Page 260 of The Baby Bargain

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How am I the one tangled in knots?

For the last two years, Hunter has been staring at me like I punched him in the jaw.

Now that I'm trying to make nice, I'm the one who's nervous about winning his respect.

I try to shift into the teasing conversation. Shake my headhell no. "We're in the Venice Santa Monica school district. That's the good one."

"She's moving into your tiny apartment?"

"Fuck, I don't know."

"You really love her, huh?"

"A lot." She's bright. Like the stars. "I want to do this right."

"You don't need my blessing."

"I know, but… I want her to have a family. I want us to be a family."

"So, if your girlfriend wasn't pregnant, you wouldn't bother with me?" he teases.

"Pretty much," I tease back. For once, it's easy. Well, easy ish.

"Take the job, Chase. It's good for you."

"But we—"

"It's not like I'm far."

That's true. "Her family does Sunday dinners."

"Aren't you joining?"

Hopefully. "We could do another day. If you're not too busy for me." I raise a browyou think you're that important?

His laugh is easy. "I'll have to check my schedule."

I nodsure.

He looks at me differently. Like he's the older brother. Like he's the one who's proud of me.

Maybe he is.

This is fucking hard.

This is a lot.

Fuck, maybe Hunter has it worse than me. Proud of me for forgiving him.

Keatings are a fucking mess.

But we can get there.

I want to get there. For me. For Hunter. For Ariel.

For both of our families. And the one that's just ours.

Fuck, I hope it's just ours.

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