AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I still felt a little sick every time I thought about it. “Teddy’s father is an asshole. I got pregnant because he took his condom off. I didn’t know it had a name, but it’s called stealthing. I thought he was a nice guy, but he wasn’t. It’s not like I thought it was going to be forever, but…” I shrugged. “I confronted him and he left town.”
Madison had heard this story before and the warmth in her eyes helped me through the moment.
“You decided to have a baby, obviously,” Phoebe said practically.
“I did, which kind of surprised me. I don’t doubt it, or regret it for a second. I’ve never even heard from the guy again. I texted him about it, and he never replied. Pretty sure he blocked me completely,” I explained.
“So, you kissed Griffin, found out you were pregnant, and…?” Madison circled her hand in the air.
“You never lose the thread,” I teased. “I found out about this job and asked Rhys if I could take this position. I would’ve been interested anyway. The pay is better and it’s a management position.”
“Totally makes sense,” Phoebe said. “Archer is thrilled you’re here.” Archer was one of the executives for Fireweed Industries in Willow Brook.
“Does Griffin work for Fireweed Industries?” Madison asked.
“He could, but he says he likes being a firefighter,” Phoebe chimed in. “He says he wants to do that until he’s too old for the work.”
“What are you going to do about Griffin? Because that man totally has a thing for you,” Madison said.
“I don’t think he has a thing for me. It’s been almost a year and a half since I’ve seen him.”
“Oh, he totally has a thing for you,” Amelia offered wryly.
“Seriously?” Although I was acutely aware of my hormones’ happy reaction to Griffin, it was hard to believe he’d still be into me.
“He could hardly keep his eyes off of you,” Madison said.
Although my little heart had other ideas, I tried to stay practical. “I’m a single mom and I can’t do a relationship. I doubt he even knows I have a baby.”
“Of course he knows,” Phoebe said. “You’ve been on maternity leave. Do you think his brother wouldn’t mention it?”
“Well, I guess I was hoping there was no need to talk about me,” I mumbled before taking a sip of coffee.
Amelia chuckled at my side. “This will be fun. We haven’t had this kind of gossip around town in a while.”
I looked over at her. “I refuse to be the subject of town gossip.”
“You already are,” Madison said with a sly grin.
When I got in my car to leave a few minutes later, my phone vibrated with a text.
Griffin: I understand congratulations are in order. I’d love to see you.
Chapter Fifteen
Griffin
I stared at the text I’d just sent to Tish before I forced myself to push my phone away. I wasn’t usually the kind of guy to dwell on a woman. I had other priorities, including a job that took me away often, family, and more.
And yet, Tish lingered along the edges of my thoughts and had ever since the first time I met her. I’d thought she’d remain a distant, passing memory in my life. Until it turned out the job that brought her to Alaska was for my family’s company. Just when I thought I might have a chance with her, she’d moved and I’d heard she was pregnant. Questions swirled in my thoughts about who the father was.
“Hey,” a voice said from the doorway.
I glanced over from where I sat on a bench in the locker room at Willow Brook Fire & Rescue. I had more than one reason to take this position here. I could’ve told myself it was because I had family here. When I’d learned they were relocating the hotshot crew to Willow Brook with the other crews here, I’d jumped on the chance. Because Tish was here.
There was that and the opportunity to take over managing the brewery location our corporation was starting here when I was ready to call it quits with firefighting.
“Yeah?” I stood from the bench and reached for my jacket in the locker behind me.
