Page 83 of Lone Star Longing
Chapter Twenty
“WHATEVER WE DO, WEare not riding with Beck,” Lacey told Poppy as they drove to The Wheel House to meet the others for their trip to Fort Clark Springs.
“Why not?” Poppy asked.
“Because I do not want to ride in a car with him for two hours, each way.”
“You drove with him for twice that to San Antonio. And spent the night. Did something happen?”
Lacey twisted her head to look at her friend. “I can’t believe you’d ask me that.”
“Not that. I know nothing happened there. But I mean, did something happen between you? That you don't want to spend time with him? I thought you were friends.”
“We are. I just don't know how to deal with him on top of all the other things I have to deal with. And I don't know how I’m going to keep the secret from him.”
“Why do you want to keep it a secret? Just tell everyone.”
“Because I don't know how to tell them.”
“What do you mean? You just tell them, ‘hey, not one baby, it’s two.’”
“And then they’ll ask questions and I don't have any answers.”
“What could be different between one baby and two? I mean, yeah, more work and more room and more...I don't know. I never had a baby.”
“All of that. I’m just—I want a day where I think about something besides being pregnant. That’s what I want today to be.”
“And Beck makes you think of being pregnant?”
“He—he reminds me that I am.”
Poppy turned in the seat to look at her. “I knew it! You like him!”
“Well of course I like him. He’s been really good to me.”
“No, I mean, you like him. Like him.”
Lacey blew out a breath. “Even if I did, what can I do about it? He’s not staying around. His mom’s house is almost finished. And how am I going to lure him? ‘Oh, here, Beck, by the way, here’s two babies for you to take care of.’ See how fast he could get out of town then. Not to mention, my body’s not exactly appealing.”
“You’re a cute pregnant woman,” Poppy said loyally.
“Thanks, but I don't think he sees it the same way.”
“He looks at you differently than he looks at anyone else. Haven’t you noticed?”
She hadn’t, but then again, she hadn’t watched him with the others.
“Are you sure you want to make excuses not to ride with him? He has the biggest truck.”
“Well, he can take Javi and Con, and we can take Sofia and Hailey. And we’re not telling them about the babies, either.”
They were the last to arrive to the gathering. Lacey as genuinely surprised to see Con there, and Hailey. A little excitement stirred in her when she saw Beck. She hadn’t told Poppy that she’d thought the babies’ movements were her own reaction to seeing Beck the other night. She didn't need to encourage Poppy’s romantic fantasies further.
