“Just say it, Liam,” I uttered.
“Kit, fuck, I’m sorry.” There was rustling like he finally decided to get out of bed. “It’s just…I need to be here, helping my dad out. And I met someone—”
Of course he’d met someone. And I could practically guarantee he hadn’t told her he was about to be a dad.
“What about the baby?”
“I don’t know.” I could picture him dragging his hands through his sandy hair like he was tortured over this. When he was the one who’d made all the choices that had landed him a world away from me, our baby, this house, all the promises. “I’ll send you money when I can, babe. We’ll figure it out.”
I nodded, unseeing. “Sure you will.”
“Don’t be like that. You’re going to be an awesome mom. It’s not like you needed me anyway. I would have just—”
His self-flagellation was too much to listen to for even another second, so I tuned him out. He let me go not long after with another empty promise to send me money as soon as he had some to spare.
As I said goodbye, I was almost certain I wouldn’t hear from him again unless I contacted him.
And even then, I wasn’t sure he’d answer.
I was doing this alone.
But then, hadn’t that been how I’d always done everything?
Baby Girl pressed her feet against the top of my bump, and I smiled down at the movement through my tears. Poor girl got stuck with a mom who didn’t know what the hell she was doing.
I’d try, though. I’d never stop trying, no matter how hard it was.
“It’s you and me, love. Us against the world.”
We’d make it. There was no other choice.
Chapter Six
Elliot
After graduating college, weekend brunch had become an institution between Luca, Weston, and me. Lately, our table had gotten bigger. My sister Elise had moved back to Denver a few months ago, so naturally, she joined us. Then came Saoirse, Elise’s friend and Luca’s new wife. Where Luca went, Saoirse did too.
Sometimes, when I was really unlucky, Weston’s younger brother, Miles, showed up. Today was one of those days.
It wasn’t that he was a bad guy. He just…bothered me and had since we were kids. Weston was basically my brother, though, so I put up with his real brother when I had to. And to be fair, Miles also drove Weston up the wall.
Our table was on the patio of our favorite brunch spot, overlooking the sidewalk. The early autumn sun was positioned directly above us, providing a beacon of warmth on a mildly chilly day.
“I’m surprised you’re here, El,” Elise remarked. “It seems like you’ve made it to more brunches than you’ve missed lately.”
I looked up from my menu, which I didn’t really need since I almost always ordered the same thing. “Is that a complaint?”
I knew it wasn’t. Elise and I were closer than most siblings. Both our parents were dead, and I’d become her guardian when she was still in high school. Her years living in Chicago with her douchey ex had been tough on both of us. When she dumped and ghosted his undeserving ass, bringing her home had been my utmost pleasure.
“An observation,” she said. “You haven’t been traveling as much.”
“I haven’t,” I agreed.
Weston leaned into Elise, his arm draped over her shoulders. Seeing my childhood best friend with my sister was still somewhat disconcerting. My brain often stuttered, going into overdrive to compute the two of them together. But in recent days, my feelings about their relationship were almost all positive. He was good to her, and Elise brought out the best in him.
“Is there a reason for that?” Weston asked.
I put my menu down on the table next to my fork. “A few reasons. I have the new building downtown that’s keeping my attention here.”
Luca covered his chuckle with his hand, but he didn’t do a great job of it. “How many weeks is Catherine now? Probably too far along to fly, huh?”
Thirty-seven weeks. Much too far along to fly. And my dread grew with every day that passed, knowing I’d soon have to deal with a bumbling idiot who was very much not her on a daily basis.
“Catherine’s pregnant?” Elise straightened, pinning me, followed by Weston, with a glare. “Neither of you told me. Why is that?”
Weston’s fingers curled around her bicep. “I didn’t realize it was something you’d want to know.”
I lifted a shoulder. “You’ve only met her a couple times.”