“I think I need a drink. I’m going to head back to the house and grab some water. Do you want anything?” I asked him, backing toward the door, unable to remove my eyes from his gorgeous ass, which was currently in the air due to him being on his hands and knees under the sink. He sat back on his heels and turned to face me, catching me staring at him. I felt my face flush as our eyesmet.
“A bottle of water would be great,thanks.”
I nodded as I turned and stumbled through the door. “Be right back,” I murmured, hearing him chuckle quietly behind me as I raced out the door, desperate to escape him for a few minutes. I took my time at the house, gathering the drinks and a few snacks as well as using the bathroom before heading back. Josh was waiting for me in the small front garden of thecottage.
“I was getting worried. You’ve been gone a while, everything okay?” he asked, glancing down at mystomach.
“I’m fine.” I threw him his bottle of water and flopped down on the grass. It was an unusually warm day for the time of year, and I was beginning to wish I’d worn shorts. “I brought some snacks in case you’re hungry,” I told him, tossing him a bag ofchips.
“Thanks, I’m starving,” he said, ripping the bag open and putting a few in his mouth. After a few minutes, he nodded to my stomach. “Your button is undone on yourjeans.”
I self-consciously covered it with my hand. “I, erm…can’t actually get it buttoned,” I told him, embarrassed. “I’m going to need to buy some bigger clothessoon.”
He smiled sheepishly at me. “Sorry,” he mumbled. I shrugged my shoulders. “So, do you know if it’s a boy or a girlyet?”
“They said I can find out at the next sonogram, if I wantto.”
“Do you want toknow?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” I paused and looked at him. “Would you want toknow?”
“I don’t think so.” He took a mouthful of his drink. “I think it’s probably the best surprise you’ll ever have,” he saidquietly.
“I guess. I just figured I could be better prepared if I knew the sex, but maybe I’ll wait.” I watched as he stood up and held his hand out tome.
“Comeon.”
“Where are we going?” I asked, reaching my hand up for him to take. He pulled me up before closing the door to thecottage.
“To get some paint for the kitchen. You’ve got the time it takes to get to Target to decide what color youwant.”
“You don’t need to do that, Brody can take melater.”
“If we go now, I can make a start on it this afternoon, and the quicker it’s done, the quicker you can move in. Come on.” He walked past me and up toward his truck, which was parked outside thehouse.
“I need to run and get my purse,” I called out, trying to catch up tohim.
“It’s on me Sav.” He’d reached the truck and was holding open the passenger side door for me. “Jumpin.”
I stood with my hands on my hips. “I’m not letting you payJosh.”
“Stop arguing and get in. Think of it as my gift to you and the baby. It’s only a can of paint—it’s hardly going to break thebank.”
“Don’t you have things you need to be doing this afternoon? What about your job? Surely your dad has some work for you?” It wasn’t that I wasn’t grateful for his help, but we’d hardly seen each other over the past few months, and I didn’t want him to feel like he had some sort of obligation to help his best friend’s sister just because she was knockedup.
“I’ve got a few days off, and I want to help.” He paused and dragged his hand through his hair, his eyes dropping to the ground. “I’ve been an asshole these past few months, and I want to help you. Let me,please.”
I nodded, slipping past him and into the passenger seat. He closed the door and made his way around to the driver’s side as I dropped my head back against the seat and closed my eyes. So, he was helping out at the cottage because he felt guilty. I didn’t want his pity, but as much as I hated to admit it, I did need hishelp.
“Do you have anything in mind for the paint colors?” he asked, pulling away from the house and down the oak-lined driveway toward the mainroad.
I shook my head. “I haven’t really thought about it…just something to brighten it up, maybe paleyellow?”
“That would work well with the wooden cabinets. We’ll pick up some paint for the sitting room as well while we’rethere.”
I shifted on the seat so I was facing him. “Josh, you know I don’t have any money with me, and I can’t let you pay forstuff.”
He waved his hand at me. “It’s fine Van, I gotthis.”