“Do you need to do a cheek swab as well?”
She shakes her head. “No, they need some blood from me.”
“And you want to do this test?”
“I think so.” She nods. “I know the baby is yours one hundred percent, but I never want this to be an issue between us. A test like this can take care of any doubts that could ever arise.”
“I believe that you weren’t with anyone else.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that. I just, I don’t know . . .” She plays with the hem of the sweatshirt. My sweatshirt. “It’s easy for me to know who I’ve been with and to be sure who the father is. But I don’t know . . . I guess we don’t know each other well enough to just blindly trust the other. I think if I was in your shoes, I’d want to know for sure.”
My breath whooshes out of me. “Sounds like you’ve been thinking about this a lot.”
Her gaze finds mine again, and she lifts a shoulder. “It’s been impossible not to think about everything pregnancy related. My brain never shuts up about it.”
I press my lips together and nod. “I’m pretty sure it’s normal. It’s a big change, even bigger since it was such a surprise.”
“It sure was, still is.”
Harper’s phone beeps, and she gets it out of her pocket. “Sorry, I forgot to turn it on silent.”
“No worries.” I get up and grab the plates.
Harper follows suit, but I wave her off before she has a chance to fully get up.
“Why don’t you check your message, and I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind helping.”
“Absolutely, yes.”
I make my way into the kitchen to put away the dishes and stow the leftovers in the fridge.
When I go back outside, Harper isn’t on the couch anymore. Instead, she’s walking around the yard with her arms swinging back and forth. I watch her for a few moments, not sure if she might need a minute.
She circles around the pool, and I join her halfway across the lawn. The smile she gives me is different than before. It doesn’t fully reach her eyes.
“Everything all right?” I want to ask what happened while I was gone. Did she get bad news in her text message? It might not be my place, but I want to help if I can.
“Just needed to move a bit. The heaters are so warm and cozy that I was getting all sleepy. Or maybe it’s just the pregnancy hormones hitting me again. Who knows.” She shrugs and scans the yard. “It’s quiet out here. Very serene.”
I follow her gaze, from the valley oak tree that throws shade over the lush grass, to the serenity pool and Jacuzzi, and the large patio. “It’s one of the reasons I bought it. I like my peace and quiet.”
It’s not a palace, but I’m proud I was able to afford this as a result of my swim career. My endorsement deals have been very generous, and I’ve been smart with my money, making enough to set myself up for a very comfortable life.
“I don’t blame you. It’s so different from the city, but in a good way.” She turns in a circle. “Maybe I should get out of the city. I can’t stay with my mom forever.”
“Do you two get along?”
The smile that spreads on her face is more genuine than the last. “We do. But I was never planning on staying very long with her and her husband. It’s weird, especially with her being a newlywed and often acting like it, as well.”
“Newlywed?”
Harper chuckles. “Yeah. They only got married last year. And now they’re on a world trip, which is why I’ve been watching Bacon.”
“Ah yes, the infamous Bacon.” I smirk, my mind automatically going back to our conversation on New Year’s Eve.
My brain still has trouble putting all that is Harper together. On New Year’s I met the bold and sexy Harper who seemed ready to eat me alive that night, and now there’s this less bold, and sometimes defeated-looking Harper.