by Taryn Quinn
Disgusted, I dunked my head under the steady stream of water and washed away the sweat and fatigue. I just had to get through a few more hours and then I could pick up Wes and grill a few burgers. It was certainly warm enough.
As always, upstate New York had a few weeks of Indian Summer mixed in with our fall and we were right in the middle of a warm stretch. I grabbed a clean red rag from the laundry pile and slipped out of the single open bay door. I scrubbed the worst of the water out of my hair and slicked the spikes back.
I lifted my face up to the sun. I’d been under so many cars today, I didn’t even realize a headache was sitting behind my eyes. Part of me wanted to ask my mom to keep Wes tonight so I could just drink until I finally passed out and slept, but it wouldn’t help.
Drunk sleep never did.
“Who’s the sweetest baby ever?”
My gut instantly clenched and every muscle locked in my shoulders. I knew that voice. Had been hearing it in my hazy dreams for the last few weeks since our pizza night hookup. Sometimes boner-inducing, sometimes just a soft tease.
I turned my head and everything inside me stilled. Kelsey was crouched in front of a stroller. A skirt exploding with sunflowers pooled around her. Her freckled shoulders were bare and all that golden sunset hair twisted in the breeze.
Christ, she was beautiful.
Her wide mouth split with a delighted smile did nothing to help my current situation. And seeing her with the kid…fuck.
She was pregnant.
That could be her next year, crouched in front of her own stroller. Assuming she wanted to keep my kid—the kid. Maybe not even mine.
I wasn’t sure what killed me more, that it might be mine—or might not. The fact that she’d blurted out that it might be some other dude’s kid was the worst part. In front of everyone. I couldn’t get that moment out of my head. Was it worse to be the guy who knocked up the new teacher? Or to be the idiot who was the rebound guy?
If I wanted to, I could be off the hook. I could literally leave her to deal with it and let me know after a test or some shit. I didn’t know the particulars of how paternity worked. Hell, I hadn’t even thought to ask when Katherine told me she was pregnant. Add in the fact that Wes had come out looking like me down to the squinty eyes, and hell, I’d already known.
I’d loved him way before he was born.
Was I just an asshole because I was already getting the possessive vibe after a few days with Kelsey? That everything about her made me want to grab her and tell everyone she was mine?
“Fucking idiot,” I muttered to myself.
Suddenly, she looked up from the baby and our gazes locked.
My grip on the rag tightened and I felt my cuts rip open again. The slow, warm drip of blood distracted me enough to look down. When I glanced up again, she was disappearing into Brewed Awakening, the coffee shop below her apartment.
Obviously, she didn’t want to talk to me.
I had to make myself turn around and go back into the garage.
Not my problem. Not my girl.
I wrapped the rag tighter around my hand. Not my problem.
Maybe if I told myself that enough times it would sink in.
Thirteen
“Are you okay, Kelsey?”
I held the door open for Ally and the stroller. “I’m good. I’m fine.” She gave me a narrow-eyed glare. “Well, except for the part about no coffee. How did you do it?” I knew my voice was too bright, but I didn’t want to talk about Dare. Or the gestating elephant in the room right then. Or hallway, or whatever.
I just didn’t want to go there.
It was too confusing.
Ally blew out a breath. “That whole one cup of coffee a day was the worst. Not even a real cup of coffee. Like, literally, eight ounces. Who can live on that?”
“I’m not even a huge coffee drinker and I’m literally dying at my desk.” I pushed my hair out of my face.
“And yet you’re bringing us here?” Sage squinted at me. “I still can’t have coffee until I pop out this bowling ball. And even then, not when I’m nursing. That was not in the fine print.”
“You were too worried about putting your ankles up to the sky to read the fine print, you hussy.” Ally parked the stroller and did some weird snap and twist and the carrier came out with a crazy handle. “Are you sure we can go in here? Especially with Alex?”
“Yeah, Macy wanted to show off a little. We’re going to do a tasting.”
Sage perked up. She was always interested in food. “What kind of tasting?”
