Her shoulder lifts. “If you say so. I thought tonight we can kinda chill here at the house. Dad makes this amazing sangria. You have to try it.”
“No drinking for me.”
“Oh, come on. We’ll get drunk and paint our toenails.”
“I wish I could. I just can’t.”
“Why?”
“I want to tell you, but I’m afraid you’ll tell Liam, and I simply can’t chance that.”
Her mouth falls open and she stares at me. “Are you…no way.” She taps her chin, and I look away. “Holy shit, you’re pregnant. That’s why you left Crestwood.”
“I was already leaving before I knew. You have to swear to me that you won’t tell anyone. Killian can’t know. He already accused me of trying to get pregnant on purpose, and with the way you say he’s acting I just…I can’t be around him. We bring out the worst in each other. You’ve seen what happens.”
“I was going to say I think you’re doing the right thing for you and your baby. Killian has his good moments with you for sure, but he’s not a stable person. Dude is a time bomb, but what if the baby could be what saves him from himself? Maybe you should tell him.”
“Or what if it pushes him straight over the edge of no return.”
Hayley sighs. “You still going to Paris?”
Indecision weighs on me. I don’t want to lie to Hayley, but what if she lets it slip to Liam who then tells Killian and he shows up in Chicago and finds out I’ve kept this from him? Then what? I don’t want to be the one who pushes him too far.
“I’m not. I’m moving to Chicago.”
“Good. Cause I don’t want to have to learn to speak French so I can come visit you and the baby in the future.”
We move into the living room, and I tell her about the new illustrator job and the gossip on my mom and Uncle Cooper. “I guess he’s no longer Uncle then, huh?” Hayley giggles, and I smack her with a throw pillow.
“Are you thinking of staying here with your dad?”
“He really wants me to reconsider. He can get a discount on tuition because he works for the college.”
“That’s cool and all, but would you be happy here?”
“I’m not sure, but it kinda feels good to have a change of scenery and distance from all the drama back home. So in a way I envy that you’ll be leaving it all behind, but I miss Liam. Which is no reason to stay, but I don’t know. I want him back. You could always move here with me. We can raise your baby together.”
“I’m not going to give an opinion either way other than do what will make you happy. As far as me moving here, you don’t even really like it here. You’d end up moving home, and I’d be here all alone.”
“You’re a lot of help.”
“I can barely help myself. I’m a flipping mess. Does Liam know that you’re thinking of transferring?”
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“What are you waiting for?”
Hayley shoots me a sideways glance. “Um excuse me? I know you ain’t gonna give me grief because I haven’t told Liam when you aren’t telling Killian that he’s going to have a child.”
“Point taken.”
“I need a drink.” Her lips curve into a smile. “I think I’ll have one for you too.”
The front door opens and closes. Hayley’s dad strolls in. He goes to his bedroom in a suit and returns appearing so different. He’s nothing like I expected. My Aunt Sandy is curvy and gorgeous, and I suspected that Hayley’s dad would be average, but dude is a total silver fox. His hair is going grey at his temples with flecks of black giving him a salt and pepper look. He’s wearing a Harley Davidson t-shirt and has muscles and tattoos. He’s got a DILF vibe going on.
“You must be Liri.”
“That’s me.”