Page 227 of The Baby Bargain
Or it would be. If I didn't want that so badly.
"Where's Chase?" I hug my blanket tighter. It's a cold night, but I need the fresh air. My stomach is… ugh. I'm not sure if it's the hormones or the marshmallows.
"With Mom," he says. "She snuck out for a cigarette."
"She smokes?"
He nodsyeah. "Since rehab. You know the cliché? You trade one addiction for another."
"But you don't smoke."
His lips curl into a half-smile. "I used to smoke when I drank. They were too mixed up."
"So now…" When he doesn't respond, I clear my throat. "Sorry, I'm overstepping."
"It's fine."
"I do that sometimes. I, um… do you have a new coping mechanism?"
He laughs.
"That was also out of line." Ahem. "I…"
He laugh gets louder. "Fuck. I can see why Chase likes you. You're the opposite of Grace."
My lips curl into a frown. That name again. Even his brothers think about her. Why does everyone still think about her?
"Not that he—" his voice softens. "He's not still into her."
"Would you know if he was?"
"Probably not."
Damn, that was another overstep. But he doesn't seem to mind. "Where, um, where's your girlfriend?"
"In New Jersey with Kaylee and Brendon."
Right. Emma and Kaylee are best friends. God, that must be weird, what with Kaylee dating Emma's brother Brendon.
But I guess Emma is dating Hunter. Who's Brendon's friend.
And, uh…
Shit, I need a diagram for all these Inked Hearts couples.
"You share her with her best friend?" I ask.
He nods.
"Is that weird?"
"I'm glad she has someone else she can count on."
"And her brother."
"Yeah." He takes a sip. "Brendon would do anything for her."
"Would you?"
