He’d even reached the point where he was certain that he had what it took to be able to hide his resentment of any calls on his time or energy.
And he wasn’t suffocating.
On anything.
Except, maybe, an overcharged, overloaded unrequited need for sexual release.
With Sage.
And yet, thinking about suggesting that they just bite the bullet and get married stopped him every time. He still didn’t feel like that guy.
He felt more and more like one of Leigh’s people, though. If Scott was missing his niece’s company as she spent as much or more of the group beach time with Gray now, instead of with Scott, the man didn’t say.
Nor did he ask any questions.
About Leigh or Sage.
Or anything that might or might not be going on between the two of them.
Gray knew Scott suspected something. The man was sharp. Was used to reading people. Juries filled with them.
Scott would know soon enough. He and Sage had said all along that after the doctor visit, they’d tell her brother. And Iris. And a few others, as selectively decided by the two of them.
She was waiting until after the first trimester to tell her partners.
And whenever she started to show, Leigh would be clued in.
Gray had been hoping he’d be moved into his place before Scott found out that he’d impregnated the man’s twin sister and wasn’t marrying her. Facing his friend, who’d surely see Gray’s lack as a second fatal blow to his sister, he wasn’t nearly as confident as Sage was that Scott would be fine with it as long as she was. He’d tried to hope for that, too.
Even sent up a little note, asking for it for Christmas.
He’d also learned, probably in the womb, not to expect to get what he hoped for.
But was pleasantly let off the hook for another night when Sage texted late afternoon, the day of her doctor’s appointment, to say that telling Scott that night was out. Her brother the prosecutor was going to be out of town for a couple of days, consulting on a case in another county.
He got the same text from Scott, asking him to look after Morgan, right after Sage’s message came through.
Gray texted back a thumbs-up, to each, immediately.
Didn’t say much about him that his mood lifted noticeably at the reprieve.
He also hadn’t worked his mind around how he’d be a father to his own child, treat Leigh equally, but be less than her uncle Scott to her. Because damn straight, Scott wasn’t going to give up his father-figure role in the little girl’s life for Gray.
Who wasn’t marrying Scott’s twin sister.
He did get one detail figured out though. The three bedrooms and one of the two bathrooms in his cottage were complete. As were parts of the kitchen and great room. Flooring still had to be laid. Drywall put up in the great room. Stove installed. Dishwasher and garbage disposal put in and hooked up. Some electric to finish up.
But the bedrooms and the one bathroom were done.
He could move in before Scott returned. Hook up a small refrigerator and a coffee maker in the bathroom. Be no different than living in a hotel room.
He texted Sage when he got home. Letting her know his plan. Had his suitcases thrown together and his stuff out of Scott’s place before her car was parked in her space four cottages down. Driving by her place, he smiled. He was on his way home.
And he’d be passing Sage’s house every single time he came home. They’d be that close.
He didn’t check himself, but felt as though he’d smiled all the way through getting his stuff in the cottage. And toiletries set in the bathroom. It was all just stuff he’d take on an extended vacation. There were many boxes of things to bring in when the time was right.
But for the moment, he was a man who owned a thing he cared about.
