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Brynn drove on in silence. “And is she… does she know about Piper?”
“Yeah,” I answered. “She’s great with kids.”
“She doesn’t have any?”
“No,” I answered. “She’s childfree but she loves kids—and animals.”
“Oh. Well, that is good.”
“And you and Felix are doing well?”
“Felix and I are well, yes.” She clipped her words. “He’s… he wants a baby. Which, I’m still young enough. We’re going to try IVF,” Brynn said. “With a surrogate. I’m not going to go through that again.”
“Another baby?” I tried not sounding too dumbfounded.
“Yes,” Brynn answered. “He’s… very much in the camp of wanting one of our own. So, we’ll have one.”
Or, he’ll leave me. That was the implication between the lines.
“Well, you always liked the baby stage,” I said. “And Piper would be a good big sister.”
She’d shit a brick and complain for months, but why not?
“I’m sure she will be.”
We pulled up to the gate, and I gave her the passcode.
Brynn pulled in behind a car in the driveway—Chloe’s Mercedes. It hadn’t been there when we left.
Brynn turned off the engine and I craned my head, spying Chloe coming out the front. She told me she wouldn’t be back until Christmas time. Now, here she was.
“There’s your glamorous landlord. Always in leggings, I swear!”
With an ass like that, no one is complaining. I kept my thoughts to myself and stepped out. “I will text you when she calls, okay?”
“Alright,” Brynn agreed.
Chloe’s gaze met mine as Brynn pulled away. She stared, deer in the headlights as I approached. But why? It wasn’t like we didn’t talk or touch. The urge to kiss her almost overwhelmed me. I wanted to soak her up.
“I’m on my way out,” Chloe explained. “I have… an appointment. So…”
“Yeah, of course,” I said. “You’re back for a bit?”
“Only just a bit.”
“Let me at least take you to dinner when you return,” I said. “I just dropped Piper and I could use a distraction.”
She looked down, then shook her head. “I leave early in the morning, and I’ve got a family thing.”
“Oh,” I said. “Well, another time?”
“Sure,” Chloe agreed. “Another time. Sorry, it’s just… I’ve got an appointment then I’m going to Mom’s for dinner.”
“Makes sense.”
“Some other time, though.”
I let her go, telling myself it was just bad timing, but I felt something much more sinister was afoot. She wasn’t herself.
