Effortless (Thoughtless, #2)(134)

I instantly wondered if he’d had heated conversations on the phone with her, then thought probably not. That wasn’t Denny’s style. Then again, it wasn’t my style either…and I’d done it. If Abby was anything like Kellan, I supposed she could have opened Denny up to all sorts of new things. In some ways, Denny and I were too alike. The two of us being with people different than us was probably a good thing. Opposites attract and all.

Denny looked down at my hand on his knee, then up to me. He gave me a quick smile but minutely pulled his leg away. I understood and immediately removed my hand. Some things felt too familiar. Some lines shouldn’t be crossed anymore. And being so alike, we both understood that.

Walking through every furniture store downtown, we finally picked out the perfect living room and dining room set. We even picked out a bedroom set. And yes, picking out a bed with your ex boyfriend, knowing that he’ll be using it with his current girlfriend…is weird.

We both had uncomfortable expressions on our faces when the sales-man made us sit on a mattress together. But then, when we were lying on our backs, pondering the weird situation we were in, we both looked at each other at the same time and started laughing. It was so weird, it had gone into the realm of amusing.

Laughing on that plastic-coated mattress with Denny, I couldn’t help but wonder what Kellan would say, if he knew where I was and what I was doing. If he could see us, see how there was mainly just friendship between us, he might be okay with it. But me telling him about it over the phone…with no visual to go with the explanation, it just sounded bad, especially since Denny had been here for a few months now. The longer he was here, the harder it was to explain.

Settling on a relatively firm Queen-sized mattress, we picked out the furniture to go with it. It was beautiful, and I was sure Abby was going to love the sleigh bed he’d decided on. Running his hand over the back of it, Denny told me that Abby had this romantic notion of going on a 376



sleigh ride in the dead of winter. Bundling up together under heavy blankets, while a couple of beautiful horses pulled you through banks of pristine snow, light flakes of it dropping on your hair, sounded pretty amazing to me too. I hoped that she thought of that when she saw this bed…and having that thought was weird too.

It was starting to get late when I finally got back to my apartment.

After making the preparations for all his new stuff to be delivered, Denny had taken me out for a celebratory dinner. His topic of conversation had all been around Abby, and how excited he was to show her their new place.

I’d smiled politely, happy that he was happy, but a small twinge had gone through me at his home being called “theirs.” It didn’t bother me as much as I’d have once thought, though. Probably because Kellan sometimes called his place “ours,” and that always brought a smile to my face.

I wanted Abby to have the same good feelings, even if I’d never met her.

But walking through my door around ten o’clock that night, I was pretty surprised to find my sister pacing the living room. For one, she didn’t usually get upset enough to pace, and two, I was pretty sure she should have been at work.

Pointing at her as I set my bag on the table, I started to ask why she wasn’t at Hooters. She didn’t even let me get the first word of my question out though. Twisting to me, hands on her hips, she spat out, “There you are. Where have you been? I’ve been calling you forever.” Glancing at my bag, I realized my phone must have died. I hope Kellan hadn’t tried to call. “Uh, I was out with Denny. Why?” When I looked back at her she was glaring at me. “I don’t know why you hang out with him.” I started to defend him when she shook her head and raised her hands, interrupting me. “Look, I don’t really care about you and Denny.” Stepping up to me, she grabbed my forearms.

Eyes wide, she frantically sputtered, “I’m late, Kiera.” Furrowing my brows, I shook my head. “Okay, well the Honda is here…you could have left for work anytime?” I kept shaking my head, confused. Anna and I hadn’t fought over the car since Kellan had left the 377



Chevelle for me. And honestly, that was here too, if she’d really needed to leave.

Dropping her head back, she gave me an exasperated groan. “God, Kiera, not that kind of late!” Her head snapped back up as her eyes widened. Voice trembling, she slowly repeated, “I’m l-a-t-e.” She glanced at her stomach and my eyes grew to saucers. “Oh my God, you’re pregnant!”

Shushing me, she looked around our completely empty apartment.

Like she didn’t want the dust bunnies to hear, she murmured, “I don’t know…but I’m freaking out.”

Shock dropping my mouth wide open, I asked her all the questions floating around my head. “How late? When was your last period? How far along are you? Who was the last guy you were with?” Pausing a second, I raised an eyebrow at her. “Do you know who the father is?” Glaring at me, she dropped my arms and started smacking me. “Yes! I know who the father is…bitch.”

Attempting to block her hits, I backed up a step. “Sorry. Jesus, Anna.” Successfully stepping out of her range, I held my hands up. “Don’t kill me for saying this, but you don’t always stick to just one guy.” Her lip trembled and her perfectly green eyes filled with tears. Dropping her head into her hands, she started to cry. Feeling bad, I quickly put my arms around her and held her to me. Between sobs she got out,