Page 36 of An Inconvenient Plan
He jabbed a finger at her that promised retribution. One of Mad’s pranks. Now that he’d finished paying her tuition, she was up to her old tricks. For a while there she was kissing his ass. He should’ve known.
The women passed around the book. A low buzz of whispering ensued, probably speculating what the hidden meaning was. Like maybe he wanted to knock Hailey up, or maybe she was already accidentally pregnant.Fuck me.This was not the old-fashioned kind of romance he was supposed to be presenting to Hailey. Now he looked like a lech.
Hailey stood in her red short-sleeved designer dress that displayed every last curve, looking glossy and perfectly made-up as usual, but it didn’t bug him like it used to. She wasn’t snooty and above it all. She was passionate, fiery, and he’d seen what lay underneath her designer clothes. He shoved that memory down as she approached him. He glanced toward her side, suddenly realizing she wasn’t carrying her dog purse.
“Where’s Rose?” He’d even come prepared with a little butter on his wrists and a slice of pepperoni in a small Ziploc bag in his flannel shirt pocket.
She closed the distance between them, her flowery sexy scent washing over him. “Jake took her out to meet the horses in the stable. It’s good for her to have a variety of experiences.”
He couldn’t think of a single thing more to say, despite the emotion bubbling up in him, his heart thudding hard. Suddenly it felt like so much was at stake. His gift had turned out to be a joke, but his intention was very, very real.
Hailey’s pale blue eyes studied him for a moment, looking slightly puzzled. He tried not to squirm. “Thank you for the gift, Josh.”
He grunted. “Mad said it was your favorite.”
Hailey’s head whipped toward Mad, who burst out laughing. Hailey huffed and turned back to him. “I appreciate the gesture. Thank you.”
“Mad was fucking with me, obviously. Have you, uh, read that one?”
She leaned down to whisper in his ear, and he went stock-still. “Actually, I avoid accidental pregnancy stories because I was one. Mad doesn’t know that about me, no one does. I just can’t romanticize the single-mom situation, having lived through it.”
His gaze met hers as she straightened. She trusted him with something she hadn’t even told Mad. “I know what it’s like when a parent bails.”
She swallowed visibly. “Yes, well, my dad died when I was little, but…he wasn’t much of a dad before that.”
“Sorry to hear it. And real sorry the book reminded you of it. Just toss it.”
She lifted her chin. “I will not. It’s the first gift you ever gave me.”
“Not like a mansion.” Where had that come from? Here they were practically getting along and he had to bring up what’s-his-name.
She stared at him, and he saw the moment she understood that he knew what the prince had offered her. She’d probably share with Mad a lot less now that she knew she’d confided in a snitch.
“I suppose you’re right,” she said softly.
Desperate to salvage the situation, he leaned close and spoke from the heart. “Listen, the book was supposed to show I’m relationship material. I don’t care what our parents say. We deserve a chance. Your mom’s not gonna bail on my dad just because we might screw up a few times, right?”
Her eyes widened. “I thought our parents wanted us to make amends.” She leaned down and whispered, “Are you saying they don’t want us to be together?”
He hesitated before admitting, “My dad told me to keep my distance. Be civil and that’s it. He thought we’d bring too much drama to the family, destroy the peace for all the family functions, holidays, birthdays, you know, but I say fuck that.”
She straightened, her fingers covering her mouth, her eyes shiny.
Shit. He’d said the wrong thing. He was supposed to be making a romantic gesture and he’d upset her.
“Don’t worry about my dad,” he said urgently. “It’s not gonna destroy their marriage. Your mom loves him.”
She nodded woodenly and returned to her seat. Then she just sat there, staring at the floor.
His chest ached, throat tight, gut churning.Now what?
Claire took charge like a general. “Ladies! Back to our read. And hand Mad that cowboy book. Turns out it’s her favorite because her and Park do a lot of cowboy role-play. She plays the horse.”
Everyone laughed.
“I do not!” Mad protested hotly.
The women jumped on that, teasing Mad relentlessly. It was absurd to picture them doing the cowboy rodeo game, both of them raised in the suburbs of Connecticut. But he couldn’t even muster a smile. Not when Hailey looked so stricken.