“Come on in, ladies,” Macy yelled. “No, not there. Not every customer is six-foot-three.” Macy rushed around the counter to the front of the skeleton of shelves along the longest portion of the cafe.
A tall, bearded man set his drill on the shelf in front of him. “You said you wanted a higher shelf for stock.”
“Yes, but not that high.” Macy put her hands on her hips. “Then I have to get the ladder out every time someone wants a damn mug. I’m not as tall as you are.”
He crouched in front of her and slid out a little step stool that matched the espresso-colored wood. “Care to test it out, Ms. Devereaux? I’d say we could see eye-to-eye give or take an inch or two.”
“No, that’s fine.” Macy cleared her throat. “That’s good.”
My eyebrows shot up at the blush climbing Macy’s neck. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen her be anything but cool and calm with a side of surly since I’d met her.
“Hey, Gideon.” Sage settled her substantial self into one of the U-shaped chairs that was actually unwrapped.
“Hey, Sage.” Tall, dark and beardy glanced over at us. “I miss you over at the diner. New girl doesn’t smile like you.” A quick flash of bright white teeth peeked from his bearded face. Pretty green eyes crinkled at the corners before he put yellow safety glasses back on. He nodded to all of us then flicked his drill back on.
“Aw. Such a charmer.” Though Sage definitely flushed with pleasure. With the new baby on the way and her hands full with reopening her family’s inn and her new staging branch of Hamilton Realtors, she didn’t have time to work at the Rusty Spoon anymore.
Sage’s life was just like a fairy tale. One day, she was a waitress, and practically the next day, the wife to a millionaire.
Not that I was jealous.
Okay, maybe a little.
I spun around one of the chairs so Ally could tuck the carrier in before sitting across from Sage. Alex was dozing, his bottle tucked into his side, his little mouth slack.
“Milk drunk is my favorite,” Ally said and dropped into a chair. “He’ll be out for at least forty minutes.”
Macy winced. “I didn’t know you were bringing the kid.”
Ally curled her fingers into her palms. “Was I not supposed to?”
“No, it’s cool.” She nodded to Gideon. “It’s just not exactly quiet in here.”
“Oh, that.” Ally waved her hand. “He’d sleep if a high speed train came through the room.”
“Well, then, baby away.” Macy flicked her dark braid over her shoulder. “Thanks for coming in to test a few things. I don’t have a lot of caffeine-free options, but I’ll concoct something for you. Sage, right?” Macy swiped the dusty table with a cloth.
Sage patted her belly. “Appreciate it.”
I dropped my head onto my stacked arms. “Me too.”
“What?” Macy stopped cleaning.
“Me too.” I sighed hugely. “No caffeine.”
“I thought we went over this already. I’ll make you love coffee, Teach. We already have a few taste tests on the books.”
“I loved that Orgasm one. I would love to have one every day of my life.”
Macy blinked. “Did you mean Chocolate Orgasm?”
“Yes.” I frowned. “Oh, well, I like having the other kind too. In fact, it’s kinda why I can’t have your lovely cup of coffee anymore. Even though it’s like heaven created a liquid.”
I
was babbling. The saw turned off and the hottie carpenter dude slanted a look our way. Yeah, someone needed to stop me.
He let out a strangled cough that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. But he didn’t say anything else. The snap of a measuring tape was cut only by Macy’s choice of music.
I really wanted one of those coffees though. Maybe it would erase seeing Dare outside. I thunked my forehead on the table. “God.”
Ally rubbed my shoulder. “Don’t mind her. She just peed on the devil stick and lost.”
“Thanks, Al,” I said to my lap.
“What now?”
“Knocked up,” Sage said sunnily.
“Oh.” Macy huffed out a breath. “I’m beginning to wonder if there’s an epidemic around here. Do you guys have a special club or something? ‘Hey, look at me I want a baby’?”
“Seems like that sometimes, doesn’t it?” Ally laughed. “However, I pumped milk for miles today. I want the most gloriously caffeinated beverage you can make.”
Macy winced. “Miles?”
