Page 145 of The Baby Bargain

"But you cook. You must use sugar sometimes."

"Had a jar of honey once." He shrugs like he doesn't know what happened to it or care.

"And now…"

"Do you need sugar?"

"Ideally. But I guess we'll make do." Maybe it's better leaving something out of the recipe. Less familiar.

"I think it's in the fridge—"

"The—"

"Honey." He pulls the fridge open. Scans the top shelf. Nothing. Middle shelf nothing. Bottom shelf, behind the bag of carrots.

Victory.

A honey bear. Mostly unused.

"Griffin puts it in his coffee sometimes," he says.

"You have people over?"

"On occasion."

Immediately, the mental image forms. A friend—I know Griffin—sitting on Chase's couch, watching a movie with him, teasing him about his misery.

Chase nodding and smiling backyeah, I'm miserable, what's it to you?

Is he relaxed with other people?

Is he ever relaxed?

Or is he always thinking about her?

Ahem. "And this sugar thing has never been an issue?"

He chuckles. "For you, I'll keep sugar."

"Thanks." I take the honey, run it under warm water. I do like my chai lattes sweet. I'm down to one a day. I know zero would be better, but it's hard giving up spicy perfection. Especially when Chase is willing to keep honey here for me.

Okay, it's sugar, not an engagement ring.

But the logic does nothing to calm the flutter in my stomach. "Will that mess you up?"

"How?"

"You have a reason for avoiding it."

"My mom's an alcoholic, yeah."

"So you rarely drink."

He nodsof course, you know that.

"I just… uh… I didn't realize you took it so seriously."

He shrugs like it's not a big deal.