Page 40 of Trials of a One Night Stand
Good. She sounds uncertain but on board. That’s workable. I just can’t let her push me out. No matter what she decides I’m here as much for Jayne as the baby.
Baby.
It’s a good thing I need to focus on Jayne, or I’d be freaking the fuck out. “So what do you want to do right now?”
“Stay here. Maybe order pizza. If you don’t have anywhere else to be?”
The question in her voice tugs at my heart. Yes, Nathaniel Lowe has a heart, even though many think otherwise. “There’s nowhere I have to be tonight. I’ll order you the best pizza in Seattle for dinner too.”
I just need to cancel one thing—dinner with Zelda and Jack. They won’t mind, and I’d much rather be here so I can take care of Jayne and convince her to either move in with me or a safer extended-stay hotel.
CHAPTER TWELVE
JAYNE
I’m sitting alone in Lottie’s living room with her dog, Dodge, on my lap while she gets snacks from the kitchen. I rub his soft fur, trying not to cling to the little pup like a lifeline. He deserves better than to be squeezed by me, but that gives me an idea.
Maybe I should get a pet. That would be better than clinging to Nathaniel.
As I remember waking in his arms with my head on his chest this morning, hot shame floods my face. We were fully dressed and not even under the covers. I guess yesterday wore us out. We hadn’t even eaten dinner, yet I slept so well. So weird after finding out I’m…
“What did you want to talk about tonight?” Lottie carries a charcuterie board to the coffee table where two glasses of water were placed.
All my cousin wants to do is get married, take care of her husband, and have kids. She even postponed graduate school to put Trace through law school. They’ve dated since freshman year in high school, and she’s been waiting for a proposal since they graduated from college. I hope it happens soon. He won’t find a more loving woman than Lottie. She adores everything about him and always has.
“Do you want me to open a bottle of wine?” Lottie asks.
If only… but no alcohol while pregnant. I know at least that much. I even took my first prenatal vitamin this morning. I can’t believe Nathaniel bought those for me, but something about folic acid and spina bifida. He’s a scientist and runs a pharmaceutical company so I trust he would know.
“No, thanks. Water’s fine. It’s a work night.” But Lottie will soon know why I turned down the offer. I snatch a slice of Manchego cheese. I don’t have much of an appetite—I threw up around eleven today and have felt nauseous since—but I need to eat something.
“You’re so dedicated.”
As Dodge sniffs my fingertips, searching for leftovers, I glance around the one-bedroom apartment. It’s an upgrade from where they were before. The place is stylishly decorated with a mixture of IKEA furniture, thrift store purchases, and garage sale finds.
I take a sip of water. “Where’s Trace?”
“Working late again.” She sits next to me on the couch. “Doing research for a case. I think he’s trying to earn some bonus points with Jason and is finally saving up for an engagement ring. He left his browser open, and I saw a tab for Tiffany’s.”
“Nice.”
“Yes, but I’d be happy with a plain gold band.”
“I know you would.” And a wedding at the courthouse with only witnesses.
But Trace would never agree to that. At least not the new Trace. That’s what I call him. He’s all about image these days with designer suits, a fancy watch, and expensive leather shoes. He hadn’t been into appearances until he became an associate after graduating from law school. But after he passed the bar, he changed from a shy guy to someone not afraid to let his ambitions be known. He’s even asked Lottie to quit her job at the firm because it makes him look bad.
Lottie grabs an olive from the tray. “So what’s up?”
I hold on to Dodge. He’s bigger than a baby, and he doesn’t wear a diaper. It’s been more than two decades since I babysat anyone aside from the week Dodge stayed with me when Lottie and Trace went to Puerto Vallarta. A baby will be much more work.
“The Sugar Valley Drugs case got you down?” Lottie asks, leaning toward me.
I shake my head, unable to handle discussing both work and my personal life. Not when the two are like trains barreling toward each other on the same track about to collide in one helluva wreck. “Remember the night of Ali’s bachelorette party?”
Lottie rolls her eyes. “I was stuck watching those strippers and playing stupid games while you went off with that hottie from the bar.”
I nod, trying to muster my courage. Lottie has always looked up to me. We’ve been more like sisters than cousins despite our ten-year difference between us. I got her the job as an administrative assistant at the firm as well as Trace’s internship after his first year of law school. A part of me feels I’ll disappoint her when I tell her my news.
