLeo or something. That would only make things awkward when I saw him next. Notthat I had plans to see him again, but it could happen. And they wouldobviously see him before I did. So, that’s what I meant—nothing else.

“Anyway, I’m glad we could all go out this morning. And I’mhappy you finally said yes to mimosas and brunch.”

Brooke narrowed her eyes at me, and I snorted. “You badgeredme. I figured it was time.”

“Did she keep giving you that whole spiel about how you guysneeded boundaries since she worked for you and all that jazz?” Lake asked,mimicking my voice.

“We do need boundaries. I don’t want you thinkingyou have to hang out with me because I watch your son and Sebastian’sdaughter.”

“First off, I’m so happy it’s all working out with youhelping Sebastian. It’s wonderful, don’t you think?”

I warmed at the thought, even though I was still sad aboutthe circumstances.

“I love that little girl already. And Luke is excited topractice being a big brother.”

Brooke choked on her mimosa as Lake gave her a look. “Isthere something we should know?”

“Oh, no. No, no, no. But wow. That’s good to know, I guess.That he’s ready. Not that I am. Oh, my God. He told you that?”

“Yes. He told me that. I wouldn’t have just brought it up.Although, with the look on your face, I’ll have to do it more often.”

Lake held out her glass, and I toasted her with mine. “Oh,yes. Totally more often.”

“You guys are evil,” Brooke said, draining her mimosa.

“Seriously, though, we’re not anywhere near ready forbabies. I suppose it’s good that Luke seems ready. But wow.”

“Pretty much. Although I wonder where he’s getting thoseideas from.”

This time, it was Brooke who laughed. “Probably from thethousands of Montgomerys around him. They like children.And they always tease good-naturedly. If there was any chance Leif and I wouldsay no to kids in the future at all, they’d back down.”

“But because you haven’t indicated that you weren’t having achild with Leif in the future, the ribbing begins.”

“Exactly. So, I guess it’s my fault.”

“You’re the one who said it,” I teased.