Page 72 of One Pucking Surprise
“Practical for who?” she challenges, her blue eyes flashing.
“For us. For the baby.” I pause, searching for the right words. “I want to be there for you, Lainey. And for the baby. This makes sense.”
She stares at me, her lips pressing into a thin line. “So what you’re saying is, you want me to move in so you can feel better about yourself, but you won’t give me anything more than that?”
I wince at the accusation, but I don’t back down. “You know I can’t give you more,” I say quietly. “That was the whole reason we started this fake relationship. It was supposed to be simple, remember?”
“Exactly,” she snaps. “It wasn’t real. We had sex, Zach. That’s it. And now we have a baby coming, but that doesn’t change anything.”
Her words hit harder than they should. My chest tightens, a discomfort I can’t quite place spreading through me.
“I’m just trying to do the right thing,” I say, my voice softer now.
She sighs, her posture softening slightly. “Zach, I’m grateful for that. But I don’t want you to feel like you have to play house with me just because we’re having a baby. It’s not fair to you—or to me.”
I take a step closer, lowering my voice. “I care about you, Lainey. And I care about this baby. That’s not going to change.”
She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine, and for a moment, I think she’s going to relent. But then she shakes her head.
“I know you care, Zach,” she says softly. “But you can’t promise me more than that, can you?”
I hesitate, the truth sticking in my throat. She’s right. I can’t promise her the kind of love and stability she deserves.
“Think about it,” I say finally, my voice rough. “That’s all I’m asking. Just… think about it.”
She doesn’t answer right away, but the tension in her shoulders eases slightly. “Alright,” she says at last. “I’ll think about it.”
It’s not a yes, but it’s not a no either. And for now, that’s enough.
Chapter 27
Lainey
“Passmethelavenderribbon, will you?” Chloe says, her voice distracted as she examines a tiny jar of honey. “I think the gold looks too flashy for the theme.”
I slide the ribbon across the table without looking up from my clipboard. “Lavender’s better. It matches the centerpieces and the bouquets. Besides, the theme is romantic, not flashy.”
Janelle ties a bow with a practiced hand and holds it up. “It’s perfect. Romantic and cozy. These jars are adorable.”
I smile, threading another ribbon through the tags that read, Love is sweet, so are you. Chloe had insisted on something cute and pun-heavy for the wedding favors, and it fit her and Wyatt perfectly.
“They are,” I reply, glancing at the neatly arranged rows of finished jars. “And once we’re done with these, the favors will officially bechecked off the list. One less thing to worry about. We’re officially down to the final touches. The tuxes and dresses are fitted, the cake and catering are confirmed, the guest list is finalized, and the music is all set.”
Chloe leans back in her chair, exhaling in relief. “Honestly, I didn’t think we’d pull this off when Wyatt said we should do this in less than two months.”
“It wasn’t easy,” I say, flipping to the final page of my clipboard. “But now it’s just little things. We’ve got the seating chart finalized, the photographer’s timeline confirmed, and the florist’s delivery schedule locked in. After that, it’s just the rehearsal dinner and making sure everything’s ready to go on the day of.”
“What about the ceremony setup?” Chloe asks, twirling a piece of ribbon around her finger.
“Covered,” I reply. “The venue coordinator has the altar and aisle decor planned out, and the chairs will be set up the morning of. All we need to do is drop off the favors and place cards the day before.”
Chloe tilts her head, her expression softening. “You’ve really thought of everything.”
“It’smy job,” I reply with a small smile. “Once the rehearsal dinner is over, the next thing you’ll have to think about is saying ‘I do.’”
Janelle sets her finished jar aside and picks up another. “Honestly, Lainey, you’ve been a superhero about all this. Even Clarissa hasn’t managed to derail you.”
I smile, keeping my tone light. “Yeah. I’m not going to let her rain on my parade.”
