Page 125 of The Baby Bargain
Every time I see Hunter—
I'm not getting closer to forgiving him.
It's all Emma's fault, really. The badass college student ranted at me then fell asleep on our bench. Turned out, she'd been up all night crying after Hunter dumped her.
He dumped her and she still went to bat for him.
It was some bullshit about her brother catching them together. At the time, I thought he was an idiot.
With Forest following me to the coffee maker, walking like he's trying so hard to stay casual—
Maybe I have more in common with Hunter than I want to believe.
No, I do. I have that same genetic disposition to fill the emptiness in my gut with whatever numbs it. One I'm not giving into. Ever.
"You want one?" I try to keep my voice casual, but it doesn't land. Last night was a big deal. There's no getting around that.
I don't need to give away that it was Forest's sister, but I can't act like nothing happened.
"Sure." He takes a seat on the bench. Folds one leg over the other. "Whatever, as long as it's not too dark."
"Doesn't sound like you."
His chuckle is easy.
I think.
Maybe I'm imagining this tension. Maybe I'm projecting.
"I'd go for the darkest thing they have, but it's nothing compared to you," he says.
"Thought I was smiling."
"Yeah." He nods. "Maybe I should switch it up today. Go for the Italian Roast."
"I think they're all the same." I grab a medium roast pod, pop it in the machine, fill it with water from the cooler.
"Equally mediocre."
I nodexactly. "There's great coffee four blocks away."
His nose scrunches in distaste. The way Ariel's does. "Add milk and sugar and it all tastes the same." He rests his back against the wall. Even with the blinds down, the sunlight surrounds him in an angelic glow.
I try to focus on picking out a coffee. He's right. They're equally mediocre—this is probably the worst way to make coffee, save for instant. I'm not a snob. Only got into coffee because Hunter did.
Now—
Fuck, I don't even need the caffeine. It's not going to help with my racing heart.
There's no way Forest knows something.
That's impossible.
Sure, Ariel isn't the most skilled liar, but—
She's the worst liar in the world. She wears everything all over her face. It's hot as hell when she's staring at me like she needs me inside her.
But when it's—
