Indefinite (Salvation #6)(35)

Besides, once I get big, I won’t want to dance, so this is as good of a time as any.

“Sounds like a plan to me! God, I’ve missed this city.” Gretchen sighs.

“I’ve missed you,” I say feeling emotional.

“Aww. Aren’t you becoming a big mush?”

“Whatever.”

“Why don’t you come to Virginia Beach for a week? Maybe after you tell Quinn that you’re going to have his baby and he dies, you can swing by his funeral before we hang out.”

My God, she’s insane. “I can’t with you.”

“I’m just saying, he’s going to lose it.”

“I know, but a funeral?”

Gretchen shrugs without apology. “I’m low on creativity lately.”

“It’s all that sweaty sex with Ben. Got your head slammed on the headboard a few too many times.”

“That man lives up to his call sign in all aspects of his life. He’s rather . . . large and . . . enthusiastic.”

I sit on the edge of the bed with a smile. “Now, this I want to hear . . .”

“Why?”

“Because . . . it’s sex with your hunky boyfriend.”

She makes a gagging sound. “You need boundaries.”

“That ship sailed about twenty years ago. It’s so hard being around my ex, who tends to make my libido spike when I’m so much as in the same room as him.”

Gretchen grabs two dresses holding them up. I point to the short black one on the left and she nods. “Now you can at least have sex with him whenever you want, right?”

“Umm no.”

There will be no more sex. If he wants, there will be co-parenting to the best of my abilities, but he doesn’t have to do anything. I was totally prepared to be a single parent, and this changes nothing.

At least, it won’t if I can keep ignoring the fact that I love him and he loves me back—or says he does.

But, even still, I can’t go there. I have to stand my ground, even more so now that there will be a child involved.

“That’s stupid. Why wouldn’t you bang his brains out?”

“Because that sort of negates my entire argument about how we’re not getting back together . . .”

“No one said you had to forgive him.”

Okay, I’m convinced that she’s had some kind of body invasion. Gretchen is the pragmatic one. She’s ruled by reason and consequences. Every damn time we discuss anything, she’s so over analytical that, by the end, I give up. I’m the one that tells people to do the dumb stuff, and she’s trying to steal my role. No.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Me?”

“Yes, you!” I slap my hands against the bed. “You’re never like this. You’re actually advising me to fuck my ex? The same guy who broke my black heart. The same one who I actually shed tears over? I’m missing something.”

“Did you think Harold ever loved me?”

Ugh. Not Harold again. He was using her, and she never saw it. No matter how many times we told her, she found some lame excuse to stay with him. I swear I had never seen Gretchen as a weak woman, not until Harold. He was her boss, he took advantage of the situation, and when she was finally going to leave him, he proposed, only to leave her at the altar. I hate Harold and his tiny dick.

“No. And you know that.”

She nods as though I made her point. “Right . . .”

“Right?”

“Are you trying to be obtuse?”

“No. I’m not following you.”

Gretchen gets to her feet and begins to pace. “You and Catherine told me a million times—hell, Harold basically told me as well, but I didn’t listen. In the end, I was the one who was hurt. I was so sure he loved me, like you’re so sure Quinn doesn’t love you.”

She’s nuts. This is nothing like that. I’m not purposely ignoring my friend’s advice. They both see traits of the men they love in Quinn. Jackson would do anything for Catherine. He’d slay dragons with one arm behind his back. Ben would smash anyone who ever tried to make Gretchen feel small. They’re failing to see that those guys are men while Quinn is a little boy.

“Gretchen, we were telling you because you were making a mistake. It wasn’t because we did or didn’t like him. That’s the difference.”

“Oh, of course, only you’re right when it comes to this?”

I’m glad she sees that. “Pretty much.”

“You’re an idiot. Quinn loves you, and both Catherine and I see it. You’re making the same mistake only in reverse. But you know what? That’s on you.”

“Is this what you came to New York for?” I ask. “To get me to change my mind?”

Her eyes widen, and her jaw falls slack. “No! I came here to help you pick your baby daddy, which you didn’t actually need me for, and because Quinn asked me to come while he was away.”

We’ll get to that second part later because that makes no sense. I’ve lived in this city for years by myself, and there’s no reason why anyone should be worried about me being alone. Ridiculous.

“Since it seems your mission is done, can we go out and enjoy our night without thinking or talking about Quinn?”