Page 53 of False Start

I blew out a breath, trying to keep up with the pace of conversation that felt kind of like an interrogation. “Honestly, I was just trying to find a job I could do while also taking care of my son.”

There was a brief pause from the group, and I waited for it — for the reaction I’d had from many girls my age when I told them about Sebastian. Sure, I’d met moms who were as young as I was, but more often than not in Seattle, I was the youngest.

And more often than not, girls my age couldn’t imagine having a kid yet, and they also couldn’t hide their pity when they found outIhad one. It was like they felt sorry for me, like I was missing out on partying and living it up the way they were.

If only they knew that partying was the last thing I wanted to do. If only they could understand that having Sebastian had changed my life for the better.

I loved him more than I loved anything or anyone in the world.

And where it might have seemed boring or like an obligation to most women my age, I cherished every moment I got to spend with my kid. I lived for our adventures, for our lazy days, for our nights we laughed so hard that tears ran down our cheeks.

I waited for someone to do the awkward, “Oh, you have a kid? That’s so sweet!” thing, but instead, Giana jumped for joy and abandoned her glass on the bar so she could grab onto me.

“You have ason?!Oh, my God! Show us!”

The girls all gathered around me as I pulled up my phone and showed them my background, which was Sebastian grinning at the camera from where he was bundled up and making a snow angel.

I was met with a chorus ofAWWWbefore Julep was begging for more photos, and Mary was asking his name, and Riley was asking what sports he played, all while Giana tried not to cry.

“Okay, I need all your advice,” Giana said, one hand on her belly and the other reaching for her mocktail once I’d put my phone away. “Because your girl is very knowledgeable when it comes to books, PR, and wrangling that one over there,” she said, pointing to a brunet beast of a man I assumed was Clay Johnson. “But being a mom?” She shook her head. “I’m clueless.”

“Honestly, I think we all are. We just do our best to figure it out as we go,” I said. “You’ll be great.”

Giana’s eyes watered, and she fanned her face. “Sorry. These stupid hormones have turned me into an absolute mess. Oh!” She covered her mouth on a gasp. “Single mom! Another of my favorite tropes. Has Kyle met Sebastian yet?”

I couldn’t hide how I melted at that question, and all the girls saw it, because when I nodded, they squealed and surrounded me, begging for details.

But then, a large, warm hand wrapped around my hip from behind, and Kyle sidled up next to me, tucking me under his arm with a kiss against my hair.

I felt that kiss all the way down to my toes.

“Alright, I think it’s time I get my date up to our room before you four scare her onto the next flight out of here,” he said, winking down at me with a smile that made me melt even more into his side.

I told myself to get a grip, to remind my stupid body that all of this was for show.

But apparently, with that man’s hands on me, my brain just didn’t work properly.

The girls let out a chorus of jests at his expense.

“Boo!”

“You’re no fun, Robbins.”

“We were just getting to the good stuff!”

When Kyle only responded by chuckling and pulling me even more into him, the girls conceded, and I didn’t miss the looks they gave each other.

Giana pulled me from Kyle’s grasp long enough to wrap me in another hug.

“Go get settled. We’ll see you at the rehearsal dinner tonight. There will be plenty of time for us to steal you away again.”

“Good luck with that,” Kyle said, sliding his arm around me once more. “I’m pretty selfish when it comes to this one.”

I looked up at him, heart tripling its pace when I saw the sincerity in his gaze.

God, he’s good at this.

When I looked back at the girls, they wore a mixture of emotions. Giana looked like she was about to burst, her eyes doubling in size and hands clasped in front of her heart. Julep and Riley were exchanging glances like they couldn’t believewhat they were seeing, and Mary was watching Kyle with an eyebrow ticked up in half-amusement, half-suspicion.