Page 37 of The Best Friend Problem
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Finn started to go after Pru, but Lilly stepped forward, holding up a hand.
“I think she needs a minute,” the tall, poised woman said with a soft, understanding smile. “I’ll go stand outside the door in case she needs anything.”
He wanted to refuse her, wanted to run after Pru and make sure she was okay, but he knew Lilly was probably right. The woman usually was. So he nodded.
Once she left, he glanced around the room. Looking at his supposed surprise with fresh eyes. Of course Pru was mad. She hated surprises. He knew that.
He’d just been at such a loss over what to do, he’d acted without thinking. Gone and bought a damn crib thinking it would somehow help this weird situation they found themselves in.
“Don’t beat yourself up too much.” Mo spoke gently.
He glanced up to see the short woman smiling at him.
“I screwed up.”
She nodded. “Yeah, but you were trying to be sweet. That’s gotta count for something.”
He sure as hell hoped so, but… “I just wanted to help. To do something to make this easier on her, and I failed.” He kicked the abandoned pile of crib parts next to his foot, tossing the useless directions on top of the wood. “I can’t even put together a stupid baby crib. How am I going to…”
But he couldn’t finish the question because he didn’t even know what he was seeking answers to.
“What?” Mo asked. “Be a dad?”
Yes. No. He didn’t want to be a dad. Pru didn’t want him to be the dad. She wanted to do this on her own, and he was fine with that. How could he be a good father when he couldn’t even put a goddamn crib together?
“I’m not trying to be a dad. Pru doesn’t want that.” He didn’t want that. “I just want…to contribute in some way. To help.”
And maybe to alleviate some of the crushing sense of responsibility His mom and dad had told him time and time again that if he ever got a girl pregnant, they expected him to participate fully as a parent, but that wasn’t what Pru wanted. Years of conditioning and his own damn conscience warred with the wishes of his best friend, and he didn’t know how to make it all stop.
Mo laughed, blond and pink curls bouncing. “You’ve been friends with Pru for how many years now? You know she doesn’t easily accept help of any kind.”
Yeah, he knew.
“So are you really doing this for her?” Mo tilted her head. “Or is this for you?”
What the hell did that mean? Of course he was doing this for Pru. What did he have to gain from spending hours staring at stupid scribbles that made no sense and cursing at a pile of inanimate wood? This was to help Pru. Nothing more.
“You two got yourselves into a very strange situation here, Finn.” Mo shook her head, stepping closer. “I’m not gonna lie. Even I could never imagine a situation like this. But it’s here. It’s happening, and I think you both need to sit down and have a real conversation about it all.”
“Pru and I are fine.” He ran his hands through the hair on the top of his head. “She’s just freaking out because of baby hormones or something.”
Mo arched a brow, and shame immediately filled him. Okay, that was a stupid thing to say, but he was so far out of his element here he didn’t even know which way was up anymore.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean that. You’re right. I should have known better. Pru doesn’t like help. I shouldn’t have bought the stupid crib.” He started to gather the pieces of wood and screws, tossing them into the box on the bed. “I’ll just—”
Mo’s gentle hand on his arm paused his frantic movements.
“Finn, it was a sweet gesture, and I know this situation is hard on you, too, but just remember to be open and honest with her. Okay? Everything will work out in the end.”
His rapid heartbeat slowed with the optimistic woman’s words. He let out a small chuckle, slowing but continuing to gather the bits and pieces of the failed crib. “Thanks, Mo. But I don’t think this situation is going to turn into the happily ever after you have in mind.” Over the years he’d come to find Mo was an eternal romantic. It was cute. Kind of naive, but cute. “Pru and I will be fine, I’m sure. But we’re just friends.”
The small woman patted his arm. “Keep telling yourself that, big guy. The harder the fight, the sweeter the fall.”
She gave him a quick hug before heading out of the room. He continued to pick up, packing everything into the box as he ignored Mo’s denial. He and Pru were friends. Nothing more. Just because they’d had sex once and she’d gotten pregnant didn’t mean their friendship had to change. He didn’t want to be a dad, and she wasn’t asking him to be one. Win win. Right? So he made one tiny little mistake. From now on he’d ask her what she needed for the baby before going ahead and getting it.
Problem solved.
