Page 94 of The Last Thing
I checkthe time on my phone for the tenth time in the last half hour. Usually I’m not rushing to finish work, but I’m about to yell at the guys to put their shit away and get out of here. I’m ready to go home and finally tell Sophia the truth.
I’m a little nervous because it means her heart will be involved in the equation now, but at the same time, I’m certain about my feelings for Hallie. And I don’t do anything by halves. When I’m in, I’m all in.
Hallie’s the wild card. But after her admission at the carnival last weekend, and how she’s been for the past two weeks, I’m hopeful. Maybe too hopeful. I have a plan in the works that might be a little crazy. It’s probably too much. But now that Hallie has awoken the idealistic side of me again, I can’t help it.
“Hey, how’s everything going here?”
I practically jump and tear my eyes from my phone.
Nick Ardito grins at me. “Dirty text?”
That’s the last thing I was expecting him to say, and I burst out laughing.
“That’s one thing I don’t do on the job.”
He holds his hands up. “Hey, man. I’d give you a pass. We can’t control when our girls send us dirty things.” He pauses and thinks for a second. “Actually, my wife would purposely do that at the worst possible time, so…” He shrugs. “Anyway. Everything good here?”
“Yeah. We’re on track to finish by the end of next week, but I’m guessing probably Wednesday.”
“Sweet. Are you okay?”
I nod. “Yeah. Just… itching to get home. Don’t know if Leo told you, but Hallie’s pregnant. And we’re telling Sophia tonight.”
His eyes go wide. “She’s pregnant? You got your nanny pregnant?”
I run my hand over my face. “Technically, that happened before she was my nanny. It’s a long story. But we’re happy, so don’t be a dick.”
He laughs. “Well, from one unexpected dad to another, congrats. I hope it all goes well.”
“Thanks.”
“Go ahead. Get out of here.”
“What?”
He nods toward the door. “I can manage these knuckleheads for another fifteen minutes. Go home.”
I clap him on the shoulder. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. Plus, it gives me a chance to heckle the guys. It’s been too long.”
I shake my head as he aims for the back door, then my brain catches up, and I haul ass out the front door.
Time to get home to my girls.
I don’t knowwhy we agreed to wait until after dinner to do this. I thought I was going to explode and word-vomit it all right there at the table.
I kept my shit together, but only because Hallie threw me a few stern looks.
Now the dishes are done, and I’m bursting at the seams.
“Are we going to watch a movie?” Sophia asks.
“Maybe in a bit. There’s something I want to talk to you about.” I aim for the living room, guiding Sophia in that direction too.
“Am I in trouble?”
“No. You’re not in trouble. This is a good thing.”
