Page 62 of Best Kept Secret

“Of course.” Why not add another lie to the pile? He smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand.

“Well, what’s the problem, then?”

“There is no problem.”

“Great. So, when do I get to meet her?”

Shit, shit, shit! “Um…I’m not sure yet.” He needed time to explain everything to Kelsey first. Maybe then she’d want to meet Sonia too.

“Do you have any idea?”

“I’ll text you.”

“Okay.”

After they hung up, he paced across the living room, his stomach knotted with dread. How had this happened? Had he really just agreed to introduce his girlfriend to the mother of his child?

He knew it would have to happen sometime, but he hadn’t expected it to be so soon. “Maybe I should call Sonia back and cancel. No. Wrong answer.”

He’d already delayed the inevitable long enough. The further it went on, the more likely Kelsey would be angry with him, or worse, break up with him. The thought of that made his stomach clench again.

He considered calling Emily for advice, but he already knew what she would say. She’d probably be disappointed he hadn’t told Kelsey the truth yet. Get in line, he thought.

After a few more minutes, he stopped pacing and decided to channel his energy in a more positive direction. If Kelsey was staying here this weekend, he wanted everything to be perfect, or as close to perfect as a bachelor pad could be.

Gathering some cleaning supplies from the hall closet, he went to work scrubbing the bathroom, his least favorite chore. He and Jared usually took turns cleaning it, and technically, it was Jared’s turn, but he hadn’t wanted to mention it. The two of them had been avoiding each other as much as possible, exchanging only a few grunts in passing.

He wondered if she’d told her brother she was staying here yet. He could just imagine how that had gone over, and he felt horrible that she had to face her brother’s wrath alone.

What a mess I’ve made, he thought as he scoured the toilet. While he was cleaning the sink, he glanced at himself in the mirror above it. He still looked like the same guy, but he didn’t feel the same. The fact that he was voluntarily cleaning in anticipation of Kelsey coming over was proof enough. This was the first time he’d invited a woman to stay with him. In the past, he’d avoided it because he hadn’t wanted to send the wrong message. Like Jared had said, he’d been a love-’em-and-leave-’em kind of guy.

What a jerk, he thought, turning away from his reflection.

Next he went into his bedroom and stripped off the sheets. He stuffed them in the hamper and took out a fresh set from his closet. Although they hadn’t specifically spelled it out, there’d been a mutual understanding that they’d be sleeping together. In that case, he wanted to have fresh, clean sheets on the bed.

As he was remaking it, he looked down and imagined her lying there. Surprisingly, it wasn’t a sexual vision, although it could easily turn into one if he let it. For now, he envisioned her fully dressed, her beautiful dark brown hair splayed on his pillow and her curvy body gracing his sheets. In his imagination, she was smiling at him, as she so often did.

She’d gaze at him with her expressive brown eyes and say something that would make him laugh. She might also say something flirtatious that would make him want to strip off her clothes and have his wicked way with her. It was just as likely to happen in reverse, with her as the aggressor. He loved it when she took the initiative instead of waiting for him to.

He loved so many things about her, and the list was growing daily. When they were together, her positive energy rubbed off on him and made him feel like anything was possible. She tackled everything in life head on and with passion, determination, and grit. Her looks had drawn him in initially, but her spirit and kind heart had kept him there.

She was fiercely loyal to the ones she loved and would do just about anything for them. She treated everyone with kindness and respect, including Jared, who’d been giving her a hard time. Despite that, Hudson knew how much she loved her brother and wanted him to approve of their relationship.

What she didn’t know was why Jared was reluctant to do so, and it was up to Hudson to explain it to her.

He went around the living room, straightening the stack of magazines on the end table and picking up a few of Annie’s toys that had been left behind. He’d decided to keep the teddy bear Kelsey had given her here for whenever Annie visited.

He picked it up off the couch and stared into its flat brown eyes. “What do you think, buddy? Is she going to forgive me or toss me to the curb?”

The teddy bear stared back, unblinking.

“Great. Now I’m talking to a stuffed animal!”

He plunked down on the couch with the teddy bear still clutched in his hands. Glancing around the spotless apartment, he realized there was nothing more to do but wait. Tomorrow she’d be here, and she’d be his for the entire weekend, unless…

“No.” He pushed his negative thoughts aside, refusing to believe the worst.

She might be upset at first, but we’ll talk it out, and she’ll forgive me. She has to, or I’ll never forgive myself.