Love Song(88)

Relief trickles through me. “Really?”

“I mean, it can’t give us the exact moment of ovulation, but I think that window has passed and we should be okay.”

“You sure the egg isn’t just hanging around in there for funsies?”

She snickers. “It does for a day or two, I think. And even though I’m pretty sure we’re safe, I’d probably feel more comfortable if we drove into town and got, like, Plan B or something. Can we do that?”

I’m already sliding out of bed. “I’ll grab a shower and meet you downstairs in ten.”





Thirty minutes later, we’re on the road, and I’m feeling a little more human after two cups of coffee. Sunglasses protect my eyes from the knives in the sky AKA the sun, and Blake protects us both by not putting on any music.

“Look at us, being so adult,” she says from the passenger seat.

I chuckle. “Well, I believe I probably speak for both of us when I say we don’t want a little Graham baby running around.”

“Logan baby,” Blake corrects.

“Sorry to inform you, but you’ll have to fight my dad for the title.”

“You’ll have to fight mine.”

“We can let them fight each other.”

“Deal.”

When I stop at a red light, I reach across the console and cover her hand with mine. “I’m really sorry,” I say softly. “I fucked up.”

Blake shakes her head. “No, we both did.”

“We had sex without a condom. That’s on me.”

“It’s on both of us,” she says firmly. “I’m responsible for my own birth control.”

“Yes, but there’re other things that can happen when you don’t use protection. And I just want you to know, I don’t have any of those things, and I’m happy to go to a clinic with you to prove it.”

She smiles. “I appreciate that, but I wasn’t worried.”

The light turns green, and I drive through the intersection. The pharmacy is at the end of the block, but it doesn’t have a parking lot, and the street is packed with cars. I find an empty spot two blocks past the CVS, and Blake and I hop out of the Jeep and start walking.

I reach for her hand again, and she notes our intertwined fingers with a wry smile.

“Everyone’s showing up tomorrow,” she says glumly.

“I know.”

We’ve sort of been avoiding this subject. The reality that all the families will be here tomorrow and we won’t be able to keep doing what we’re doing. No more daily sex marathons. No more cuddling on the couch. My chest clenches. The idea of not touching her for a whole month is worse than this hangover.

“We’re going to have to find ways to sneak around while they’re here,” I tell her.

“Ooh, scandalous. I thought you said we should cool it when the families come.”

I stroke her knuckles with my thumb. “Changed my mind. Unless you don’t want to?”

“Oh, I want to.”

“Good.”

“Honestly, I doubt most of them will even notice if we sneak off here and there. The dads are clueless, and the Golden Boys are too obsessed with themselves.” Blake purses her lips. “What we’ll need to watch out for is the women. My mom. Gigi.”

“Alex,” I supply, because Alexandra Tucker can detect a romance like a bomb-sniffing dog.

“Jamie will figure it out instantly,” Blake says. “But she’ll keep her mouth shut.”

I agree. Tucker’s eldest daughter knows how to mind her own business. She also happens to be one of my favorite people. Jamie can cut a man down with one word, just like her mother.

“Have you and Alex ever hooked up?”

Blake’s question comes out of left field. “What?”

“You’re badminton partners,” she points out. “And you visit her in New York all the time.”

I could lie, but we don’t do that with each other. So I shrug and say, “We’ve made out.”

“That’s it?” She sounds surprised.

“That’s it. And it’s always so goddamn awkward. Zero sparks.”

“Wait, you’ve hooked up more than once?” Blake starts laughing. “Even though you’re not into each other?”

“Yeah,” I admit sheepishly.

“How many times?”

“Maybe, like, three?” I say, thinking about it. “Alcohol has a way of making you doubt yourself. Like, we’d get drunk and look at each other and say, we’re both so hot, maybe we are attracted to each other. But nope. Always ends the same way. With laughter and regret.”

“Laughter and regret? Jeez. You’re lucky Alex is drowning in self-esteem.”

“That and she’s hung up on this hockey player guy.”

Curiosity fills Blake’s eyes. “Ooh, who?”

“Luke’s brother. I mean, Ryder,” I correct. I always forget my brother-in-law doesn’t like anyone calling him Luke. He only lets Gigi and my mother get away with it.

“Are you talking about Owen McKay? Alex told me it was a one-time thing.”

“Nah, definitely more than once. Last time I went out drinking with her, she bitched about him the entire time. I think he spurned her. But she might’ve spurned him first? I’m not sure. I don’t get involved. Anyway, Alex is the one we’ll have to watch out for.”