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“You didn’t worry about that with Chloe.”
He flinched like I’d hit him. It was a low blow. He’d been a doting father since he’d returned to town and the truth was, I’d spent enough time with him to see how much he’d changed since we were married.
“Look Griffin, we already made a big mistake with our first accidental pregnancy, let’s not repeat it again.”
“But...”
“We are not getting married again.”
“Yes we are,” he said stubbornly.
I threw up my hands in frustration.
“You are the most obstinate person I’ve ever met. You need to go. Now.”
“Dawn...”
I sighed deeply, suddenly feeling exhausted. “Look, you can be involved with the baby as much as you want, I won’t keep you from him or her. But we’re not getting married. We’re not dating. We are not having any type of relationship, or any more of the...benefits that got me in this situation again.”
Griff’s face looked determined.
“I’ll wait as long as it takes Dawn. I gave you up once, and I won’t do it again. Sooner or later, you will be mine again.”
“It’ll be a cold day in hell before that happens,” I snapped.
“Then I’ll go buy some ice skates.”
I opened my mouth to respond but he held up his hand to stop me.
“I’ll leave. For now. But this isn’t over.”
***
“How’s it going with Griff?”
“Apparently he works at my restaurant now.”
Evie did a double take. “What?”
“He’s been at the restaurant every day for the last month. Helping. Every time I try to bus a table or lift something heavy or take out the trash, there he is. Swooping in. Keeping an eye on me. Helping.”
Emma chimed in from across the café where she was helping me and Evie clean up the dishes from tonight’s book club meeting.
“Why do you say ‘helping’ like it’s a bad word?”
“He’s everywhere. He came to my doctor appointment. He’s bringing me groceries every week. Yesterday I came home and found him mowing my lawn.”
“That asshole!” Emma laughed.
“Plus, that infuriating man is trying to seduce me.”
My friends both paused to look at me.
“How?” Evie asked curiously.
“Wearing tight pants, brushing against me, giving me these smoldering looks, mowing the lawn without a shirt.”
“In fairness, it was hot out yesterday,” Emma reminded me.
