“No,” she said, grinning as she rolled her eyes. “I came to see Tori, and make sure she was okay.”
My mouth went dry. I didn’t want to think about Tori being hurt this long over what I said. “Is she?”
“She will be. I think the divorce is taking more of a toll on her than she wants to admit, and she was spouting off some nonsense about being through with love. And she’s still upset about your little stunt. You were mean to her, Avery, after she confided in you.”
“I told you I apologized, Des. I sent her flowers, and a note.”
Desiree shook her head. “I thought you knew women better than that. You should have apologized in person, fool. Especially since she now knows you live right here in Dallas. Sending flowers was lazy, and after the way you spoke to her — with no reason, might I add— I would think you be willing to do a little extra.”
“I just didn’t think about it.”
That was a lie. I’d actually agonized about it, then decided it was best not to see her. How would she have reacted? Would she have given me another black eye, cried? Worse, would she have been completely indifferent, or pretended to be, to not give me the satisfaction of seeing she cared? If she cared.
Why the hell does it matter if she cared?
“Oh, I know. I bet if you had slept with her you would have thought about it, but it’s good you haven’t. I can’t imagine how hurt my feelings would be if someone I had been intimate with did to me what you did to her. I would probably have you kick his ass. So… lucky you that I hid her from you for so long, right?”
“Uh, yeah,” I managed to choke out. “Lucky me.”
“Anyway, I have to head out so I don’t miss my flight back to Chicago, but I have news before I do!” She turned to me with an excited smile.
“What is it, Des? Something big happen with the boutique?”
She shook her head. “Nope, it’s better than that! You’re gonna be an uncle!”
My eyes went wide. “Stop playing.”
“I’m not!”
A grin spread over my face as I pulled my sister into another hug. I wasn’t convinced parenthood would ever appeal to me, but being an uncle? I could get with that. “Congratulations, sis! How far along?”
“Ten weeks. So, two and a half months.”
I cocked my head to the side while mentally calculated that timing. “I’m about to text Drew and threaten his life for getting my baby sister pregnant before he married her.”
“Whatever Avery,” Des said, laughing as she gave me a playful punch in the arm. “Don’t you dare text Drew yet, he doesn’t know. He had meetings all day today, and was already at his office when I found out, so I’m not telling him until he gets home tonight.”
“I won’t ruin your surprise, but I’m happy for you guys. I can’t wait to meet my nephew, start teaching him the ropes.”
Alarm spread over Des’ face, as she abruptly stopped laughing. “First of all, we don’t know that it’s gonna be a boy, so you can cut out the nephew stuff. And you showing someone the ropes… we’re gonna have to talk about that.”
My eyebrows drew together as I frowned. “Talk about what?”
“You being around the baby. You’re really not the best influence for a child right now.”
“Excuse me?”
What the hell is she talking about?
“I’m not trying to be mean, but it’s true. If the baby is a boy, I don’t want him growing up around you, thinking the way you run through and treat women is okay. And if it’s a girl, I don’t want her to think she has to be like those women to keep a man interested in her.”
Shaking my head, I stood up from the couch and began pacing the floor. “So you’re telling me you’re gonna keep my niece or nephew from me?”
“No. Well… yes. Well… not exactly.”
“Elaborate.”