Page 32 of Solid Ground

Brandon sticks his face in front of the computer screen, and for a moment, all I can see is a stray nose hair. I laugh again and shake my head.

“Really? Do I say congrats?” A tentative smile is on his lips.

Caitlin shoves him out of the way. “Yes. Zoe’s happy. But she thought she was doing it alone.”

His eyebrow twitches. “Alone? You’re never alone, babe. Play your cards right and you can move here. I can start a harem.”

Caitlin rolls her eyes. “I read a book last week that featured one. Now he won’t shut up about it.”

I blow her a kiss. “I miss you guys.”

“We miss you. What are you going to do about Declan?” She turns to Brandon. “Zoe told him she didn’t need him, but he wants to be involved.”

I shrug. “This isn’t what I expected, but I’m going to think about it. He’s staying nearby for a while, and I’ll give him the answer when I’m ready.”

Brandon strokes his beard. “I think you should give the guy a chance. You gave him an out, but he’s not taking it.”

“I just worry that he won’t stick to it. If it’s during the pregnancy it only affects me, but once the baby’s here …”

“Yeah, but how are you going to know if you don’t try? You know you’ve always got us. Even if you’ve got that weird accent.”

I laugh. Brandon always teases me about my New Zealand accent. “Thanks. I know I can always rely on you.”

Caitlin snuggles against him, and it hits me right in the gut.I want that.I want a love of my own. Have I screwed this up by getting pregnant to Declan?

“Anyway, I’m going to get going. I have a lot of thinking to do, and I’m ready to get some sleep. Love you guys.” I blow them more kisses before we disconnect the video call.

Can I do this? Can I trust him to stay involved?

My biggest fear would be that he just up and leaves one day when my child is old enough to know who he is. I coulddeal with any financial fallout—it’s the emotional fallout I’m worried about.

On the other hand, Brandon is right. Declan had an out. I told him I wanted nothing. And yet he wants to be involved.

Maybe I need to take a leap of faith.

After sleeping on it,I send a text to Declan in the morning.

Me: Can you come over? We need to talk.

Declan: Be there in ten.

Twenty minutes later, a knock on the door breaks me out of my thoughts.

He hustles in the door, coffee cups in one hand, paper bags in the other.

“Sorry I’m a little late. I stopped to get some breakfast, and I thought you might like something too.”

My stomach grumbles. “That sounds great. My morning sickness is so up and down. One minute I want to hurl, the next I’m ravenous.”

He leans over and pecks me on the cheek. His kiss burns on my skin. “I didn’t know what you’d feel like, so there’s a selection.”

I follow him to the coffee table where he places everything, and join him on the couch.

“I wasn’t sure if you were drinking coffee still, so I got you a coffee and a hot chocolate. Hope that’s okay.”

My stomach makes a gurgling sound, and I laugh. “That’s more than okay.”

Leaning over, he tears open the bags to reveal different pastries before holding out his palm and pointing toward them. “Lady’s choice.”

---