Page 54 of Falling Together

“What? Why not?” She drops down into the chair at the end of my desk and pins me with a fierce look. “I’ve seen what he looks like. Why are you not climbing him like a tree?”

“Because we said we’d only be friends.”

“That was dumb.” Joey rolls her eyes at me.

“Wouldn’t that complicate things between the two of us though?”

Joey leans across the desk and grabs my hand. “Things are about as complicated between you and Grant as they could get and you’re making it work. You’re both adults. You don’t have to be just friends if you don’t want to.”

“Sex brings feelings, and feelings make things messy and complicated. I don’t want him to run off because it becomes too much.”

Joey gives me the look I’ve seen from all my friends when they worry about me because I’ve never wanted a relationship. “It’s a risk we all take when we’re in a relationship. You have to decide if he’s worth it. You’re not going to abandon your baby, and I don’t think he will either. Give yourself more credit. You didn’t have it easy growing up, but maybe Grant is going to be the person to give you what you never had.”

“What’s that?”

“A family.”

I squeeze her hand, trying to come up with something to say, but I can’t.

Sam saves me.

“Hey, darlin’.” He gives her a kiss that has me looking away. “Thanks for lunch.”

“Anything for you.”

“Would you two get a room?” I groan.

“Gladly.” Joey pats me on the shoulder. “Think about what I said, babe. It’d be good for you.”

“Get out of here.” I laugh, shaking my head as Joey scurries after Sam.

There might be some merit to what Joey said. Grant’s shown up for me more than any other person in my life besides my girlfriends. I know they’re not going anywhere. We’re family. We’ll be in each other’s lives forever.

So why can’t I have that with Grant? Saying we’re friends is easier. It’s not risking my heart. Doing that might be even scarier than having a baby.

I don’t want another person to leave me. I already know if Grant left me, I wouldn’t survive it.

Better to be friends and lock my heart up tight.

No matter what.

Chapter Seventeen

GEORGIA

“Hi. Sorry I’m late.”

I slide into the booth across from Grant, a smile fixed firmly in place.

“It’s okay. I figured you were busy.”

“I know, but I don’t like keeping you waiting.”

“Cowgirl, I’d wait forever for you if I had to.”

I grab the menu to hide the flush creeping up my cheeks. He doesn’t need to know the effect his words have on me.

“The rides ran long this afternoon,” I tell him.