Page 13 of The Last Thing (Baker Girls #4)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

WILSON

I’m exhausted, but I can’t sleep.

Story of my life lately.

I’m always thinking. Thinking about Hallie and the fact that she’s only a wall away from me.

Thinking about how to break through her walls and prove I’ll be here to support her in every way, not just as a co-parent.

Co-parenting with her would kill me when we could be together. We should be together.

I’m pretty sure most people would say I’m delusional. But my dad wouldn’t have. He would’ve understood completely. He believed in fate and the power of true love.

My mind goes to that half heart on my keychain.

I kept it because I felt more than chemistry or intense attraction that night. I felt settled.

I have to believe there’s a reason for that. She didn’t come into my life the way she did, then show up as my neighbor ready to be Sophia’s nanny while pregnant with my child by pure coincidence.

Someone or something had their hands in it.

Maybe it was the threads of fate, or maybe my dad helped orchestrate it himself. Nothing would surprise me.

Despite the softness I see in Hallie, she puts up rock-hard walls.

I wouldn’t blame her for being cautious, but how guarded she is surprises me.

If I could just crack through her walls, see what’s going on underneath, maybe I could figure out how to get all the way through.

Grumbling to myself, I grab my pillow and roll over.

I probably shouldn’t be thinking this much about Hallie.

I should be worried about Sophia. How will finding out she’s going to have a sibling affect her?

Will a complicated relationship between Hallie and me set an example for relationships I don’t want her to have?

“Fuck,” I mutter, rolling onto my back and sprawling out like a starfish.

I’m a mess.

I throw the blankets off, ready to call it, grab a snack, and eat my feelings all night. But I haven’t even made it a step when I hear a groaning noise on the other side of the wall.

Hallie .

Then footsteps thunder down the hall of her apartment.

I’m moving before I realize what I’m doing. I grab her spare key off the side of my fridge and the video monitor for Soph’s room and bolt out the door.

Fumbling with the key in her lock pisses me off so much I almost kick the damn thing open, but finally the handle turns, and I run inside.

I find Hallie on the bathroom floor, crying as she throws up.

She jumps when she hears my footsteps.

“It’s just me.”

Before she can hit me with a sassy remark, she dives forward and throws up again.

I drop to my knees beside her. “Breathe, Hellion.” I run my fingers through her hair and pull it away from her face.

She sits back on her heels and flushes the toilet.

“How did you get in here?”

“We exchanged keys the other day, remember? I heard you groan and run down your hallway, and I… I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

Her eyes meet mine. “I’m okay. You don’t need to stay.”

“I’m not leaving you here like this.”

“I’ll be fine.” She pushes herself up to standing, but her legs wobble.

“Convincing.” Standing up, I wrap my arm around her back and guide her out of the bathroom. “What can I get you? You should eat something.”

She shakes her head. “I’ll be okay. I have water.”

“Water isn’t enough when you just threw everything up.”

We get to her bedroom and she sits down on the edge of her bed and takes a drink from her water bottle.

I squat down in front of her. “Let me make you something.”

She shakes her head again. “Everything turns my stomach except?—”

“Except what?”

“Vanilla milkshakes and french fries. I ran out of vanilla ice cream earlier. I was going to go to the store in the morning?—”

“I’ll go get you what you need.”

“Now?” She whips her head to look at the clock. “It’s almost midnight.”

“I don’t care. Please. Let me do this for you.” I stand up and take a risk, brushing my knuckles over her cheek. “Let me take care of you.”

Her bottom lip wobbles, but she stiffens it quickly. “Okay.”

I hand her the monitor. “Can you listen for Sophia?”

Her eyes widen. “Of course. But what should I tell her if she wakes up?”

“Tell her you’re sick and I went to get you food to help you feel better.”

She blinks at me, then nods.

“Lie down and rest.”

She stares at me for a beat, then gets under the covers.

“I’ll be back soon.”

I kiss her forehead—another risk—but she doesn’t push me away or even bristle at the touch.

She feels this too. I know she does. And somewhere deep down, she wants it.

When I get back to Hallie’s apartment, I pop the two gallons of ice cream I got at the grocery store in her freezer before heading to her bedroom.

I jogged through the door of the supermarket four minutes before closing and got some very dirty looks, but I paid by card at the self-checkout and ran out the door with thirty seconds to spare. Then I hit up McDonald’s drive-thru for fries and a milkshake.

Hallie is sitting up in bed, knees up to her chest, eyes glazed as she stares at the small TV on her dresser.

“Hey.”

Her gaze darts to me. “Hi.”

“How are you doing?”

She shrugs. “Okay. Didn’t throw up anymore. Still queasy. My stomach hurts.” She blinks a couple of times, then looks away.

I ache to reach for her, cup her cheek, comfort her. But I’m not sure she finds me comforting.

Instead, I pull a container of fries from the bag in my hand and offer them and the milkshake to her. “Eat.”

She swallows hard as she takes them from me. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I’m happy to do it. Do you need anything else?”

Her eyes roll over my face. “I—I’m okay. But did you want to stay?”

My heart leaps at her words.

“I could stay.” I couldn’t hide the smile creeping up my lips if I wanted to.

“Okay then.”

I walk around the side of the bed and sit down next to her.

“Anything you want to watch?” she asks.

I toe my shoes off, then kick my feet up and pluck my own container of fries—and nuggets—from the bag. “Whatever you want.”

“Okay. Hope you don’t mind fast-talking, sarcastic women.” She turns on Gilmore Girls as I arch a brow at her.

“ You are a fast-talking, sarcastic woman.”

She laughs. “Perhaps.”

Finally, she relaxes, and I feel like I can too.

“Fries and nuggets?” she asks.

“Don’t tell Sophia, but I’m a sucker for McDonald’s fries and chicken nuggets.”

Hallie elbows me. “Maybe you should tell Sophia. Let that playful side out. It’s good for her.” She swirls a fry through her milkshake and pops it into her mouth. “And maybe I like seeing it too.”

She nestles into her pillows, then to my shock and delight, leans against me.

I think I’ve made the first crack in her walls.

Maybe I’m not completely delusional after all.