As expected, the girls erupted into squeals of delight. High fives and hugs went around the room before they got settled around the table once again. “So what’s the bad news? Was the sex bad?” Leave it up to Eva to get straight to the important bits.”
“Who said there was bad news?” Sophie’s confused look was almost comical, especially when Eva rolled her eyes.
“Uh, hello? When was the last time you had good sex, Sophie, because that is the look of a conflicted woman right there.” Eva had the decency to flash an apologetic look in my direction, which I waved off.
Because she was right, of course. “The sex was good, no it was really good. Possibly even great,” I admitted, ignoring the blush crawling up my neck. “It shouldn’t have happened though. We’re having a kid together, not dating.”
“Then why did it happen?” Sophie leaned forward, a serious look on her face.
“Because he can be really sweet. Because he’s gorgeous and he looked and smelled so good when he carried me up to bed.” Eva sucked in a surprised gasp and I rushed to explain about my food breakdown and him showing up with dinner. “See what I mean? It’s complicated!”
Eva nodded in agreement. “So the problem is that you like your baby daddy, is that right?”
I nodded and shoved another empanada in my mouth. “More than I should.” Liam’s job was what mattered to him and to a certain extent, this baby. But not a relationship or a woman.
“Go for it,” Sophie said easily. Too easily, especially considering she couldn’t see what all of Pilgrim could.
“I agree with Soph,” Eva said. “But proceed with caution because you won’t be able to ignore him if it doesn’t work out.”
When it doesn’t work out. I didn’t say it aloud but we all knew it was true. For all of his good traits, Liam was a man who couldn’t or wouldn’t commit. Not to me, maybe not to any woman. “Why should I proceed at all?”
“Because it just might work out,” Eva said. “Oliver and I shouldn’t still be together, yet here we are.”
An excellent point, one that would give any girl hope. But after Wyatt’s unceremoniously dumping and Liam’s ghosting on me, I was more determined to be cautious instead of carefree. I couldn’t afford to lead with my heart, not anymore. “Oh hell,” I groaned and glanced at Sophie. “Please tell me that’s not how I sounded?”
“Worse,” she answered with an apologetic shrug.
“I’m sorry. So, so sorry.” Both girls laughed and my smile spread slowly at their good natured ribbing.
“It’s all right honey, love is our business. Someone around here has to be a romantic at all times.” Eva rolled her eyes playfully. “For now it’s me and I say, go slowly, but go.”
Those words stayed with me for the rest of the day. I wasn’t quite sure how that applied to me exactly, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The seeming poignance of those words echoed in my head as I made my way through the grocery store for a few items to avoid another breakdown. If I hadn’t been so deep in thought I might have thought to question the cars parked in my driveway before I opened my door to country rock music and paint fumes.
The music floated down the stairs and though I was alarmed, I set the grocery bags down first and then grabbed the mallet from the knife block before I made my way upstairs. The scent of paint fumes grew stronger as I made my way to the baby’s room, and froze.
The mallet dropped and two sets of familiar eyes turned to me. Frowned. Then laughed. “Olive, you’re home early.” Stone’s voice held a world of amusement that quickly faded at my stunned expression. “Uh-oh. You didn’t tell her, man?”
“Uh.” Liam looked shell shocked and climbed slowly down the ladder and approached me like I might go crazy at any moment. “I, uh, wanted it to be a surprise.”
“A surprise,” I repeated the words slowly as my gaze darted around the room. All the baby furniture was gone and in the center of the room, the smaller items were covered with a few different color tarps. “You wanted to surprise me with a finished nursery?” I heard the tears in my voice before I felt them sting the backs of my eyes.
“Yeah.” Liam nodded and put a hand out to touch me before thinking better of it. “Don’t cry. Please.”
His words made me laugh but they didn’t stop the threat of tears. “I’m trying not to but this is really…kind.”
He glared and took a step back, nearly raking a paint covered hand through his thick black hair. “You’re not mad?”
“No, I’m not mad. I’m grateful to both of you.”
Liam, uncomfortable with my gratitude, looked away but Stone puffed his chest out and flashed a wide grin. “We’re happy to do it, Olive. But I’m sorry to say that you can’t stay here tonight.”