Page 65 of Reticent

Hunter and I haven’t seen each other in six days since our weekend together. Hunter has spent his time working long hours at the restaurants or working on another cookbook. I’ve spent the majority of my week with his interior decorator. In an unreal short amount of time, Halton has turned Hunter’s bare-bones home into a fully furnished masterpiece that I can’t wait to live in. I’m on maternity leave, slated to return in five months. When I wasn’t with Halton, I was packing up my old life and preparing for my new one.

“Niko called this morning.” Jordyn grabs her water bottle from the floor and takes a few gulps.

“What’s he talking about?” Niko has been out of town on business for two weeks. He’s due back tomorrow just in time for the baby shower.

“He’s going to take an earlier flight home.”

I sit down on my bed and scoot up to the headboard. Jordyn joins me, handing me my water bottle from the dresser. I take a few sips. “Is he still pissed about me moving in with Hunter?”

“I wouldn’t say pissed. He’s just worried about you getting hurt. But he’ll come around. You know how protective he is of you and Skylar.”

I give half a smile. “I know he is.”

“I have a question, but you don’t have to answer it.”

“What is it?”

“Are you in love?”

“Is it that obvious? You haven’t even seen us together.”

A hint of a soft smile touches her lips. “No, but you talk about him a lot. And I’ve been there. Too many times.”

I tip my head back and stare at the ceiling, searching for the right words. “I didn’t plan this. It just happened.”

“Are you two together?”

“No. It’s complicated. Actually, no, it’s not. It’s simple. Hunter’s unavailable.”

“Yeah …” She squints and wrinkles her nose. “The streets are talking.”

I laugh. “And what are they saying?”

“That he’s not known to settle down.”

“No.” I sigh. “He’s not.”

“Like I said, I’ve been where you are. Too many times.”

I press my pillow to my face, groaning into it. “I’m so screwed.”

Jordyn laughs. “You want to be. Don’t you?”

I drop the pillow onto my lap. “Gurl! All the time. But I don’t know if I can do casual with him. I wish I could because we’re great together. I’m talking fireworks.”

She cocks a brow. “Okay, girl.”

“Yeah.” I fan myself.

She laughs. “All I’ll say is protect your heart. It’s okay to get some, but know your boundaries.”

I nod, appreciating her big sisterly advice. This is all new to me: becoming a mother, falling in love, and living with a guy. It’s scary, but I also know that I can handle it. I’m going to be a great mother. Hunter and I will be great roommates and parents. And with time and determination, I will get over him. “I got this.”

“I don’t doubt it.” The doorbell rings, and we both swing our heads toward the window. “Your boo is here,” she teases.

I climb off the bed and head downstairs. Jordyn stays behind to reinforce some of the boxes with tape. I open the front door, and I’m instantly brought back to the first time Hunter showed up on Niko’s doorstep. We’ve come such a long way in those seven weeks.

“Hey, roomie,” he says, a wide grin curving his lips as sunglasses shield his baby blues.