"We'll talk about this later," she finally said, in a tone that said over my dead body, and then she turned to inspect the rest of the house.
* * *
"So, let me get this straight," Kyra said slowly, munching on the sandwich she'd bought for lunch. They were at their favorite spot near the pier. Maddie had just finished a morning library session and she planned to take the rest of the afternoon off to finish packing up her apartment. "You're mad at him because he wants to pay off your student loans and because he bought you a house and wants to pay for everything? Am I missing something?"
"Well, when you put it like that, of course it sounds like I'm the crazy one," Maddie grumbled, irritably. "It was the way he said it! He is so high-handed and arrogant."
"But you knew that about him already," Kyra pointed out. "If you ask me, it's kinda hot. Those guys are always the best in the sack if you know what I mean."
"Ugh, you are no help at all," Maddie muttered.
Kyra laughed, nudging her shoulder. "Okay, but in all seriousness, I don't think it's a bad thing."
"He's not only asking me to move in with him and try and make this relationship work, but he's asking me to give up my independence too," Maddie said slowly. "I'm not comfortable with that. I don't want to be completely dependent on him if things go south."
"Sounds to me like you're expecting them to," Kyra noted.
Maddie sighed. Was she? "It's hard not to think that given what's happened between us. I'm not holding my breath. Caleb's no good at the relationship thing. He's told me himself. And me? I've never been in a relationship, not to mention the fact that I'm pregnant with his child. I don't see how this will ever work out, no matter how much I might want it to."
"If you're not positive when things are tough, then of course it never will. Don't set yourself up for failure, Maddie," Kyra told her. "Just take it slow, like you plan on doing. It's not going to be all roses and rainbows in the beginning. But let him make it easier on you. If he wants to pay for things, let him. Guys are weird about money, and in all honesty, money is going to be the least of your problems anyway."
Maddie blew out a breath. Kyra was right. Money was just a small needle in a haystack of many. "Fine, but I'm not using the joint account."
"How long do you think you'll be able to get away with that?" Kyra asked, giving her signature smirk. Then, since her best friend knew her so well, she changed the subject. At least slightly. "How did your family react when you told them you were moving in with your baby daddy?"
Maddie looked down at her half-finished sub. "My mom's concerned, naturally, but I told her that I think it's for the best, trying to make this work, so she's okay with it."
"And your brother?"
"He's … " She sighed. "He's not happy about it at all." He'd gone red in the face when she told him and then yelled at her for about fifteen minutes straight, hardly pausing for breath, telling her all the reasons why he thought it was a terrible idea. Needless to say, he wasn't Caleb's biggest fan, regardless of the fact that they'd been friends all those long years ago.
"He's always been over-protective," Kyra said. "He had to be when your father died. He'll come around eventually."
"I hope so," Maddie murmured. "Because Caleb is going to be in our lives now, for the rest of our lives, whether Thomas likes it or not. It would sure make holidays easier if they got along," she joked, trying to lighten the heavy mood.
"That's the spirit," Kyra replied, smiling, then she glanced at her watch. "Shit, I need to get back to the office." Standing, she said, "But I'll swing by after work to help you pack up the rest of your stuff. Big day tomorrow!"
Moving day, she meant. Tomorrow would mark the first day of her and Caleb-and Peter, of course-living together and she'd be lying if some part of her wasn't completely and utterly terrified.
* * *
Caleb knew he was in for it when he spotted a black Mercedes pull into his lot and then watched as a familiar figure unfolded from the car.
He'd known that this confrontation was inevitable, so he wiped his hands off on a rag, tossed it onto the work bench, and approached the unmistakably furious form of Thomas Ashby.
"Thomas," he greeted when they were only a few feet apart. "I-"
Caleb expected the punch that exploded across his jawline. He welcomed it even. His face throbbed with pain as he massaged the tender spot before meeting the eyes of Maddie's brother, someone he'd once considered a friend.
A quick glance over his shoulder revealed Brian and a couple other of his employees staring at the two of them. Brian stood, tense, waiting. They didn't know that this was Maddie's brother. And only Brian and Peter knew that she was pregnant.