Over the Edge (Bridge #3)(68)

I couldn’t miss the irony that we would be facing the same situation in nine short months. The thought didn’t make me as uncomfortable as maybe it should have. With anyone else, I’d be freaking the f*ck out. Even though the prospect of imminent fatherhood was filled with unknowns and a litany of fears, knowing that I’d be going into that part of my life with Olivia filled me with an unexpected calm.

“That’s great. I’m really happy for them,” I said, truly meaning it.

“Me too. They’ll all be home in a couple days. I’m going to do some things around their apartment today to help them out.”

“Okay, but I want you to stay at the penthouse tonight.”

“Are you beckoning me?”

Her tone was even, not sweet and teasing the way it might have been under different circumstances.

“You’re goddamn right. I’m beckoning you.”

“Will—”

“The thought of you going through what you went through last night alone is unacceptable to me. I love you. I’m here for you. Whatever you’re working through, I want to be there to help you work through it. Not to mention, I’m trying to figure out a few things out too.”

She sighed softly. “Fine. I’ll take care of what I need to here first though.”

“Whatever you need to do. Also, I’m going to hire movers this week to help you get the rest of your things to the penthouse. I want you with me. Every night.”

“What about Ian?”

What about Ian… God, we had to tell him sometime, and I wasn’t looking forward to it one bit. I’d barely had a chance to wrap my head around her being pregnant myself. I was so busy getting her to calm down last night, I hadn’t spent much time thinking about how Ian would receive the news.

“We have to tell him. The sooner the better, I imagine. He won’t like to think he was kept in the dark for very long.”

“You’re right.” She exhaled heavily. “Maybe tonight. If I can work up the courage.” I heard her mutter a curse.

“We’ll tell him together. It’ll be okay.”

As I reassured her, I worried that Ian might not adjust to the news as well as I hoped he would. I tried to imagine if our positions were reversed. Imagining it, however briefly, reinforced how grateful I was that I’d been the one who f*cked up.

“Olivia.”

“What?”

“Last night, when I told you I was sorry… I am sorry that I violated your trust. You didn’t want or ask for this. But now that we’re here, I want you to know that I’m not sorry about it. It’s not what either of us expected, but I’m glad it’s with you. I’m ready to take this journey with you.”

She sniffed and sighed quietly on the other end of the phone. “I’m feeling more ready too. Meeting the baby today put things into perspective for me. I think I’m more ready for this than I thought.”

I closed my eyes and tightened my grip on the phone. I wanted to hold her, kiss her, and remind her how much I loved her.

“I love you, Olivia.”

“I love you too.”





Chapter Eighteen





IAN



I checked the empanadas in the oven and set the table for dinner. Will was at work all day, and Liv was busy at her place, prepping meals and getting things tidy for when her brother and sister-in-law came home with the baby in a couple of days.

I wanted to surprise her with a dinner at home. Even though my schedule was a bit erratic, we’d settled into a routine that seemed to give each of us the time we needed. I had no idea how it worked, but it did. Seeing her and spending a little time with her every day made the world feel right, no matter what shit I had to face at work.

Liv came through the door first. Her eyes were tired, and her body seemed to tense a little when she saw me.

“Hey, baby. Everything okay?” I went to her and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips.

She kissed me back, taking our kiss from chaste to passionate quickly.

“Hello to you too,” I teased in a velvet tone when we broke apart.

With a small smile, she softened in my arms. “You made dinner?”

I glanced back to the mess I’d made in the kitchen. “Yeah, it’ll be ready in a few minutes. Should be good by the time Will gets home.”

She tensed a little again. Then she stepped out of my embrace and began cleaning up. Even though I’d grown used to our easy silences, something felt uncomfortable about this one. I’d expected her to be all smiles and energy about her brother’s baby, but maybe something else had happened today that was throwing her off.

I didn’t push her about it, but when Will walked through the door, they shared a look that gave me pause.

Will masked it quickly, carrying himself into the room casually. “Smells great. Thanks, Ian.”

“No problem,” I said, trying to shake off the edgy feeling.

Dinner carried on fine. I talked a little about work, as did Will. Business as usual, and things were going well with the fund for the most part. Thank goodness, since Will had committed himself to it so completely.

But when the conversation shifted to Liv’s new nephew, she began to tear up. Normal, I told myself. Babies inspired emotions in women that I’d likely never understand.