Page 27 of The Last Thing (Baker Girls #4)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

HALLIE

Waking up wrapped in Wilson’s arms is my new favorite thing.

We’re still being sneaky since we’re waiting to tell Sophia anything until after my appointment next week, so he’s been waiting until she’s in the bathroom each morning, then quickly sneaking me out of the apartment. I change and come back, and it’s like I’ve barely missed any time with him.

I’m in way too deep, but there’s no getting out now.

I still keep hearing that voice in the back of my head telling me to run or I’ll get hurt, but at this point, it’ll hurt regardless. I’d rather enjoy being happy first at least.

This morning, I talked to Gran, and she was happy to give me a loan to get a new car.

Even though her version of me paying her back is taking that money and putting it into an account for the baby since that’s what she’d do with the money I paid her back anyway.

It’s a load off my mind, but it’s also forced me to think about what happens next in other ways.

If Wilson and I are together, and then I’m having his baby…

will we start living together? Officially?

As my dad noted, him paying me would have to stop at that point, so what would I do for income?

I trust Wilson, but I’m not sure I’ll ever feel comfortable not having some kind income of my own.

I need to start thinking through what’s next.

Obviously, I’d take time to recover after having the baby.

I’d like to be a stay-at-home mom, but it scares me a little, relying on someone else so completely. I want to live my life in a way that fulfills me, but I also want to make sure I’m not giving up my autonomy. Time to do some thinking and planning, and have a conversation with Wilson about it.

Right now, I’m just happy to be feeling mostly good after last weekend’s scare. I’m still nauseous, but I’m hoping it’ll dissipate soon.

I’ve just finished folding and putting away my laundry when there’s a knock on the door.

“Coming,” I call.

When I swing it open, Frannie walks in, her phone in front of her face.

“Okay, I’m here.” She grabs my arm and drags me to the couch with her, then tilts the phone toward me. “And here’s Hallie. What’s going on?”

Kennedy smiles brightly at us through the phone screen. “I’m getting married.”

Frannie and I glance at each other.

“Uh, yeah… we know. You got engaged a few weeks ago. Did you forget you told us?” I tease.

“No. I’m getting married next month.”

My eyes fly wide.

“What?” Frannie shouts. “When? That soon? Are you pregnant too?”

Kennedy laughs. “No. But I’m not opposed to it.

Just… next month will be the eighteenth anniversary of when we met.

It falls on a Saturday, so we figured why not?

We already confirmed that it’ll work with our parents, and the inn is free.

So Devon’s checking with Justin and I’m checking with you two. Can you come?”

“Of course!” Frannie yells. “Hold on.” She hits some buttons on her phone and then… “And Mark and the guys have a bye week.”

“Perfect timing,” I say.

“You can come, right?” Kennedy asks me.

“That depends. Can I get a plus one? Or maybe a plus two?”

Kennedy’s smile turns a little devious. “Ah, bringing the baby daddy?”

I take a big breath. “I want to bring my boyfriend and his beautiful daughter.”

“Aw, Hal…” Kennedy says as Frannie grabs my arm.

“What? You made it official? When? I need details.”

“I don’t know. It just sort of happened.

” I don’t want to tell anyone else about the scare.

I’m okay, and since it helped me lower some of my walls and bring Wilson and me closer, I want it to stay between us.

“I made a decision to stop fighting it over the weekend.” I glance back at the phone screen. “Sorry. Am I stealing your thunder?”

“No! I don’t care. You can take all my thunder, as long as you’re smiling like that.”

“He brings it out in me.”

Kennedy claps her hands. “I love seeing you so happy.”

“Me too,” Frannie says.

“Okay, back to you. When do we need to be there? And do we need dresses? I’m so excited!”

Frannie and I get comfortable on the couch, and I grab my phone and take notes as Kennedy goes through everything we need to do and when. But as she talks, my mind wanders to Wilson and Sophia. To introducing them to everyone as my little family.

My heart lights up at the thought. I’m happy, and even though it’s still scary, it feels too right to care.

There’s an autumn carnival happening tonight and over the weekend at the fairgrounds. I know because Sophia has told me eighteen times since she’s been home, and she is beyond hyped to go.

I told her she had to ask her dad, but I’m hoping Wilson will lean into his fun side and say yes because Sophia should see that side of him. And I think he loves a carnival more than he’d like to admit. I love carnivals. There’s always something magical about them.

The apartment door swings open and Sophia dashes to Wilson.

