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With a laugh, Lauren throws herself at me and hugs me tightly, and I feel a weight lift from my chest. “Good. Now, let’s talk about what we’re going to do next. Have you thought about telling Mom and Dad?”
I grimace. “Not yet. After everything with Bethany, I’m not really sure how to approach it. I don’t want such good news to be tainted by what’s happened.”
“Well,” Lauren says, pulling back and giving me a reassuring smile, “we’ll figure it out together. One step at a time. And Parker?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really happy for you,” Lauren says, her eyes shining with genuine joy. “You and Chloe are going to be amazing parents.”
My smile widens, and the tension in my body finally melts away. “Thanks, Lauren. That means everything.”
A sense of calm settles over the kitchen. The road ahead will be challenging, but with family by our side, I know Chloe and I can face anything.
Chapter twenty-seven
Chloe
Lauren and I are watching a movie later that night, just the two of us. It’s the kind of mindless romantic comedy that’s perfect for winding down after an emotionally exhausting day. Parker went home at my insistence. I wanted to have some one-on-one time with Lauren, who honestly has been my rock through this whole ordeal. Since she and I had already gone over the details from yesterday—everything from my pregnancy to the plans we’re slowly beginning to piece together—we’re just enjoying a peaceful evening together. The TV flickers, casting soft shadows around the dimly lit living room.
Out of nowhere, Lauren turns to me, her eyes serious, despite the lighthearted movie playing on the screen. “Chloe, do you love Parker?”
The question catches me off guard. I fumble for a response, my mind racing with how out of the blue she just blurted it out. “What?”
“Do you love him?” she repeats, her gaze unwavering.
I turn back to the TV, but I’m not really seeing it anymore. Her question echoes in my head. Do I love Parker? I think back over the past few months, the way Parker’s been there for me, the way he makes me laugh, and the way his touch seems to ignite a fire deep inside me. When I think of my life going forward, I can’t imagine it without Parker in it, and it’s not just because of the baby. I want him at my side as I navigate what comes next. I want him, body and soul, and I know instinctively that he already has me.
My heart is totally and completely his.
“Yes,” I say quietly, almost to myself at first, then louder, with more conviction. “Yes, I do love him.”
Lauren’s face breaks into a warm, knowing smile. “I thought so.”
I turn to her, a mix of confusion and relief flooding through me. “How did you know?”
“Because I see the way you look at him, and the way he looks at you. It’s not just about the baby, Chloe. There’s something real between you two.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I guess I just needed someone to ask me outright.”
Lauren laughs softly. “Sometimes, that’s all it takes.” She reaches over, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “So, what now?”
I look around the living room and feel a sense of gratitude take over me. This place has been a refuge. When I had nowhere else to go, Lauren made me feel at home here. I don’t know that there’s anything I can do to thank her for taking me in and being my friend when I needed her most. When I came back to Newport, I was so lost and confused about what my future held. Now, I feel an overwhelming confidence that I’m moving in the right direction, surrounded by people who love me in a place that’s always been home.
“I need to start looking for a place of my own,” I say at length.
Lauren looks surprised. “You don’t have to leave. You can stay here as long as you want, you know that.”
I nod and give her a warm smile. “I know, don’t worry. You have been amazing, taking me in and supporting me while I get my shit together, but I need to do this. I need to focus on building my life here. I’m not leaving Newport, but I can’t keep staying here, with you, forever, as much as I would love to. Parker and I need to figure out our next steps, but I also need some space to think and plan for myself. I need to be my own person before I become someone else’s mother.”
Lauren nods, and her gaze flickers with understanding. “That makes sense. I totally get it and support you…but I’m not going to lie. I’m going to miss having my bestie just down the hall.”
A warmth spreads through me at her words. “I’m going to miss that, too.”
“And your job?” she asks. “Are you going to keep working for Holt?”
Chuckling, I nod. “Yeah, I am. The old man isn’t so bad once you get to know him, and he’s even offered me a full-time position if I want one. I just need to make sure he understands that he can’t just dump all the work onto my shoulders. I need to be more assertive in how I deal with him, but I think we can work well together once I do that.”
Lauren shakes her head, clearly amused. “Only you could endear yourself to that old grump. I’m glad, though. I think you could be really successful as a realtor. You have a way with people. And, as an added bonus, that means you’ll get to keep working with me and Parker!”
