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“Whenever you get married, do not call your wife wifey.”
I peek my head out of the fridge. She has her laptop open in front of her. “It was a joke.”
“I know, I’m just giving you some advice.” She sits at my kitchen table, staring at the screen as if it makes her nervous or something.
“Don’t worry, I plan on calling my wife bitch. Or maybe broad.” I pull out the leftovers and grab a plate.
She shakes her head and gives me no comeback, which makes me frown.
“What are you looking at?” I spoon the leftovers onto the plate.
She leans back in the chair and looks at me. “Just checking out the OBGYN doctors in the area.”
Fuck, I hadn’t even thought about that. Has she even been to see an actual doctor yet?
“Oh.”
She nods. “Yeah, oh. I need to find one, and I can’t see one in Willowbrook. Even Hickory is too close. I haven’t told Gillian yet, and she can’t find out from some stranger.”
“There’s always Lincoln.”
It’s about forty-five minutes away, which isn’t crazy, but when she goes into labor, I’m sure she doesn’t want a forty-five-minute drive to the hospital.
“I think it’s my only choice.”
I put my dish in the microwave and start it, then sit at the table with her. “Why haven’t you told Gillian yet, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Because I should’ve learned my lesson from what happened to her.”
“Your situation is completely different. You trusted someone, and he broke that. You’re not a fool, and I’m sure Gillian won’t see it that way.”
She fiddles with the piece of paper. “I’ll still be disappointing her, and she’s done so much for me. She’ll think I ruined my life.” Her eyes flood with tears.
I have no idea how to navigate this situation. “I think you’re wrong, but that’s just my opinion.” The microwave beeps off, and I stand to get my lunch.
“Will you come with me?” she asks.
Thank God my back is to her because I’m sure the look on my face reads pure terror. “Um…”
“I don’t want to go by myself, and I have no one else to ask.”
I bring my plate to the table and eat a few bites before I answer. I’ve been happy to help her through this thus far, but I’m starting to feel attached. To take her to the doctor and to talk about her being pregnant… I need to sever this tie that feels as though it’s binding us, rather than cranking up the tension on it. Lately I’ve been looking forward to coming home at night and running into her at The Getaway Lodge. My mind is always searching through ways to make her smile or get her through this stressful time in her life.
“Never mind. I can go myself.” She stands from the table, taking the paper and phone.
I grab her wrist, running my thumb along the inside, feeling her soft skin. “I’ll go. Just tell me when, and I’ll get it off.”
“You don’t have to.”
I know I don’t, but I want to be there for her since no one else can be right now. I fork another heaping bite of the chicken casserole. “Just say thank you, Briar.”
“Thank you.”
I release her wrist, and my mind floats to an image of pulling her into my lap, telling her I’ll take her to any doctor’s appointment she wants. Hell, I’ll do everything I can to make this easier for her.
“I had an idea I wanted to run by you.” She sits back down, crossing her legs, and my eyes drift to the side of the table where her shapely legs are on display.
My hand tightens on the fork. All of these little signs are not good. Finding her attractive and wanting her is one thing. But I’m worried about wanting to help her, fix the situation, take the weight off her shoulders. I’ve seen my brothers do that with Gillian and Sadie. It means there’s more than your dick involved.