“What I eat or drink, pretty much the baby does. So, I pregamed. I chose you over a glass of wine, so it better be awesome.”
Macy blinked down at Ally. “Gotcha. I don’t have a liquor license yet, but since I’m not selling…” She shrugged. “I can add a lil something.”
Ally clapped lightly. “Oh, that would be glorious.”
“You got it.” Macy folded her arms, her spray bottle of cleaner peeking from the crook of her elbow. “So now I have to figure out preggo drinks?”
“Yes.” I sighed.
I still wasn’t all the way on board with this new reality. Or the stares I got at school. Of course it didn’t help that I’d blurted it out to half the town at Sage’s baby shower. Nope. I couldn’t have waited until later.
Then again, it was all Dare’s fault.
“Good thing I only drink my own coffee. I don’t want any of what you guys are drinking when you’re not in here. Babies,” Macy said with a shudder.
Gideon’s measuring tape snapped a little more forcefully. Enough to make me lift my gaze from the colorful mosaic tile floor. “Believe me, it wasn’t planned.”
“Not to be indelicate, but we do live in a state that allows for such concerns.”
My hand instantly went to my midriff. “I know, but I couldn’t. I mean, it’s your decision if you want to do that and all that, but I couldn’t.” My heart fluttered like crazy at the thought. Even with all the doubts swirling in my head and the less than favorable situation I found myself in at school, I wanted this baby.
I swallowed down a lump in my throat. It was probably the first time I’d actually thought about it as more than just a shocking speck of insanity making my food choices a bit more precarious.
“Then we’ll find a way around the baby business. Any allergies? Dislikes?”
We all shook our heads.
Macy swung her spray bottle around her finger then slapped her towel over her shoulder. “I guess I need to learn how to work with the town, huh? I’ll be right back.” She glanced at the hottie carpenter with a small frown before busying herself behind the counter.
“You sure you’re all right?”
“Hmm?”
“Have you talked to Dare yet?” Sage rubbed her hand over the top of her beach ball belly.
“No.”
“Don’t you think you should?”
“Don’t you think I did enough damage?” I tucked my hand under my chin. “I need to get my foot surgically detached from my mouth. I said it in front of everyone.” I flopped my arm out on the table and sagged. “It’s all his fault. If he hadn’t been all high-handed and jerk-ish, I could have handled it. But no, he had to spill the beans in public.” I hadn’t even known for sure and he’d announced it to everyone.
I had a right to my anger.
Just like he had a right not to answer any of my texts.
Then again, his jaw had been pure granite outside. When he’d seen me, the whole world had stopped for a second. I’d tried to recover by talking to Alex. But I’d felt his eyes on me. And God, he’d looked so good.
Dripping wet, for pity’s sake. His freckled shoulders dotted with sweat or water or whatever. All around delicious and not even close to touchable.
I groaned and covered my face with my hands. “I don’t know what to do.”
“You need to go to the doctor. That’s what you need to do.”
“I know.” With a sigh, I dropped my hands to the table. “I meant to call today, but things got crazy.”
“Things are always crazy.” Sage winced and rubbed circles along her side. “This little girl is determined to kick her way out, I swear.”
Ugh. I was being selfish. “Can I get you something?”
Sage placed her hand over mine. “I’m good, honey. This is about you right now.”
“I’m fine.”
“Far from it, cupcake.” Her eyes widened. “Speaking of cupcake.”
Macy came back to the table with a plate full of pastries, cupcakes, and a decadent-looking cookie that was mine. I snatched it off the plate before Sage could even lift her hand.
“Wow. And she says she’s fine.” Sage smiled up at Macy. “You almost lost a finger.”
“Hazards of the job.” Macy passed out little orange plates with lettering on them. “Especially with Vee in the sweatshop in the back. Hard to resist.” She winked. “I’ll be back with your drinks in a minute.”
I broke apart the fat cookie and moaned when chocolate flowed out of the center. I scooped up a finger full and moaned. “Nutella.”
Ally broke off a hunk of the cookie and laughed when I dragged my plate closer to me. She popped it in her mouth with a groan.
