Page 18 of Accidentally Falling
“I don’t know.” My shoulders slump and I wrap my arms around myself. “I wanted to grab cupcakes before I tell my sister, but I’m stalling.”
“I don’t want to overstep but I understand. I don’t know your history with Jude?—”
“How do you know Jude’s the father?”
Tanner snorts out a laugh. “That man was about to rip the door off the hinges following you outside. If he’snotthe father…”
“He is.” I roll my eyes and Tanner chuckles. “What can I say? I’m into tall, dark, and broody. How about you?” The blush on Tanner’s face ratchets up a notch and it’s my turn to laugh.
“We’re not talking about me.” He clears his throat and looks away quickly before meeting my gaze. “I was just trying to say if you need to talk, I’m here. I know what it’s like to be out of your element in a situation you never thought you’d be in. We did the best we could and some days it washard.I’m lucky my ex-wife is still my best friend, and our son is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, but it’s still a lot to handle.”
“Can I hug you?” I ask, my voice wobbly as I let his words sink in.
“Uh, sure.”
Wrapping my arms around him, I rest my head against his chest and breathe a little easier as he holds me.
“Is this weird?” I ask, self-conscious but not caring enough to do anything about it.
“No, I have an Otto…” he states, amusement and affection in his tone. “There’s nothing weirder than that.”
“Thanks, Tanner.”
“Anytime.”
10
ARDEN
“Hey, I brought cupcakes,” I say with a smile both because I do in fact love my sister and also, I read somewhere that smiling counteracts your gag reflex. It’s still not a guarantee that I’ll make it through the day without emptying the contents of my stomach.
Tanner stayed with me until I calmed down enough to buy the damn things, sharing how he and Fallon navigated his military career, her pregnancy, and their son. He said Fallon’s been supportive as he figures out what he wants and so is her new husband. I’ve talked to Otto Thayer on numerous occasions and that man is exhausting, but he’s the kind of person you can’t help but love.
“Well, come on in. Montana just took Grandad out on the ATV so he doesn’t try and get the tractor stuck later.” She says it as if she hasn’t been out there getting into trouble with Montana’s grandfather. The two of them together are always trouble.
“Your life is so exciting,” I tease, following her into the house and leaning a hip against the corner of the island as I set down the box.
“Don’t I know it.” She grins over her shoulder, pulling two glasses down from the cabinet and filling them with water. “But that’s not why you’re here.”
“I can’t just want to come over and see my sister?”
“If you could see the face you’re making, you wouldn’t believe it either.”
Well, in that case…
“I’m pregnant.”
“You shut your damn mouth.” She gasps, her eyes welling with tears at my declaration.
Just breathe, you can do this.
“Our due dates should only be a couple of weeks apart,” I tell her, forcing happiness into my tone because Ellison deserves to be excited about this.
And secretly, I hope she can be happy for both of us.
Moving slowly, she abandons the glasses and rounds the island until she’s standing in front of me. Leaning down a little, she grabs my hands, weaving our fingers together and squeezing gently.
“I know you’re not okay. I can see it,” she whispers. “But it’s going to be okay, I promise.”
