Page 5 of The Last Thing (Baker Girls #4)

CHAPTER FIVE

HALLIE

When I was a kid, my mom used to tell me that the consequences of my actions were important. I could learn from them so I wouldn’t repeat them.

I’ve learned a very important lesson.

Condoms are useless.

Tears crest in my eyes as I dive forward and puke again.

No one to hold my hair.

No one to tell.

No one to buy me ice cream and let me cry until they can make me laugh.

Sure, the football boys are in the city, and I love them, but it’s not the same.

My sisters—Frannie and Kend, who I’ll always consider my oldest sister—aren’t here anymore. Justin, my surrogate brother, left before they did.

If Frannie hadn’t met Mark when she did, I would be completely alone here.

My parents are close by, but I’m not ready to let them in on this dumpster fire yet.

I miss my people.

Frannie left because she never felt at home in the city.

She’s a quiet, small-town girl at heart.

Kennedy left because she found her home building a life with Devon.

Justin left initially because he was looking for a place that felt like home.

He’s closer now that he’s finally found it.

Not far from Frannie upstate. And I’m here alone.

This apartment doesn’t feel like home anymore.

Nothing does. For me, it’s never been a place that makes a home, but who I’m with, and most of the people I love left me behind.

And now I’m about to start sobbing in the middle of my bathroom.

Why am I so easy to leave?

I put my hand on my stomach. “Don’t leave me, kid, okay? I’ve got you and you’ve got me. Deal?”

I sniff and wipe my eyes, then get up and make my way out to the living room. Collapsing on the couch, I grab my stupid, gray bunny and hold it close. The one thing Deck left me with.

Well, not the only thing anymore.

I don’t know what the fuck to do with that. Start looking on social media for random guys named Deck? If that’s even any kind of real name?

I don’t mind being a Lorelai Gilmore—with better parental boundaries—and raising a kid alone. It’s what I was planning to do one day. Settle into some type of career, find my stability, save up money, visit a sperm bank, and use the turkey baster method.

I’ve always loved kids and I have always wanted to be a mom.

While Frannie was playing bride and Kennedy was playing reporter, I was pretending to be a mom. That’s what I wanted.

That doesn’t mean I want Deck to miss out on having a relationship with his child.

I look at the bunny’s face, then give it a shake, as if it’s a Magic 8 Ball that will randomly give me his contact info.

Fuck.

I need to get my shit together.

A loud bang on my door makes me jump.

“Hallie, baby girl, you in there?” Hardy calls.

Unsurprising. I haven’t returned anyone’s calls or texts in days.

Since I went to the doctor and had the suspicion I didn’t want to admit to confirmed.

Then I spent the next two days lying on my couch—or praying to the porcelain god—staring at the ultrasound picture to make sure I didn’t dream it all up.

Even from a distance, Frannie and Kend love to meddle.

I wish they were here.

“We need to know you’re alive,” Brian calls.

“Coming,” I grumble at the door, then shove myself off the couch, dropping the bunny on the coffee table.

I catch my reflection in the small mirror near the door. I look like straight up hell, but at least that’ll sell why I haven’t been answering. Sort of.

After unlocking the door, I pull it open to find two football players standing there. I’m five-six, but they still seem giant to me. Hardy mostly because he’s just over six feet and muscular as fuck. Brian because he’s a literal giant.

I gesture for them to come in, and they follow me, neither saying a word.

Surprising. Hardy usually has something to say.

The second my butt hits the couch again Hardy’s intense stare is on me.

“What’s going on?”

I give a little shrug. “Just having a rough few days. Emotionally speaking.”

His brow furrows, and he drops onto the coffee table in front of me. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to talk about it. Not yet. I’m okay. Just wallowing… I guess.”

I glance up at Brian, who is staring at me intently, concerned, and clearly not convinced by a word coming out of my mouth.

“Frannie and Kennedy are both worried. You haven’t answered any calls from them, and when they called and asked if you’d responded to us, we were out the door before they could tell us to come check on you.

If you’re not ready to talk yet… well, I’m still determined to get it out of you, but we need to know you’re okay,” Hardy says.

I stare at him for a beat. “I’d say I’m the definition of that word.” I rub a hand over my face right as my stomach growls.

“When was the last time you ate?” Brian asks.

“Breakfast.”

Brian folds his arms over his chest. “Hal, it’s almost three in the afternoon.”

“Tell us what you want, and we’ll go get it,” Hardy says.

I close my eyes and think about what doesn’t make me want to barf.

“Can you get me a vanilla milkshake and some fries from that diner a couple of blocks over?”

“Coming up.” Hardy stands and smacks Brian on the shoulder. “Coming?”

“Actually… would one of you stay?”

I glance at Brian, and he instantly knows I mean him.

He sits down on the couch next to me. “I will.”

“Thanks,” I murmur.

“Be back soon.” Hardy looks at Brian. “I’ll grab some stuff for us too.”

Brian nods, then Hardy leaves. Once I’m sure he’s far enough away from the door, I turn to Brian.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Do you have feelings for Hardy?”

Brian’s eyes slowly widen, then his face falls. And then he looks horrified. “Is it obvious?”

I chuckle lightly. “I don’t know about obvious, but I’ve picked up on something. Justin has too, but he’s a romance nerd.”

“I try not to be obvious about it.” He runs a hand through his short, dark blond hair. “I’m officially the guy who falls for his straight best friend. Fucking pathetic. And the last thing I want to do is make him uncomfortable. Is there something I’m doing?”

I blink at him a few times. “No. I picked up on it a bit because I don’t know…

I can read you, I guess. And it’s more of how you look or talk about him when he’s not looking or not around.

But Justin questioned it because of Hardy’s reaction to you.

The way he talks at you, touches you, speaks to you… there’s a tenderness there.”