“Back off.”
“Okay, okay.” She lifted a blueberry muffin off the center plate. “Man, I keep trying to get this last ten pounds of baby weight off, but it ain’t happening today.” She broke off the top and plump blueberries dotted the golden cake. In the center was a jam of some sort. Ally swiped her finger through the rich blue stuff. It had to be some sort of curd. And I only knew that from watching the Great British Bake Off for the last three nights. I was officially almost done with season two.
I was pathetic.
The lot of us were moaning through our food when Macy came back. “You’re going to give Gideon a hard-on with all the ruckus.”
“Worth it,” Ally said around a bite.
“Glad to hear it.” Macy set a bowl-sized mug in front of Ally. I leaned over to sniff the sumptuous coffee and hint of…mint?
Ally wiped her fingers on the napkin in her lap then wiggled them before cupping them around the cherry red ceramic. “I know it’s damn near ninety outside, but there’s nothing like a warm mug of coffee.” She brought it to her lips and sipped loudly. Her gold eyes widened. “That’s a liquid Thin Mint.”
“I can’t wait to not be pregnant,” Sage whined.
Macy hurried back to the counter and returned with two tall, pink glasses. “I have a little something summery for you two. Even if fall is my favorite season, I appreciate a little extension on summer. It doesn’t exactly go with chocolate, but I think you’ll forgive me.”
I sniffed at the glass and the little lemon-shaped ice cubes. “This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Well, taste it.”
“Right.” I wrapped my lips around the straw and gave Macy a startled look. Not a plastic straw. It was metal and super cold. I took a pull and moaned. “Watermelon and…mint?”
“Figured I’d keep the theme.” Macy nibbled on her lower lip. “What do you think? I added some mint and lime juice to the ice cubes. I call it Watermelon Crush.”
“I need a case,” I said and gulped down half of it. I winced at the brain freeze, but it was worth it. And it just happened to be the first thing I’d had that didn’t make my insides flip and try to revolt. I’d been living on room temperature water for days.
“I’m waiting for an ord
er of pressed apples to come in. I’ll have a few different kinds of cider, which should be good for you guys too.”
“These plates are the cutest thing.” Sage licked the tip of her finger and picked up the crumbs off her plate before tucking them into her mouth. “You thought of everything.” She tipped it up to show an illustration of a sassy little black kitten chewing on the O in the word boo.
Macy tucked her hands into her tight black jeans. “Halloween is my Christmas.”
I looked around. Bats and flames were the dominant theme. As well as surprisingly cute black cats tucked into various corners and shelves. “Couldn’t tell at all.”
Macy ducked her head. For the first time since I met her, she looked a little sheepish. “It’s coming together.”
“It’s going to be really cool.”
“Thanks. And I appreciate you guys coming in. Vee just finished a tray of turnovers. I’ll pack some up so you can bring them home.”
Ally pulled her wallet out of the diaper bag. “Let us pay for something.”
Macy shook her head. “We aren’t official yet. Besides, you’re saving my ass from expanding. Veronica, our baker and all-around artist, has been trying out all her recipes. If I look at another leaf cookie, I’m going to scream.”
“I’ll take some for my classroom. If there’s no peanuts or anything in them.”
“You got it.” She seemed to straighten her shoulders before walking by Gideon as well. My eyebrow rose when she gave him a dose of side-eye, then my expression turned into a full-on smile when hottie carpenter dude watched her ass as she walked by.
“Who’s this Gideon guy?” I asked.
“Local handyman.” Sage took a sip of her drink, her eyelashes fluttering in pleasure. She let out a sigh then leaned forward. “John Gideon, but everyone calls him Gideon. Interested?”
“God, no. I think I’ve had enough of men at the moment. He seems into Macy though.”
“Oh.” Sage tipped her head as she sucked up more watermelon crack. “Yeah, now that you mention it, he can’t keep his eyes off of her. Interesting.”
Ally sipped from her mug. “No.”
“No what?” Sage asked innocently.