In every scenario, I’d have her back, no matter what. That part was set in stone. But predicting Jared and Kellie’s responses left me guessing. I hadn’t known either one of ’em longer than an hour, but that was about to change real quick.
“Where’re you at with everything?” Jared asked Lauren as he set a pitcher of ice water and a stack of glasses in the middle of the table and took the baby from Kellie. “What’s your plan?”
As everyone took a seat, I pulled a glass from the top and filled it, sliding it toward Lauren.
“She has about six months left,” Kellie said, rubbing her temple. “Did you tell Ren yet?”
“Yes,” Lauren answered.
“And?”
“Um. He asked me to marry him, I said no—”
“Hallelujah.”
“He basically just peaced-out and said he’d send me child support—”
“Thank you, Jesus.”
“And I said don’t bother.”
“WHAT?” All three of us shouted at the same time.
“Lauren.” Kellie stared at the ceiling, probably asking God for patience. “Of course you’ll get his child support. You’re not thinking straight. Sweetie, this is about the baby, not you. Have you told your boss yet?”
Lauren swallowed, tugging at the ends of her hair and looking drained. I wanted to get her out of here and take her somewhere she could relax. But protecting her from reality wouldn’t help her in the end, and I could tell Kellie and Jared cared about her. She needed to work this out with them.
“Not yet.”
“Did you tell Mom?” Kellie asked.
Lauren’s eyes bulged. “No.”
Kellie nodded. “Probably wise.”
Lauren sipped her water and set the glass back down, glancing at me with so much fear I barely recognized her. The confident girl who told secrets to fish was gone, replaced by a pregnant woman facing a hazy future. I covered her hand and wove my fingers between hers.
“I’m not gonna beat around the bush with you and Carter,” Jared said. “There’s too much at stake this time, Lauren. What makes you think a new relationship’s a good idea right now . . . and with a baby on the way? I just don’t get it.”
He leaned back, folding his arms across his chest.
I gave her hand a squeeze and Lauren drew a deep breath, turning her attention back to me. “Because as crazy as my life is right now, everything’s different when I’m with Carter. It’s better with him. Even like this.”
My heart pinched. With Lauren looking at me like that, I was toast.
“I know it’s crazy, guys,” I said. “We just met, and all the odds are against us, but I think we have something real, something solid. We get each other in a way that doesn’t make sense. It’s like we were supposed to meet this summer. Exactly like this.”
Kellie sighed, her eyes cold, calculating.
Jared’s jaw muscles worked as he ground his teeth.
I wasn’t ready to explain my logic to complete strangers yet. I couldn’t tell them about my dead wife, and her failed pregnancies. I couldn’t explain how bad I wanted my own kid—an adorable one just like Liam. They wouldn’t understand Lauren was a chance to redeem myself.
I lifted a shoulder, studied Lauren’s beautiful face.
“I’m just a wounded marine with a broken past. But if there’s nothing else I’ve learned about Lauren, I know for a fact that she’s a girl worth every ounce of fight I have left in me. And I’m not a quitter.”
Lauren bit her lip, dimples pricking again, and even just the hint of that smile lit a fire in my chest. This was worth it. I wanted to lean in and kiss her. I returned her grin instead.
“That’s sweet.” Kellie lifted a brow at me. “But it’s insane. You seem like a nice guy, Carter, but we don’t know you, and honestly, neither does Lauren.”
“She needs some time,” Jared added. “She just got out of a relationsh—”
“I told you guys, I’m fine,” Lauren cut in, back to frowning. “I want this.” She gripped my arm with her free hand. “Carter’s been my biggest support since I found out, and I’m not shutting us down because you guys don’t know him.” Lauren mirrored Kellie with her lifted brow. “Get to know him, Kel. It’s not optional.”
Lauren flipped her hair, scooted her chair back, and bolted out the door.
-LAUREN-
I gripped the railing at the edge of the porch and closed my eyes, trying to forget Kellie and Jared’s judging tones. It wasn’t their responsibility to start deciding what I could and couldn’t do with my life. Carter wasn’t their call. He was mine. I wasn’t the new graduate I’d been when our parents vanished. I didn’t need Kel and Jared as parental figures anymore. I was twenty-two and about to be a mother.
Wow.
I was about to be a mother.
I tightened my grip on the whitewashed wood post and glared at the perfectly mown lawn out front, the cute little mailbox, and the grove of oak trees across the street. What I wouldn’t give to trade places with Kellie for a day. Just so she could see what it was like being the bad sister, the one nobody believed in. The one destined to blow it every time.
Not that they were wrong about me. The truth just sucked.
A hot tear rolled down my cheek and I flicked it away. I don’t know why I was so bothered by Jared and Kel’s reaction. I knew they’d have something against Carter. They had something against every guy I’d brought here to meet them.
But Carter was so different. They had to see that.
I felt Carter’s presence before his strong hand slid across my back. He moved beside me and took a deep breath. “They’re just trying to help.”
“They’re being psychotic. They have no right to judge.”
“I’d be in the same boat if my little sister was in your shoes. Man, I don’t even like thinking about her being old enough to date.”
“You have a little sister?”
He nodded, pulling me close enough for
