If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out, but… what if it does?
Besides, it’s like he said—none of this happens without Parker’s blessing.
Parker’s sensible, so she’ll probably think it’s completely crazy. There’s every chance she’ll overrule it so I don’t have to.
“I haven’t lived with a man in a long time,” I murmur in the car on the way home.
We’re in my car this time, but I’m so distracted by Hayden’s crazy plan that I forget to tense up when we drive past the Hartley’s.
Not that I have to anymore, I guess.
If all goes according to Hayden’s plan, I won’t evenbetheir neighbor anymore.
“I don’t want to sell my house yet,” I say suddenly, looking over at him as I slow down in front of my driveway. “What if it doesn’t work out and I want to move back in?”
“That’s fine,” he says. “But if it doesn’t work out and you’ve already sold your house, I’ll just buy you a new one. It’s not a big deal.”
I stare at him as he says that like he’s buying me a new dress instead of ahome, but I also know that—knowing Hayden—failure isn’t really an option. It’s what he’s telling me to ease my mind and ease me into it, but if he’s convinced this is going to work, he’ll make it happen, whether the world wants him to or not.
I let him come into the house with me and take note when Parker pops her head up from the book she’s reading and flashes us both smiles. “Hey, lovebirds. Did you have a nice time?”
She seems comfortable with him, and that speaks volumes. I didn’t even introduce them. Hayden went out of his way to establish a relationship with her himself.
He has a pushy, single-minded way of doing things sometimes, but it’s hard to deny it works.
“We did.” I glance back at Hayden. I already told him in the car that I wanted to have this conversation with Parker myself. I don’t want her to feel pressured, and she’ll feel the least pressure if it’s just the two of us. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Her brow furrows at my tentative tone. She nods, sliding the bookmark in her book, and follows me up the stairs.
We go to my room, and I close the door for privacy. I take a seat on the edge of the mattress and try to think how best to attack this.
If I’m being honest, I’ve never even considered having to tell Parker a thing like this. When things didn’t work out with her dad, I sort of closed my mind to having serious relationships with anyone else, and no one came along tochangemy mind.
Until Hayden.
“Is everything okay?” Parker asks, sitting down beside me.
I look over and offer her a reassuring smile. “Yeah. Everything’s good. I just… I have some surprising news, and I’m not sure how to tell you.”
“Just spill,” she says, watching me carefully. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”
“What?” My eyes widen. “No. God, no.”
“Phew. Then go on, tell me. Are you dating Hayden?” she teases, bumping her shoulder into mine. “It’s fine if you are, Mom. I know you like him, and he clearly likes you. I want you to be happy, and if he makes you happy, then who cares who his son is?”
“Yeah?”
She nods confidently. “For sure.”
“Okay.” I fidget with the hem of yesterday’s dress. “I guess that makes this a little easier to get out. It’s still crazy, though, so prepare yourself.”
She smiles. “I’m ready.”
“Hayden asked me to marry him.”
Her smile falls. “What?”
My smile turns apologetic and a little unsure. “Surprise?”