Page 45 of His Surrender

I don’t respond.

“They’re your friends.”

I let that sit for a second. “I know.”

“No.” He leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “You don’t.”

He nods toward Liana. “If I’d walked in here tonight and found out you’d been hiding her because you were ashamed, we’d have had a problem.”

“I’m not ashamed.”

“I know you’re not.” His voice softens. “But you’re scared.”

The words hang between us.

“I’m still figuring this out,” I admit quietly.

Sawyer nods. “I know.”

He glances over at Liana again. “But she’s not something you figure out before you tell the people who love you.”

I look down at my daughter. She lets out a happy squeal, completely unaware she’s the center of the conversation.

“No,” I murmur, “she’s not.”

Sawyer claps a hand on my shoulder. “Good.”

I look over at him.

“Because tomorrow, we’re all coming over.”

I blink. “You just invited yourself into my apartment.”

“No.” A grin spreads across his face. “I invited all of us.”

He nods toward Liana. “It’s time everyone meets the newest member of the group.”

The apartment grows quiet after Sawyer leaves.

Liana falls asleep in my arms not long afterward, and I carefully settle her into the swing before dropping onto the couch.

By this time tomorrow, everyone will know.

For reasons I can’t explain, the thought twists itself into a knot somewhere deep in my stomach.

I stare out the floor-to-ceiling windows as the lights of Manhattan slowly begin to take over the skyline.

I don’t even realize how much time has passed until I hear footsteps behind me.

“Dean?”

I blink and look over my shoulder.

Aubrey stands in the kitchen with a loaf of bread and a package of turkey in her hands. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

She studies me for a second. I can practically see the wheels turning in her head.