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“That’s good. Care to share?” Mark adds.
“She wants a family,” I state.
I hear a slap on the other end of the phone, followed by a groan. I stare at the phone in my hand and frown. What just happened?
“Sorry,” Mark says. “So Leah wants a baby. You’re worried about her doing this alone?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Do you like Leah, Gabe?” Mark presses. “Do you trust her? Think she’ll be a great mum?”
“As close as anyone I know,” I say.
Trust is not something I give easily, and Mark knows that.
“High accolade from you, my friend.” Mark chuckles.
“I like her. She doesn’t annoy me the way most people do. A female version of you.”
I think about how we’ve been living together for the past two weeks and not once have I resented her presence. I have sat and chatted to her instead of disappearing into my office.
“I take it there have been no issues since she moved in?” Mark asks.
I know it’s early days, but usually two days in and my grandmother always used to state, “Visitors and fish stink after three days.”
For me, that is definitely true.
I hold the phone away from my ear. Leah walks past my office door and smiles. I left her a note this morning, needing time and space between us.
“I have to go,” I say to him. “Leah’s just come in.”
“You know I’m here if you need me,” Mark says quietly. “Can I just ask you to think, long and hard, before you make any decisions?”
I pause. My friend actually does know me better than I know myself. The crushing pain in my chest has eased.
“How?”
Mark chuckles. “Gabriel, I’ve been your friend for twelve years. I am, apart from Caleb, probably one of the few people who truly knows you.” He sighs. “It sounds like Leah may be on her way to joining us.” He pauses before adding, “Leah may not be interested. If she says no, she’s not rejecting you.”
I freeze.
What? No?
“You’ve got the wrong end of the stick,” I blurt out.
Leah and I -no. Hell no. But...
My brain whirls again. Mark is supposed to help, not make things worse.
Mark chuckles again, and I grit my teeth to stop myself from telling him to fuck off.
It won’t be the first time, but then I think back. I may have uttered those words, but Mark is rarely wrong. No, this time he is.
“You’re mistaken,” I say.
“We’ll see. Anyway, Josh wants me. Daddy duty calls. Call me anytime and let me know what you decide.”
I humph at his words, which makes him outright laugh.
