Page 20 of Honest Boys Don’t Play

I would call her out for acting like a meddlesome mother hen, but considering it took me weeks before I told Luke I was pregnant I can’t quite blame her.

“I swear,” she goes on, flipping her long chocolate brown hair over one shoulder. “I’ve never seen as much of that guy as I do lately. He’s at our place all the time. I guess he thinks since we’re best friends he might catch you there.”

With a sigh and then a slurp of my soda, I say, “I got your point, Rosie.”

“It’s like right now,” she continues, undeterred. “There’s a sad sap giant hockey player at my house sulking on the couch and asking Daire dad questions.”

My heart does this funny stutter-stop thing. “He’s asking about that?”

“I mean, Daire thinks he’s a certifiable expert now so who better for him to ask.” Rosie gives a soft laugh. “I have to admit, he kind of is an expert, but don’t tell him I said that. I think some people are gifted when it comes to being a parent and he certainly is.”

The pure love in her eyes makes me happy. If anyone in the world deserves to be loved, it’s Rosie.

“So,” she says, sliding toward the edge of the booth. “Let’s get you to my house, okay?”

“Fine,” I agree.

I toss my cup in the trash and follow her to the parking lot. I expect her to insist on driving me herself, but instead she says she’s going to follow me to her place.

The townhouse isn’t too far from campus and in a nice neighborhood. I haven’t asked Rosie if her and Daire plan to stay there or move after graduation. There are so many questions I’ve been avoiding when it comes to myself and my friends. This baby is enough change for me and my brain is currently rejecting the possibility of anything else in my life being upended. Even if I know the baby is only the beginning of the changes I’m going to be dealing with over the coming months.

I park on the street behind Luke’s truck. Rosie passes me and pulls into the garage. She hops out quickly and stalks down the driveway toward me.

“I’m coming,” I call out as I get out of the car. I shoulder my purse and make sure I’m not leaving anything inside the car that I might need.

“Stop stalling,” Rosie calls me out.

Closing the car door, it beeps as it locks and I follow her into the garage and from there into the townhouse.

“Look who I found,” Rosie announces as we take our shoes off. “Found her at McDonald’s holding onto a Sprite for dear life.”

I give her a scathing look for daring to throw me under the bus like that.

She just smiles and flips her hair.

Daire comes around the corner from the kitchen with a drink in hand. He throws his free arm around her shoulders and pulls her in for a kiss. “Missed you.”

“I was gone like fifteen minutes. Twenty tops.”

He shrugs and lets her go. “Still missed you, babe.” He turns to me with a soft smile. “Hey, Bertie. Lost and found pick up is this way.” He jerks his head for me to follow.

In their family room, I lose my breath when I see Luke lying on the rug and grinning at Sammy. The baby is almost one, and while he’s beginning to lose a bit of his baby look—the edges of toddlerhood just beginning—it still sends my brain into a spiral at the idea of Luke with our baby.

Luke hasn’t noticed me yet and he hands Sammy a square block. The baby takes it and shoves it at his toy where it looks like he’s supposed to match the shapes up.

“Nice try, kid, but that’s a circle,” Luke chuckles. “Try this one.” He taps his finger against the square spot.

Daire clears his throat. “We have a visitor.”

Luke’s head whips my direction, his lips parting in surprise when he sees me. He gives Sammy a soft pat on his head before he hops up from the floor.

“Hey,” he says, quickly closing the distance to stand in front of me. Rosie scoops up Sammy, smattering kisses all over his cheeks before her and Daire slip from the room and leave the two of us alone. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

I like that he doesn’t beat around the bush.

I let my eyes drop. “I was embarrassed.”

His warm finger presses under my chin, forcing my gaze up so I can’t shy away from his bewildered expression. “Embarrassed? Why?”