Brian’s face morphs into utter confusion. Like he can’t even process the possibility.

Finally, he shakes his head. “No. That’s just Hardy.”

“That’s Hardy with you ,” I counter. “He loves and supports us all. He’s kind and easily loyal. But with you, it’s different. I’m not saying you should jump him. But don’t write it off either.”

He sighs and rests his head against the couch, silence settling between us again.

“Hey, Bri?”

He flashes his eyes open and looks at me. “Yeah?”

“I’m pregnant.”

He shifts on the couch and grabs my hand. “I was wondering why you wanted me to stay. Nice mislead with the question about Hardy.”

I laugh, though tears well in my eyes. “A truth for a truth.”

“When did you find out?”

“Couple of days ago. I’ve been… processing.”

“And what do you want to do? If you want an abortion, I’ll go with you. Pretend to be the father. My agent might kill me, but?—”

I throw both arms over my stomach.

“I want this baby. I’ve always wanted to be a mom.”

Brian reaches over and swipes a tear off my cheek. “Hal… you know we’ve all got you, right? Why didn’t you call us?”

“I love you guys, but?—”

“You needed your family.”

I nod.

“Who’s the father?”

“That guy from the bar. When Justin and Jade came down for the Metros game.”

“Have you told him?”

I shake my head. “We didn’t exchange contact info. Or even full names, just silly nicknames.”

“Shit.”

I shrug. “It sucks because I don’t want to be the mom depriving a kid of having their dad in their life, but I’m not ready to dig through some social media black hole in an attempt to find him.

I need to breathe first.” I drop my head into my hands, groaning.

“Find a job so I can afford to pay for a baby.”

“About that. Frannie mentioned she might have a job for you. Either way, you should call her, but if she does… maybe you should think about it.”

I look around the apartment. I have no idea what living in a small town would be like or if I’d enjoy it, but it’s never been about the place.

Frannie would be right there.

Justin would be close.

I rest my hand on my stomach.

Maybe this is a sign to start a whole new chapter. A fresh page for whatever comes next.

I didn’t throw up the fries and milkshake, so they’re all I want to eat now. Thankfully, grocery delivery exists, and I got some milk, vanilla ice cream, and frozen fries to cook up.

Hardy, surprisingly, let me off the hook and didn’t push me to talk, but I think that may have been because of the stern look Brian gave him. Brian, unsurprisingly, kept my secret.

I’m still not ready to tell Frannie. Not about the baby. But… if she thinks there’s a job for me in Ida, I want to hear about it. At the very least, I’m going to visit her for a bit.

I don’t have to worry about paying rent since my parents own the building I live in, so I can float by for a little longer without stressing about a job.

When I push the call button next to Frannie’s name, it only rings once before she answers.

“You’re alive!”

“For the moment.”

“Hallie.”

“What? I’m fine. You worry too much.”

“Says the person who threatened to call Jack Bauer when I didn’t answer fast enough on vacation with Mark.”

“We didn’t know he wasn’t a serial killer yet.”

“Well, you could’ve been mugged or drugged or chopped into bits.”

I laugh at that. “Have you been reading murder mysteries again?”

“Sorry I care.”

“I’m okay. Just been in my feelings for the last few days.”

“Anything job or no-job related?” she asks, sounding hopeful.

So I lean into it. “A bit. It sucks that I can’t find anything.”

“Well, I might have the perfect solution… if you’re willing to move to Ida.”

“Ida, huh?”

“Our new downstairs tenant needs sort of a babysitter/housekeeper combo. Not in a pristine white-glove housekeeping kind of way, but someone to make sure the apartment stays generally clean, can cook meals, and look after his eight-year-old before she goes to school in the morning and after school before he gets home from work. And since you could move into the apartment directly across the hall from them, it would be very convenient.”

“You’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?”

“What do you think?”

I blink back tears yet again. I could say it’s hormones, but really, I’m processing everything.

“I really miss you.”

“Hallie…”

“I’m okay. The city just sucks without you and Kend. I don’t know how I’ll like small-town life, but I’m willing to give it a shot.”

“Really?” she squeals.

I laugh at that. “You’ve been trying to get me up there for a while now.”

“I know, but you never said yes.”

“Kend was still here.”

Frannie’s quiet for a moment.

“Now we’re both gone.”

I clear my throat. “Yep.”

“I’m sorry, Hallie.”

“It’s fine. I’m fine. You got your wish, and I’m coming to Ida. And please, don’t tell Kennedy I said anything about her leaving. I don’t want her to feel guilty. I’m glad she and Dev are finally together and living their best life.”

“I know you are. So… when will you be here?”

“What day is it? Friday?”

“You’re scaring me if you don’t know that, but yes.”

Ignoring that, I continue on. “Okay, then I’ll pack tomorrow and head up on Sunday.”

Again, she squeals. “I’m so excited. I can show you all the best restaurants. The coffee place and café down the street are the best. Oh, and we can go bug Justin and Jade in Woods Junction. I promise you, this is going to be amazing.”

Her excitement lifts my spirits a little. “I hope so. Anyway, I should get started organizing things. I love you.”

“Love you too. See you Sunday!”

Her cheery voice rings in my ears as she hangs up.

Looking around the room, I inhale deeply. This is it. New adventure. New start. Next chapter.

I pick up the stuffed bunny and stare at it for a moment. “What do you think, Veranda? Ready to find a new home?”

Maybe my baby’s first home.

Then I rub my hand over my flat stomach. I can’t believe there’s a baby growing in there. And now I’m packing up my life and moving to a small town that I’ve briefly visited twice.

What’s that saying? When it rains, it pours.

I guess I’ll find out if it’s the kind of rain that ends a drought or the kind that destroys everything in a flood.