“Okay, what’s wrong with him?”
“Um, he’s recovering from losing his wife a year ago.”
“Stop.”
“They were in a car accident together last year. She died. Going to church can be really tough for him.”
“Oh my gosh, Lauren. Are you serious?”
I nodded.
Kellie’s eyes welled. “I know you really like him,” she said, panic in her voice. “But that’s major. Incredibly major.”
“I know. It totally is. But, he’s in counseling, and I’ve been helping him through it, too. We’ve been there for each other the whole time. I think it’s why we have such a strong connection.”
My heart swelled, and I wanted to run and kiss him senseless for not backing down from this. I was beyond proud of him. Proud of us.
“So,” Kellie said, “he’s not only taking on a pregnant girlfriend, he’s also grieving his wife. And let me guess, he didn’t lose that leg in action, did he?”
“He lost it in the accident.”
“Lauren.”
“I know it looks crazy. But Kellie, my relationship with God’s changed since I met Carter. I feel closer to Him somehow. It’s like, He put Carter in my path, so I could see Him better.”
“I get where you’re coming from . . . And I know God has a plan. Just. You have a lot on your plate, and apparently, so does he. Maybe you two should just—”
“You know where I stand, Kel.”
“But, I’m worried.”
“That’s what big sisters are for, right?”
“We like him so far, but—just be careful, okay?”
“We will.”
Sighing, Kellie looped her arm through mine and we strolled together back to her Suburban. Carter was leaning against his Chevy frowning down at his phone, sweet Aiden was out cold in his car seat, and Liam was in his chattering away at Jared, who shot Kel a help-me look.
“And, Dada, Mrs. Granger says I could fly as high as the birdies if I had wings.”
“Oh, yeah?” Jared asked.
“I’m coming to say bye, Liam,” I interjected, hoping it would help save Jared.
Liam frowned, crossing his arms. “No. You stay two more days.”
Kellie and I busted up.
“You stay my house, and sleep my room, and be my Aunta.”
I grinned, leaning in to plant a smooch on his soft cheek. “I’ll always be your Aunta. I’ll come visit again in a couple weeks, okay?”
“No. I want to fight the chicken again.”
I couldn’t figure out how a two-foot ninja stole my heart, but it was totally his. “The chicken’s tired, buddy. He has to get back to camp, too.”
“The chicken had a fun time, though.” Carter’s voice cut in and he leaned in and offered Liam a high five. Liam studied Carter’s hand for about ten seconds before slapping it with a grin. “I’ll teach you some more moves next time, all right?”
“Excuse me?” Kellie asked. “Moves? What moves?”
“Um, we better get going,” I interjected.
“Yeah, us too.” Jared gave me a hug, shook hands with Carter, and rushed to the driver’s side of the Suburban, Kellie tracking him with narrowed eyes.
She gave me a tight hug and whispered, “Be careful.”
Twenty-Five
-CARTER-
Lauren called our order in to-go from the same breakfast diner we ate at last night, saying the pancakes were perfection and she’d been thinking about them all night. More than anything, I was realizing she was perfection. I couldn’t believe I’d made it through church. She had to be the missing piece to my failed attempts in the past. For some reason, having her beside me strengthened me in all the places I’d let grow weak, and honestly, I felt closer to God when she was around.
When we got to the diner, Lauren grabbed her duffle and scooted out of the truck.
“Wardrobe change?” I asked.
“Yeah, I want to get out of this skirt.”
I raised a brow and grinned.
“What’s so funny?”
“What if I like you in that skirt?”
She laughed. “Okay, flirt.”
Lauren went inside to pick up her pancakes, and came out wearing a pair of black shorts, a gray T-shirt, and a smile I never wanted to forget. She always looked so fresh and real when she went light on the makeup. She shook the diner bag at me, like a pom-pom, and climbed back in. I leaned over to plant a soft one on her lips, and she responded with a gentle sigh.
Everything in me wanted to deepen the kiss, but I pulled away. I wasn’t done proving the type of guy I was, that I was serious about us.
“Country fried steak with biscuits and gravy, and hash browns for you,” she said, then fake-gagged. She opened the second box and let out a giddy little squeal. “And pure heaven for me.”
I pulled back out into the lazy Sunday traffic. The sun was shining, the sky was as blue as it came, and I had a girl in my truck who was making me think of the future again.
“How was church for you?” she asked, cautiously, pouring a boatful of syrup over her pancakes.
“Better than I expected. You?”
“Same.” She took a bite and dropped her head back in another pregnant trance before she popped an eye open to study me. “You have an amazing voice by the way.”
“What’s your schedule look like this week?” I asked, reaching for my drink in the cup holder and slurping up my Coke.
She took another bite, had another mini-trance, swallowed.
“Afternoon shifts through the rest of August.” She bounced her shoulders. “I’ve been dying to get on the afternoon shift. Waking up before seven’s like death on a good day. Pregnancy makes it pure torture.”
I exhaled, relieved she didn’t pursue the singing topic.
“I’ll make sure my shifts are in the afternoon too. I want to spend as much time with you as possible over these next two weeks.”
Her face lit up with a big goofy grin, and she just kept staring at me that way.
“Can I help you, ma’am?”
Somehow, her grin got even wider. If I wasn’t busy driving my Chevy, I would’ve leaped over the console and just held her for a while. Seems like all