“Daddy! There’s a carnival tonight. Can we go? Please? Pleaseeee? There’s even going to be fireworks!”

Wilson chuckles, then glances over at me. “Yeah. That sounds like a great way to spend the night.”

Her eyes light up and for a minute she stammers.

“Breathe,” I say gently.

“Sorry. I’m just so excited! I’m going to go to my room and figure out what to wear.”

She dashes out of the room, and I wait to make sure she’s made it to her bedroom before strolling over to Wilson and wrapping my arms around him.

“Hi.”

Then I grab his neck and drag his lips to mine. For a second, he doesn’t move, but then he kisses me back, holding me tightly.

We break our kiss sooner than we want to because Sophia could reappear any second.

Wilson’s eyes shine with happiness, though he looks a little surprised too.

“I could get used to this.”

“What? Me welcoming my man home?”

Again, his eyes flare in surprise, but I don’t know why. This is what we’ve been building toward for weeks. If it weren’t for the endless joy in his eyes, I’d be worried.

“Daddy,” Sophia calls as she thunders back to the living room.

We step apart before she gets there, and she bounces in with an endless amount of energy.

“What’s up, kiddo?”

“Can I go on all the rides?”

Wilson laughs. “All the ones that are safe for kids your age, sure. But first you have to eat dinner.”

She’s halfway out of the room when she calls back. “But not too much. We have to save room for carnival food.”

“She’s got it all planned out,” he says with a laugh.

“She’s excited.”

He wraps his arm around my waist and tugs me closer. “So am I.”

Sophia’s head looks like it might explode as she stares at all the rides around us.

“Which one do you want to go on first?” I ask.

She does two full spins before pointing at the large purple one next to us.

“The octopus!”

It spins and has arms that lift up and down.

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“No,” Sophia calls to Wilson, already running for the ride.

“She’s adventurous. Why do I get a sneaking suspicion you are too, but you just don’t show it?”

A predatory smile grows on his face. “I think I showed you some of it at the last carnival we went to.”

“Oh, really? Hm. I don’t remember.”

“Uh huh. I know there was nothing forgettable about that Ferris wheel ride.”

I beam up at him. “I suppose it was pretty memorable.”

I slide closer as we watch the ride start up. Sophia waves to us, and we wave back.

“Any chance you’re willing to go on another adventure with me?”

“I think you could persuade me to do anything.”

“Like fly across the country for Kennedy’s wedding next month?”

“Next month? That’s fast, right?”

“Eh. Not really. She and Dev have been in love since they were kids. They were just too stupid to notice.”

“You really want me to come?”

“You and Sophia.”

He glances up at the ride, then turns to me. “Are you sure?”

“Very sure. I want Sophia to meet my parents, and I want you both to meet the rest of the important people in my life. You wouldn’t make your girl go to a wedding all alone, would you?”

His eyes soften, and he cups my cheek. “Does that mean I get to call you my girl at the wedding?”

“Why would you wait until then?” My eyes dance as I watch his expression change—watch the joy fill his face. “I’m not waiting until then to call you my man.”

“Hallie…” His gravelly voice undoes something in me, and it takes everything to keep from jumping into his arms.

“I’m yours and you’re mine.”

He wraps both arms around me and is about to pull me into a kiss when a little girl whizzes by us.

“Harper, wait up. I’m not as young as I used to be.”

Wilson lets me go and spins around, grabbing the little girl by the shoulders as a guy with graying brown hair and tattoos comes to a stop next to us.

“I believe this belongs to you,” Wilson says with a laugh.

“Thank you.” The man scoops the little girl into his arms. “How many times have I told you not to run away from Poppa?” He tickles the girl and she screeches with delight.

“Leo, this is Hallie. Hallie, my boss, Leo Barone.”

Leo sticks out his hand while exchanging a look with Wilson. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too. Your team did an amazing job on my sister’s apartment.”

“Thank you.” He looks at Wilson again.

“Hey, boss. Okay if I stop in on Monday morning? There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

“No problem.”

“Poppa… carousel!”

“A grandpa’s work is never done. I’ll see you Monday. And Hallie, it was good to meet you.”

Leo strolls away toward the carousel, and we turn back to the ride, only to find Sophia dashing over to us.

“Can we go on the Ferris wheel now?”

Wilson and I smile at each other.

“We sure can.”

Sophia runs a few feet ahead of us, and as we follow, Wilson wraps his hand around mine, and I get a glimpse of what my future could look like.