Page 162 of Small Town Firsts
“Uh-huh. And he wants another one?”
I crossed my arms. I could feel the sweat and grit on me, but I didn’t have time to get changed and I definitely didn’t have time to take a shower. Maybe if he saw the real me he’d get that ridiculous idea out of his head.
I wasn’t mommy material. I knew a few tricks when it came to Laurie, but it was because we were buddies. Not due to a maternal instinct—mostly.
It still didn’t make sense that he wanted me to be a gestational host to his spawn. A spawn he planted himself.
Thank God for padded bras. Otherwise my damn nipples would be on display. Just thinking about him planting anythinginside me stirred me up in ways I didn’t want to examine. And if my hand strayed a little farther down my body to cup my middle, then I was entitled. It was still a shock to think Seth might want me that way in any capacity.
At least if we did a fertility clinic then it wouldn’t be so…messy. Getting skin to skin would only screw things up. I wasn’t exactly the type of girl who could remove myself from the sexual component.
And it was only partially because I hadn’t gotten truly naked with anyone in my life. I’d had a few opportunities, but it never seemed to work out.
I wasn’t as picky as Sage, but I was definitely a special head case thanks to my home situation. Since my mom had only been gone for a handful of months, it didn’t make sense that I’d jump right into the dating scene. Especially when I didn’t have time to sleep let alone try to form coherent sentences during a date.
Did I mention that this situation was fucked up? Because it so was.
I grabbed my purse off one of the two chairs left in the kitchen. “You good to get home?”
“No problem.” She gulped down the remaining butter-colored liquid and set the glasses in the sink.
I frowned at her.
Sage rolled her eyes. “That wine was like drinking a diet, watered down beer.”
“Better safe than sorry.”
“Okay, big sis, relax yourself. Just because Scorer Seth wants to get jiggy with it doesn’t mean you have to analyze every move I’m making.”
“I know.” I blew out a breath and wondered why I’d ever told her about Seth’s old high school nickname. “I know.”
“Good. Now do I need to give you the talk?”
Horrified, I unrolled the sleeves of my T-shirt. “What talk?”
“I think you know about the birds and the bees. At least I hope you’ve at least watched those romantic cable movies after midnight that are almost porn.”
“Um, that’s a little TMI, don’t you think?” It wasn’t, but I was great at stalling.
“Is there anything off the table with us at this point? I now know you have been propositioned to be a gestational incubator.”
“I suppose not. And no, I’m good, thanks. Think I know how Tab A fits into Slot B.”
Big Tab A, from all the talk Seth was throwing around. Probably trying to sweeten the pot.
Sage glanced at my shirt. “At least that part’s fitting.”
I glanced down at my “I Can’t Adult Today” shirt and my cutoff shorts. I really wished I had time to change. Then again, the quicker I got Laurie settled, the quicker I could go home and soak in a tub before work in the morning.
Or maybe I would just climb in with the kid.
I shook my head. No, that wasn’t happening. Extra time at Seth’s was a no-go tonight and for the foreseeable future.
I grabbed my iPad and my iPencil and dumped them into my purse. My Christmas present from Seth last year kept his daughter endlessly entertained. Could’ve been the eight coloring apps I had on it too.
Hurrying outside, I waved to Sage as I climbed into my trusty Subaru Outback. Then I headed to Seth’s place on the opposite side of the lake. My old house was on the fringes of town, but I’d made this trip plenty of times. And most of them actually didn’t involve a cry for help from Seth.
He was a really good dad, but Laurie was asserting her independence. She was very much like her father, and I’d known they would butt heads eventually.
