The Baby Contract

Once again Dax gave me a hard stare. "So you haven't told him that you love him because you’re chicken shit. But you're so sure that he doesn't love you because he hasn't told you. I think if we were to use your reasoning, maybe he hasn't told you that he loves you because he's chicken shit too."

I crossed my arms over my chest and looked away not liking where this conversation was going. "Not likely."

"Oh yeah? When everything imploded for you, what happened?"

I pursed my lips at him. "You know what happened. Harper showed up, catching us in a compromising position."

He gave a curt nod. "And what did you do?"

"I went after her."

“So you left the man you say you love to go after his sister. What's he supposed to think? I mean I can't read his mind, but if it were me, I'd think that you thought Harper was more important than me."

What? I shook my head because that couldn't be true. "Part of our deal was that Harper wouldn't find out."

“Who made that stipulation? You or Bran?”

I swallowed. “Me.”

"So he was your dirty little secret."

"It wasn't like that." But deep down I was beginning to wonder if he was right.

He shrugged. “From where I'm sitting, and probably from where Bran is sitting, you chose Harper over him. How’s that going for you? She hasn't answered your calls or texts. Why would you want to be friends with a woman that would get angry at you for being happy? You’re throwing away happiness for a woman that won’t even talk to you?"

“I thought you didn’t like Bran.” Why was he defending him?

“I think he can be a major asshole, but love isn’t sane, is it? I’m not the one crying on the floor because he didn’t say he loves me.” He shook his head as he stood. I hated the way he looked at me and such disappointment. "But it’s your life."

He headed toward the kitchen. "I’m getting a drink and a snack, then I’ll settle in for the night. I'll take you over to Bran’s tomorrow."

I focused on my irritation and Dax, as I rose from the couch and went to my bedroom. But once the door was closed, I fell onto the bed fearful that he was right.

Did Bran care for me and not tell me because every signal I gave him was that Harper's friendship was more important to me?

Of course, he did. I said as much in the very beginning.

As a relationship wore on, I fell in love with him, but when push came to shove, I chose Harper.

I was an idiot. I still couldn't be sure that Bran was in love with me like Dax said, but I knew that I needed to grab the reins of my out of control emotions and start steering the course I wanted to take.

I wanted to tell Bran that I loved him and the baby, and see if perhaps we could be a family. At the same time, I owed an apology to Harper for lying and deceiving her.

I got dressed and headed out to the living room where Dax was sitting on the couch watching TV while drinking a soda and eating potato chips.

He looked up at me, his brow arching in intrigue. "Going somewhere?"

"Yes, you’re taking me to Harper’s."

Disappointment showed on his face again.

"And after that to Bran’s."

He still looked skeptical, but he stood, taking his chips and soda into the kitchen. Then he grabbed his wallet and keys. "Let’s go."

It was too late to be paying a visit to anyone, but because it was late, chances were good that Harper was home. I knocked on the door and waited. I knocked and waited again. I knocked louder and louder, certain that a neighbor would come out and tell me to be quiet. I listened inside and thought I might've heard somebody moving around.

"Open the door Harper." Bran was right. Sometimes Harper could be immature.