Apparently he was immune to embarrassment.
Larissa poured steaming coffee into the mugs and placed them in front of us, a knowing smile on her face.
She was happy for me. It showed in her expression.
We sipped our coffee in silence for a moment, but it didn’t last long.
“Guess you two are probablyreallyhungry, considering you worked up quite an appetite last night,” Trudy joked shamelessly. She reveled in this sort of thing.
I shot her another exaggerated glare, yet unable to stop blushing and smiling. I could sense that she just wanted to tease us, but you could never know what Trudy was about to say next. “I have no idea what you mean, Trudy,” I said coyly.
“I think you do, Amelia,” she countered. “I think the whole neighborhood knows. You and Mr. Handsome here weren’t as discreet as you thought you were.”
To that, I nearly spit my coffee out.
Nathaniel slung his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. “Sorry about that,” he said, ever the good sport.
Trudy shrugged, still grinning. “Hey, there’s nothing to be sorry for on account of me. I’m just glad one of my besties is getting what she deserves in the sheets!”
“Shush!” I finally said, putting an end to the teasing.
Trudy made a zipping motion above her lips, but the smirk didn’t leave her face.
“So,” Larissa said, in a tone clearly intended to steer the conversation in a more wholesome direction, “what have you two got planned for today? Anything fun?”
“Dad has asked me to have dinner with him, just the two of us, while mom’s up in Newport Beach. But–”
“Oh, I’m glad to hear it, Amelia,” Larissa interrupted, her voice full of relief. “That will be good for you two to have a chance to talk.”
“Actually… I’m bringing Nathaniel. We’re planning to tell Dad about our relationship.” I bit my lip and watched for my sister’s reaction. She raised her eyebrows. I wondered if she’d argue or try to talk me out of it. “I’ve been so worried about it, but we can’t hide this from him forever,” I said, trying to convince her. Or maybe, I was trying to convince myself.
Nathaniel nodded. “We want to raise this baby together.”
Larissa seemed to agree, and said, “That makes sense–”
Trudy’s head quickly snapped up from her eggs. “Baby?”
The rest of breakfast was spent chatting and filling Trudy in on the big news, with lots of laughs over mouthfuls of Trudy’s scrambled eggs and really good bacon courtesy of Larissa. As we finished up, Trudy had to leave for work, so Nathaniel, Larissa and I thanked her for the eggs, and remained in the kitchen slowly cleaning up.
“Keep me posted about your dinner with Dad tonight,” Larissa said, loading plates into the dishwasher before she had to shower and get ready for her day.
“I will,” I agreed, thinking ahead to what I was going to say to him. The longer the morning ticked by, the more I felt my nerves kick in ahead of tonight. I had already run the conversation through in my head dozens of times. I wasn’t sure the mental practice was helping.
Hehadto understand.
He would have to come around, eventually.
I hoped he would take the news in stride, because the last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt my father. Nathaniel agreed that it might take Dad some time to get used to the idea, and there would probably be some uncomfortable moments at first. He encouraged and comforted me, reassuring me that we could do this.
I could tell my father the truth.
Both of us could, together, as a couple.
I just wished there was some way to soften the blow.
Chapter 30
Nathaniel