Page 80 of Can't Win 'Em All
I wanted to hurt her. “Either help or get out. I don’t know which one I prefer at present, so I will leave the choice up to you.”
Olivia shot my sisters a warning look. “You must have something you can wear.”
“Well, I don’t. Nothing fits. I’m a whale.”
“I think you’re adorable with your little tummy.” Olivia was all smiles as she touched my stomach. It took everything I had not to slap her hand away. She really was trying to help me. My sisters, however, were monsters.
“I’m not going.” I made up my mind on the spot and threw my hands into the air. “I’m calling Rex and canceling.”
“No, you are not.” Olivia took me by surprise with her vehemence. “You’re going.”
“Since when are you the boss of me?”
“Oh, don’t even.” Olivia let loose an exasperated sigh. “It’s obvious that you want to be with Rex. Otherwise, you would’ve shut him down weeks ago when he first broached the subject of dating.”
“Wait … he brought this up weeks ago?” Pearl looked intrigued. “Why are you just going out now if he broached the subject that long ago?”
“Because he’s not ready for a relationship,” I replied automatically. “He’s a manwhore.” I shot Olivia an apologetic look. She was loyal to her brother of course. She would probably take offense at the statement. “Sorry.”
She waved me off. “It’s fine. I’m not oblivious to my brother’s shortcomings. It’s just … he hasn’t been a manwhore since before you guys hooked up. He was already slowing down. Since that night, he hasn’t been with anybody. I don’t think you can legitimately call him a manwhore any longer.”
My heart skipped three beats. “He hasn’t been with anybody since that night with me?” I couldn’t help being dubious. “Um … that seems unlikely.”
“Unlikely or not, it’s true.”
“He told you that?”
She shook her head. “I heard him telling Zach when they were plotting his grand gesture to get you to go out with him. They’ve been talking about it for days. They thought I didn’t know, but their voices carry when they’re drinking beers and watching games.”
I had no idea what to make of that. My insides, oddly, smoothed over at the news. “He’s been putting in the work.” I was no longer shrill. “He’s been going out of his way to make sure I’m comfortable.”
“He loves you,” Olivia agreed.
My glare was a stark rebuke. “I think it’s a little soon for love.”
“Actually, it’s not, but okay.” Olivia held up her hands in supplication. “You guys have been spending all your time together for months. You might not think about it as romantic time, but you’ve been getting to know one another in an intimate way all the same.”
“She has a point,” Pearl mused. “You guys have been pretty much inseparable.”
“I don’t want him being with me just because of the baby.” Until I said it out loud, I didn’t realize what was fueling my fears. “I want him to want me.”
“Because you want him,” Olivia guessed.
I dipped my chin. I couldn’t meet her eyes. It was hard for me to admit that I’d been falling for Rex this whole time. I couldn’t even admit it to myself. “We’re in a very weird place,” was what I said instead. “We get along great. What if we ruin everything by trying to take it to the next level?”
“What if you get everything you’ve ever wanted?” Olivia challenged. “What if both of you get love and a baby?”
“I just … I’m afraid.”
“I get it.” Olivia turned solemn. “I was worried about telling your brother I had real feelings for him too. I’m glad I took the leap, though. I’ve never been happier. It can be the same way for you.”
“Or it could ruin everything.”
“What are you going to ruin?” Pearl challenged. “Rex isn’t the type to hold a grudge. If it doesn’t work, you guys will be fine. You’ll make sure of it. If it does work out, though…”
“Then you’ll live happily ever after,” Opal finished. “You’ll have beat our father at his own game on top of it. Why wouldn’t you possibly want that?”
She was right. Somewhere along the way, the idea of not trying became more terrifying than actually trying. “Fine. I have to find a dress, though. He’s taking me to the Eiffel Tower. I can’t wear leggings and a peasant blouse to the Eiffel Tower.”
