The Baby Contract

"Is it really fair to put it on her like that?" he asked.

Anger boiled deep in my gut that he didn't understand my side. "What do you mean?"

"You're saying that she had a choice between you and Harper and she chose Harper. But she really didn't know what she was choosing between, did she? She didn't know how you felt. All she knew is that she had a best friend and a man that she's in a business relationship with that she’s sleeping with, but hadn’t told her he loved her. Maybe if she knew how you felt, her choice would've been different."

Fuck. He was right.

"She's never said anything either—"

"Look, I'm no expert in love. If you need love advice, you should probably ask Dane or Ethan or Archer. But what I am pretty sure of is that you can't sit back on your laurels and hope that Anne will make a move first. For all you know, she does feel the same, but like you, she's too much of a chicken shit to say it."

Fuck. He was right about that too

"I just don't know what to do. She's staying in her place even though that wasn't part of our agreement. I did like you suggested and gave her space and I’m giving it to her now, but we have a deal.”

He studied me. “Is it a deal or is love?”

I let out an exasperated breath. “Love. I just don't know how to fix it with Anne or Harper."

"Maybe all three of you need to get together and talk," Dane's voice interrupted.

I looked up, not realizing that Dane, Ethan and Archer had rejoined us.

"I would suggest a grand gesture. Something thoughtful and from your heart,” Archer said.

"Groveling doesn't hurt either," Ethan added. Archer and Dane nodded in agreement.

I turned my attention to Noel, wondering what his thoughts might be.

"Like I said, they're the ones living happily ever after. Their ideas seem good, but I think I would find a way for them to see what their lives are like when you're not in it."

I rolled my eyes. "Harper has been obstinate and out of my life for weeks now. I don't think she misses me."

But then I remembered the text she sent and how she showed up at my house out of the blue.

"So why do you think she stopped by to visit you when she caught you with her friend?"

"What friend?" Dane asked.

I realized then that I was revealing more about Anne and me, something she hadn't wanted. If she didn’t want Harper to know, she probably wouldn’t want Dane to know either.

I ignored Dane's question. "I don't know why she came by." Could it be possible she was ready to make amends? "How would I go about making them realize they miss me more than they’re pissed at me?"

Noel shrugged. "I don't really know women well enough to give you that piece of advice. But if they come to you after seeing how important you are in their lives, you'll know that they’re ready to negotiate. You can do all that other stuff like groveling and grand gestures."

I nodded. When we finished at the property, I headed home with Noel’s words, and Dane and Ethan and Archer's advice rolling through my mind.

I needed to convince Anne and Harper that I loved them. I just needed to figure out a way that I could be in a room with them to tell them all that was in my heart.

The ideas formulated and instead of waiting until tomorrow, I gathered all the paperwork I needed and headed out to Harper’s condo.

I decided to see her first because she was the linchpin in all this. If she could forgive Anne, maybe Anne would feel okay about being with me, assuming her feelings went beyond friendship and lust.

I stuffed the papers into a large envelope and was about to leave, when I thought of one more thing that I could give Harper to remind her of family.

I opened the safe and pulled out the small box that I stuck in there the day after our parents died.

Armed with what I hoped would give Harper what she needed while also deciding she wanted me in her life, I headed to her place. Her car was in the parking lot, and I could see lights on in the condo, but when I knocked, there was no answer.