Page 60 of Game Plan

I laugh, prying Layla’s hair from Sunny’s fist. “Will you seriously just worry about your stuff and let me worry about mine?”

“But you just took a week’s vacation.”

And I’m still not caught up from that. But I can make this work. I have to. I’ll just have to work when Sunny is sleeping and squeeze in what needs to be done when I can. It’ll be fine. It has to be.

“I’ll take another one if I have to. Suppose they don’t like it, tough sh—crap. It’s a soft market, anyway. I wouldn’t be brokenhearted to opt out until things turn around.”

I’m apparently rich now, so I could technically do that. I flinch, almost snort-laughing. I still can’t believe this is real.

We look up as movement at the door catches our peripheral vision. I think all three of us are relieved to see Finn standing beside Branch. At this moment of uncertainty, Finn is a fortress filling the doorway—the calm in the storm. Somehow, this whole scenario is more manageable because he’s here.

Our gazes connect across the room, and I want to go to him so badly and put my arms around him. But Layla and Branch don’t know we’re back together on fake fiancée terms. Now seems like the wrong time to share that information.

“Finn Finn!” Sunny says. “Up!”

I stand, heading to Branch. Finn passes me, letting his fingertips trail across my stomach as he moves. A flurry of goose bumps ripples across my skin, and I can’t help but think that tonight is going to look vastly different from what I anticipated.

“Branch, I am so sorry,” I say, pushing thoughts of Finn from my mind.

The watery gaze with which Branch looks back at me slices my heart in two.

I pull him into a hug, something I’ve done exactly twice since knowing him. “Is there anything you need? Anything your mother needs?”

“No thanks, Pop.” He pulls away, sniffling. “I just need to get there to be with her. But I think Layla has the tickets and everything taken care of. Right, Sunshine?”

I grin at his nickname for his wife, one that inspired Sunny’s name.

“Yes,” Layla says. She looks at me, then at Finn. “Our flight is at seven, and I have no idea when we’re coming back. Can you guys pick up our mail and bring it inside?”

“That’s not a problem,” I say. “I’m sure I’ll need to swing by and pick up something for Sunny, anyway.”

Finn’s brows pull together. “Why?”

“Poppy’s keeping her.”

Slowly, they lift to the ceiling. “Oh, really?” he asks with a small grin.

I give him a pointed look that only makes his grin grow wider.

“We didn’t want her flying,” Branch says. “She has too many problems with her ears to risk her being miserable the whole time. And we’re going to be at the hospital, and it’s just going to be a sad time. We don’t want to put her through any of that.” He looks at Layla. “And my wife refuses to stay home.”

The way he looks at her might get her pregnant again. It’s with such reverence, such appreciation … such love. Tears fill Layla’s eyes as she returns the look in spades.

She clears her throat, pulling herself back together. “The only thing that worries me, Poppy, is where she’s going to sleep. I guess you could put her Pack ‘n Play in the living room. But what about when you’re working?”

I shrug. “I’ll make it work.”

“Or,” Finn says slowly, testing each word as he speaks. “You and Sunny could just stay with me.”

All heads turn to Finn.

He smiles. “I mean, under the current circumstances, I don’t see how this is a huge deal.”

“What circumstances?” Branch asks.

Finn and I watch each other, and my heart beats faster. His eyes narrow slightly, asking if I want to tell them. He’s taking my lead.

I was torn about what to do, afraid that bringing this up would be disrespectful given the reason we’re here. But it might also hurt their feelings if they find out elsewhere. And I can’t just lie to them now, either.