eyes at them. “Relationships blow.”
A deep, pain-filled groan fills the room, and we all turn to look at Storm, whose arms are around Jake’s neck, her forehead resting on his shoulder as she practically hangs off him. His hands rub her lower back in circles as he murmurs, “Breath, baby. You got this.”
My heart squeezes in my chest at witnessing such an intensely intimate moment. I should probably turn away and give them their privacy. But it’s just so . . . I can’t find adequate words to describe it.
Kins steps into my side, her fingers tangling with mine as we both stand on the outside looking in.
It feels like forever before Storm lifts her head, stares into Jake’s eyes, and says, “Let’s go have a baby.”
He kisses her temple, slides an arm around her waist, and leads her out of the apartment, Em and Sebastian on their heels.
“Can you lock up?” Em asks on her way past us.
I nod. “Of course.”
The front door closes, and silence fills the apartment as Kins and I stand frozen in place.
“Wow,” Kins says.
“Yeah, wow,” I echo.
Her hand squeezes mine, and I turn my head to face her. She swallows and says, “So, umm, I’m pregnant . . .”
“I knew it!”
Kins’ eyes widen in shock. “What? How?”
“The way your hand hovered over your belly when you walked in here and saw Storm in labor,” I tell her. “I knew you had news for us, so when you did that, I figured that must’ve been it.”
“Do you think I’m crazy?” she asks, worry lines marring her forehead.
I tug her toward the couch, and we sit facing each other. “No, why would I ever think that?”
She shrugs. “Because Atticus and I have only been together for a year. It’s all happening really fast.”
I snort. “Dude, Em and Sebastian have only been together for, what, seven maybe eight months? And she’s six months pregnant and moved in with the guy. I don’t think there’s a correct timeline for these things. They’re as perfect for each other as you and Atticus are. When you know, you know.”
Kins rests her cheek on the back of the couch and stares at me.
My brows furrow. “What?”
“When did you get so wise?” she asks. “And why aren’t you applying this wisdom to your own situation?”
Sometimes I wish my friends didn’t know me so well. Swallowing, I avert my gaze from her. “It’s complicated.”
“No, it’s not. You’re making it that way,” she says in a flat tone that brooks no argument.
“When did you turn into a hard-ass?” I chuckle.
She shrugs, a smile playing at her lips. “Being with Atticus has helped me see a lot of things more clearly. And you, my friend, are running from a good thing. I’m just not sure why anymore.”
“You know why,” I refute.
She takes my hand again. “Your reasoning is flawed. I know you don’t want to date a client. But Archer was your friend before he became your client. He’s always been more and always will be.”
A weight settles on my chest. She’s right. Arch meant more to me even before we slept together last year. “But you know what people will think. Not everyone knows that he’s been in my life for as long as I can remember. All anyone will see is that I’m with a client, and that’s going to look bad for my career.”
“So, does that really matter?” she asks, her eyes searching mine. “You’re already successful, Len. Hell, you’re one of the top agents in the city. You’ve got more high-profile clients than most agents can hope to secure in their whole career, and you’re only twenty-six.”
I swallow hard. I hate that she’s making sense. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “Can we talk about something else? Like, oh, I don’t know, that your pregnant!” I say, forcing false cheer into my voice.
She smiles as her hand floats to her belly. “I know. It’s pretty crazy, huh?”
“Did you plan it, or . . .?”
“We talked about it, and Atticus is thirty-seven this year and said he didn’t want to be an old dad. So, I stopped taking the pill, and boom, I fell pregnant pretty much straight away,” she says, a mad blush coating her cheeks.
“What’d the kid have to say about it?” I ask, knowing Arlo would have had an entertaining reaction.
Kins laughs and shakes her head. “He gagged then told us the mental image of us creating life together would forever scar him and to expect