“What does being pregnant have to do with anything?”
“You’ve never been pregnant, so you wouldn’t understand. I take it you’re going to continue seeing him?”
“Yes, but I want to take things slow.” She rushed on to thwart the snappy comment she knew her sister would make. “I can still take it slow even though we’ve already slept together. Who knows, maybe we can keep it physical and enjoy each other for now.”
“You’re not the kind to have S-E-X and remain detached, so don’t pretend that you are.” Yvonne had lowered her voice so the kids couldn’t hear her in the back.
Shawna flopped back against the pillows. “Can I please have my moment?”
“No, because you’re being ridiculous. If you’ve already done you-know-what, it’s obvious you have strong feelings for him. Why not go with it?”
“I’m not jumping into a serious relationship with the first man I’ve started seeing in months.” She didn’t even know if Ryan wanted a relationship. “There are plenty of other men out there I could date.”
“Like who?”
“They’re out there.”
“First you complain there are no available men—wait a minute, he is available now, isn’t he?”
“Yes.” At least that’s what he’d said. Surely he wouldn’t lie to her about that twice.
“Now you have a man who’s interested and you want to take it slow. But you’ve already had you-know-what with him. I think that ship has sailed, honey.”
“I don’t need your voice of reason right now.”
“And what about Jerome?”
Shawna plucked at the sheet. “What about him? There’s nothing going on between us. We’re friends, that’s all.” She and Jerome had dated a few times, but it hadn’t work out.
“He’s your neighbor and he’s going to see Ryan coming and going.”
“And . . . ? I’ve dated other men since Jerome and I broke up. Besides, we’re friends.”
“He’s always so helpful, lurking around—”
“Lurking?”
“—acting like his only concern is being a good neighbor. I don’t trust him. No man hangs around like that without an ulterior motive. At least that’s what William said, and he’s a man so he should know.”
“We talked after we stopped dating, and we both agreed we were better off as friends. Sometimes he can be a little pushy, but it’s hard to cut him off when he’s been so nice to me. I wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings.”
“You know what your problem is?”
“I’m sure you’ll tell me.”
“You’re too nice.”
“There’s no such thing.”
“Yes, there is. You’re a perfect example of it.”
“Are you done?”
“For now.” Shawna heard the worry in her sister’s voice when she spoke next. “One last thing. I know I joke a lot, but be careful with Ryan. I don’t want to see you get hurt, and I’ll feel terrible if I had any part in it because I got you two back together. You say you want to take things slow, but it doesn’t seem like you have. You seem to be all in with this guy already. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Shawna had the same concerns as Yvonne—that she was in over her head, and they both knew she wasn’t much of a risk-taker.
“I hope I know what I’m doing, too,” she admitted.
Chapter Sixteen
“Take it easy, guys,” Ryan said.
He stood back and watched the commercial movers wrangle the large conference table into the trailer of the moving truck. Technically, his shop was closed on Saturdays, but he’d made an exception today. The law firm of Benson & Gates had requested the table for the conference room. He’d also designed and created a matching credenza, as well as office furniture for one of the partners. They wanted everything moved into their new building over the weekend so as not to disrupt the office.