Page 66 of The Best Friend Problem
She slammed the car door, glaring at him. “Don’t you start, too! Mo and Lilly haven’t let me help all week. I’ve been stuck in the office while they went to the storage unit to grab all the boxes for the wedding we have next weekend.”
He shrugged. “You’re not supposed to be moving heavy boxes.”
“They were filled with fake flowers and candles for centerpieces. I doubt any of them weighed more than five pounds.”
“They don’t want you to overexert yourself.”
“They’re acting like I can’t do anything because I’m pregnant.” She settled back into her seat with a pouty grunt. “I know they mean well, but they’re driving me insane, and there’s only so much work in the office to keep me busy.”
Idle hands were not Pru’s forte. The woman liked to stay busy. She also didn’t appreciate people offering her helping hands. Not his Pru. Reaching over, he grasped her hand, bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss.
“They care about you. They’re only trying to help.”
“I don’t need any help.”
Yes, he was well aware of that fact. She repeated it to anyone and everyone who tried to lighten her load, as if offering help were some insidious trick people used, instead of an example of genuine caring.
“Yes, Pru. We all know you have everything under control and never need any help from anyone ever.”
She pulled her hand from his, brow rising. “Wow, Finn, want a side of fries to go with that sarcasm?”
“You’re the one acting like people caring about you is some insult.” He shook his head. He knew Pru cherished her independence, but there was nothing weak about accepting help. He couldn’t fight fires alone. He needed his crew to help him battle a natural force greater than he could ever be. “Letting the people who care about you help out isn’t a bad thing. It doesn’t mean we don’t think you can do all this on your own—you’re kick-ass, Pru, we know you are. We just want to support you.”
He stared into those dark brown eyes, watching as the stubborn frustration melted away into reluctant acceptance. Her anger deflated.
“I know, but I’m starting to feel…”
“What?”
“Like I’m not pulling my own weight.”
He snorted. The idea was ludicrous. As if Pru could ever give less than a hundred and ten percent in anything, especially her career.
“I guess I just didn’t realize how much everything would change.” She glanced down at her belly. “I mean, duh, I knew everything would change. But I wasn’t prepared for how quickly it would happen. I just feel like everything is going so fast. I don’t have time to catch up and assess the changes in the situation.”
Only Pru would put it like that.
“Life is full of changes, Precious. They can happen in an instant or take years. Sometimes you just have to roll with it.”
She arched one dark eyebrow. “When have I ever rolled with anything? And where did you get that crappy advice? The back of a beer bottle?”
“You rolled with me last night.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Rolled right into reverse cowgirl—”
She smashed a hand over his mouth, laughter spilling from her lips. “Shut up and drive, perv.”
Happy to see the smile back on her face, he did just that, taking them out of the city and into the suburbs. Once they arrived at his parents’ place, he parked in the driveway.
“You sure you ready to do this?”
“Finn,” she placed her hand protectively over her belly, “they’re going to find out sooner or later. And since we decided you’re going to be…helping out, I want the twins to know their grandparents. They deserve to have a loving family to build precious memories with. To learn things from. To go to when I’m being the worst mom ever to get hugs and candy.”
He smiled, knowing the last one on her list was personal. Pru loved her great aunt, the older woman who’d raised her after her own parents had died. She’d been devastated when the woman passed. He knew she’d never deny her own children—his children—a chance to form that same loving bond she held so dear to her heart.
“Okay.” He placed his own, large hand over her smaller ones, still amazed at what they’d created. “But you get to explain to them why you’re not making an honest man out of their son.”
“Oh, please.” She laughed, opening the car door and slipping out. “Like your parents care about that.”
She was right. Considering his parents had gotten married only after his eldest brother had turned one, he knew they wouldn’t be surprised or upset by the less than traditional circumstances of their newest grandbabies.
