She shrugs. “Because I needed to work up the courage to actually get out of the car. It took me longer than I thought.”
I nod and tap my fingers on my leg, processing her answer. My mind is spinning, apprehension blanketing me like the calm before a storm, even more so when the tiny smile she’s trying to give me is so weak, it’s almost a frown.
I can only think of two things she’d want to tell me. One of them would be really bad, the other one . . . well, that would definitely be a surprise.
I point behind me at the house. “Let’s go inside. You look like you need to sit down.”
“We probably both do.”
Well, shit.
We walk to the house side by side, and I open the door for her to walk through. My brother stands only a few feet away from us, and Harper stops midstep. I totally forgot he’s still lurking around.
Naturally, he doesn’t catch the odd mood and grins at Harper with a warm smile. “Hey, I’m Zane, Ryan’s brother.”
That kid is nice to everyone, although he was the one who saw Harper first and thought she might be a stalker. Never mind, he also said she was hot, which probably overrode everything in his hormonal teenage brain.
Harper shakes his outstretched hand and returns the smile. It’s not as beaming as his, but it’s a smile nonetheless. “Harper. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” His gaze flickers to me, and I wordlessly tip my head in the direction of the door. He squints at me for a second, and I repeat the motion until he finally nods. “Right. I have to get back to campus. Ry, I’ll call you.”
He gets his jacket from the back of the couch and a bag from the floor that seems like it might explode from all the food he’s shoved into it. My food. Which is pretty much the norm every time he drops by. Every visit is like a built-in grocery-store trip for him. I guess any food is better than no food when you’re a college student. But I can’t complain, he’s a good kid with decent grades and a great athlete too.
Harper and I stare quietly at the door after it closes behind Zane.
The seconds tick by, and I roll my neck, wishing I could suck up the awkwardness between us. We didn’t have an uncomfortable moment the last time. Everything just flowed and fit between us. But that was then and now is now.
Swallowing, I point at the couch my brother vacated. “Why don’t you take a seat, and I’ll get us a drink. What would you like?”
“Some water would be great, thank you.” She walks to the couch and sits down, the familiar creak sounding in the air from the movement.
I go to the kitchen.
My mind’s spinning in circles, and I try to focus on my breathing while I grab us both a cup of water.
There’s no reason to freak out. Whatever’s going to happen will happen regardless. Or rather, it already did.
Deep breath in, deep breath out.
I’ll deal with whatever’s going on.
Deep breath in, deep breath out.
Not sure how much that helped, but I head back and sit in the chair adjacent to the couch.
She takes the glass I hand her and gulps down half of it.
Then we engage in our next staring match, and I feel like this is a game I don’t know the rules of.
After what seems like an eternity, she opens her mouth, just to close it again.
I have the strong urge to crack my knuckles, something I haven’t done in forever after my mom made me stop that particular habit.
“I’m pregnant.” Harper’s eyes go wide as she slaps a hand over her mouth.
I blink at her before blinking some more.
Did she just say she’s . . .