“Do you think I would let her give up her dream just because I got her pregnant? That’s not who I am. I know she wants to be a doctor and I will make sure that happens. Even if that means I get up at three in the morning to feed our baby. I would do it. This situation isn’t ideal but its reality. It happened and now we deal with it and move on. We have our baby and raise her together, even if we aren’t together. This is Cobie and I and we got this shit under control.” Looking from face to face I stopped when my eyes landed on Cobie. “I won’t let you give up your dream. I can get a house in Ohio and we will raise our baby there so you can finish school. When I can’t be there I will make sure someone is always there to help.”

“I swear man if you fuck up and hurt her or this baby not even Jenna can keep you safe. Hear me?” Larkin fixed his eyes on me.

Giving him a hard nod I said, “Heard.”

Now he is getting a little taste of what I went through three years ago.

Walking up to house number four of the day, Cobie and I were both getting tired and irritated. Hopefully this one had the ‘IT’ factor.

Outside it was nice. There was a long, gated drive surrounded by mature oak trees and wild flowers. The house itself was a traditional brick Tudor. Just off the side of the house was a large tree with a tire swing. I could picture myself pushing my little girl on the swing when she was older.

…”And this one is only five hundred and twenty thousand.” My relator’s, Colleen’s voice broke through my day dream. “So very much under what you wanted to spend.”

Smiling at her I asked, “How many bedrooms?”

“Five bedrooms with four and a half baths. There is also a pool slash guest house and a barn with six stalls.

Cobie’s eyes lit up when she heard stalls. She loved horses. I had learned that over the last two weeks. We had learned a lot about each other. She wasn’t just that girl I fucked in my office. She was the mother of my child. She had hopes and dreams. She was scared and insecure. She was funny and when she was nervous she would nibble her bottom lip. Sarcasm was her second language. She’s an amazing person and if things were different I could see myself falling in love with her.

But, things weren’t different and this was life. We would be friends and we would raise our baby. In a way I found myself loving her but something different from the way I love Jenna.

Cobie nudged my arm. “We could get the baby a horse, Gage!” She sounded so hopeful and excited.

Shaking my head I said, “Yep, we could. But first, let’s find a house for our baby to live in. Don’t really feel like pullin’ some Mary and Joseph, having a baby in the barn shit.”

“Good point,” Cobie laughed as she followed Colleen into the house.

It was large and open. I’m no girl and houses don’t excite me but this place was beautiful.

Marble floors welcomed us in the foyer along with cascading stairs leading to the second floor. The marble continued down the hall and into the kitchen. The large living room was a dark hardwood with wall to wall windows over- looking the backyard and the barn. There was a stone fireplace in one corner and a built-in bookcase in the other. The kitchen had dark wood cabinets with black granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. There was a half bath on the first floor just off the kitchen along with the formal dining room. A small alcove was adjacent to the kitchen, perfect for a playroom.

“The master suite is also on this floor with his and her closets and a large spa style bathroom. It is just down this hall. The other four bedrooms are upstairs along with two full bathrooms. The basement is finished, it would perfect for your weight room and maybe a man cave? I think you two will really love this house.” Colleen said as she started walking down the hall toward the master bedroom.

“Let’s go see where the magic happens,” I joked, winking at Cobie. Her cheeks instantly pinked and she started nibbling her bottom lip.

Cobie wouldn’t look at me and avoided me as much as possible the rest of the tour. Once we were back in my black Lexus I asked, “What did you think?”

Shrugging she mumbled, “It’s your money. Get what you want.”

The lighthearted Cobie was gone. Back was the short, cold Cobie.

Placing my fingers under her chin I raised her head to look at me. “No. You listen to me, this is for us. For our baby. I want you happy too.”

She snorted and said, “You want me happy? Then stop making everything awkward. Everything doesn’t have to be turned into some sexual innuendo. This is hard enough with all your smartass remarks. I understand this isn’t easy for you either and you would much rather be out partying, screwing anything with a vagina, but you picked to be here. I didn’t force you.”

Mentally I counted to ten before replying through gritted teeth. “I know I picked to be here and I would do it again, over and over. This is just as hard on me as it is you. Neither one of us pictured things happening like this but it did. This is how I deal. I make dumbass remarks and say stupid shit. I don’t mean anything by it, Cobie. Honestly, I just wanted to make you laugh. If I woulda known it would upset you I woulda kept my damn mouth shut.” Using my free hand I picked up her hand. “If we want this thing between us to work then we both need to talk. We need to communicate. When I piss you off you can’t just shut down. Tell me. And when you’re being a pain in my ass I will let you know.”

Cobie shifted her eyes between mine. She pulled her bottom lip into her mouth, trapping it between her teeth. “I just don’t want you to feel trapped.”

Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “I don’t feel trapped. When will you get that through your damn head?” Cobie lifted one shoulder but said nothing. Wanting to lighten the mood I asked, “So what did you think of this place?”

As soon as I mentioned the house her face lit up. I could see the answer written all over her face, she had loved it but I wanted her to tell me. Fighting back her smile she said, “I liked it. What did you think?”

“I think if you liked it, then this is our new house. I will call Colleen and tell her to send the offer in. If everything goes smoothly we should have the keys in a week or so. Welcome to our new home.”

Both Cobie and I looked out the windshield at the large brick home in front of us. The house that would be ours to raise our child in.

She scrunched her face up. “How can you get the house so fast? Won’t we need to wait on the bank?”

I shook my head. “Nope. I’m paying cash. Cash money, baby.”

Cobie rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, “Of course you are. Why would you need a loan when you are the one and only Gage Tucker?”

Smirking I said, “That would be the one, the only, Gage Motha’ Fuckin’ Tucker.”

Cobie laughed and shook her head. “Call Colleen before your big head explodes.”

Oh man I could say something right now…No! I will be good and not upset her.

“What?”

“Huh?” I asked, confused.

“The look on your face. It was like you wanted to say something but changed your mind.”

How the hell did she know me so well already?

“I did but I decided not to.”

“Why?” Cobie asked. She squinted her eyes like she was trying to figure me out.

“It was dirty.”

Cobie’s eyes went from small slits to the size of saucers. “Oh.”

“Yep. That’s why I decided to just keep my mouth shut.”

Leaning her head back to lay on the head rest she stared out the windshield. “What were you going to say?”

I shook my head. “You get pissed when I say shit like I was thinking. My mouth is shut.”

Turning the car on, the radio came to life. And, damn if Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke wasn’t playing. Both Cobie and I looked at each other.