Chasing Perfect (Fool's Gold #1)(77)

“I’m pregnant.”

JOSH HAD BEEN PREPARED to hear her say she thought she was coming down with something, or the sight of Angelique was intimidating or that she had decided she hated small-town living and wanted to move to L.A.

Instead there were two words and a faint buzzing sound in his head. He felt as if all the air had been sucked from the room. He couldn’t breathe, but that was the least of it. He couldn’t think. Couldn’t figure out what she’d meant.

She gazed at him expectantly, making him aware that he was supposed to say something in response.

Pregnant? Pregnant.

There was going to be a baby. His baby.

Josh rose from the bed and stared at Charity. A sense of urgency swept through him. He couldn’t have a kid now—he wasn’t ready. He didn’t have enough of his shit together. He would screw up everything.

Time, he told himself quickly. He had a few months to get ready. To figure it out and be the kind of dad a kid deserved.

Charity turned away. “I don’t expect anything,” she said flatly. “You don’t have to panic. I’m telling you as a courtesy, nothing more.”

He didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean?”

“I’m the one who’s pregnant, not you. The baby is my responsibility.”

“Mine, too,” he said, still not able to grasp the significance of what was happening.

A child. They were going to bring a child into the world. The phrase “ready or not” had never been so significant.

“I’ll figure this out,” he said, more to himself than her.

“You don’t have to.”

“I’m a part of this,” he told her. “I’ll be there for you and the baby.”

She didn’t look as if she believed him. Knowing all she did about his past, how he’d failed, he knew why she had doubts.

“Just give me a little time,” he told her, as he backed toward the door. “You’ll see.”

And then he was gone. Charity leaned back against the pillow and smoothed her hand over the still warm place on the bed. What she would see was how quickly he left, she thought sadly. His reaction wasn’t a surprise, but it was still very much a disappointment.

“OH MY GOD!” Pia stood in the doorway to her apartment and stared wide-eyed at Charity. “You look incredible. I love the cut and the color. You went to Julia, didn’t you? No one does highlights like her. Don’t tell Bella I said that. Wow. You’re all fluffy and pretty.”

Charity smiled wanly at her friend. “I’m not feeling especially fluffy.”

“Then come in and we’ll change that.”

Charity walked into the cheerful apartment. “I’m sorry for dropping in like this. I should have called. It’s late.”

Pia shook her head. “Don’t be silly. It’s not like I have a date or anything.” She led the way into the living room, where the TV showed a frozen frame of a movie. Sandra Bullock stood by a mailbox next to a house made almost entirely of glass.

“The Lake House,” Pia said. “I love it. I can’t help myself. He waited for her for two years. What guy does that?”

Charity hadn’t meant to come here. After Josh had left, she’d told herself that she would be fine. That she would get through this. Hundreds, maybe thousands of single women found out they were pregnant every day. They managed. It wasn’t the idea of being a parent on her own that was ripping her up inside. It was the realization that Josh didn’t love her back. She hadn’t really expected him to, but now she couldn’t even hope for a happy ending.

“All men are pigs,” she said, then motioned to the screen. “Except Keanu Reeves.”

“Exactly.” Pia led her to the sofa. “Although I should probably tell you I do have a new guy in my life.” She motioned to the short-haired marmalade cat curled up in a club chair. “That’s Jake,” she said, lowering her voice. “Crystal’s cat.”

“Oh. He’s beautiful.”

The cat looked up and stared at Charity. His eyes were large and the color of emeralds. His expression turned haughty, as if he found her wanting, then he put his head back down and closed his eyes.

“We’re spending the weekend together, seeing if we can figure out if we get along.” Pia wrinkled her nose. “I’m not really a pet person, but it’s a way to help Crystal. And maybe having a cat around will be a good thing.” She sounded doubtful.

“Is he friendly?”

“I don’t know. He keeps to himself. I’m respecting his need to take things slow.”

Charity stared at her friend. “He’s a cat.”

“I know, but aren’t they supposed to be haughty and aloof? I thought if I let him make the first move, things would go better. I don’t want him to think I want the relationship more than he does.”

“I think you’re giving him way too much credit. He doesn’t have a master plan.”

Pia eyed her loaner pet. “I’m thinking maybe he does. We’ll see what happens. So far he’s very quiet. And clean. I thought I’d be freaked out by the idea of a litterbox, but I’m not. His aim is a lot better than most guys I know.”

“Maybe he’s the answer.”