“Everything okay in here, Benny?”
I looked over my shoulder and found Smokey standing in the doorway. I had seen the way he looked at my mother. Saw him following her with his eyes whenever she was in the room. I turned back to my mother and lifted a brow.
“Everything’s fine, Smoke. Just a little mother-daughter spat.”
My mother walked past me and whispered, “We’re not done talking about this.” Then she left the room with Smokey, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
My whole life all I’d ever wanted was for my parents to be together. I understood now that it was never going to happen, and I wanted my mother to have someone, but I planned to go home after the baby was born.
Back to Rosewood.
And I wanted her to go with me. I didn’t want her falling in love with someone here. Staying here without me.
You can stay.
I shook my head at the voice I heard.
I couldn’t stay.
Not here.
My phone rang, and I smiled when I saw the number. I was still angry with him for interfering, but I was happy to hear his voice.
“Hi, Dad,” I greeted cheerfully.
“Hi, baby. How’s New Orleans?”
There was something in his voice that told me he knew. Had my mother told him? She promised me she wouldn’t. Rian had promised the same, but when his boss called, he didn’t make the same promise.
“Um...”
“Why are you in Arkansas? And why didn’t your mother tell me?”
“Who told you?”
“Your brother let it slip.”
“King knows?” I said, just as Jude stuck his head into the room. He tried to slink back out, and I clipped, “Don’t you move!”
“Excuse me?”
“Not you, Dad.”
I glared at Jude and pointed my finger to the chair in the corner. He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head.
“Why are you there, Morgan?”
I took a deep breath. “I need to tell you something, but I need you to keep that Irish temper in check, okay?”
“Morgan, if that son of a bitch hurts you again...”
“I’m pregnant,” I said, spinning around and giving Jude my back. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to keep the tears from falling as I waited for my father’s reaction.
“You’re pregnant?”
“Yes, Daddy,” I whispered.
“Is it...” He cut his question, and I knew he wanted me to say no.