I hold the car door open for Violet as she gets in. I try to catch her eye so we can share a smile, but her hair falls across her face, creating a screen that shuts me out. Keeping my disappointment tamped down, I take my own seat.

“One second,” she says as she texts. “I’m just updating Kaila. And…there.”

She puts the phone away and gives me one of those half-hearted smiles.

“Is everything all right?”

“Yeah,” she answers through her tight grin.

“If you don’t want me to do this…” I can’t finish the sentence.

“Sean.” Violet’s hand rests on mine—but only for a second before she quickly pulls it away. “I do.” Her eyes are earnest, and all I can do is believe her.

It’s not like I’m giving the other option a go. Like I already promised, I’m in this for the long-haul. Nothing can change that.

“What now?” I ask. “Do you need to go back to the gallery right away? We could get something to eat. Or go shopping. We’re gonna need so much stuff.” I frown. “Shit. What do we need? A crib? Diapers?”

Violet laughs.

“Sean, relax. There’s plenty of time for that. And, no, I don’t need to go back to the gallery right away. Everything is on hold today for the painting, and Kaila is there, so I guess…I’m free.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah,” she agrees.

I wait for more, praying she won’t start the car and tell me she’s dropping me off at my bike.

What are things going to be like between us now? There’s still so much to talk about. What does it mean to be co-parents but not partners? And is she still feeling the same attraction I am? Every time Violet moves, I want to touch her, to bury myself in her scent and her skin.

“There’s something I need to do,” she quietly says. “And if I don’t go ahead and get it over with, it’ll drive me crazy.”

“What is it?”

“I need to tell my mom. Will you come with me?”

“Yeah. Of course.”

Violet sighs and worriedly bites on her lip.

“What’s wrong?”

“She’s not going to like this.”

“Hm.” She’s right about that. Violet’s mom is…particular. “What do you want to tell her, exactly?”

“Well,” she carefully starts, “We need to let her know you’re the father. If you’re going to help raise the baby, our parents will find out sooner or later.”

“So, we’ll tell her the truth.”

“Let’s leave Frank out of it,” she suggests, smiling.

“Don’t worry. I wasn’t planning on sharing that part with anyone.”

“Okay.” She takes a long inhale and starts the car. “Let’s get this over with.”

During the drive her mom’s house, I stare out the window, lost in my own thoughts, just as Violet probably is. Her mom’s not going to understand why two people who are just friends have decided to have a baby together, and my parents probably won’t either.

Which is fine, because I don’t fully get it as well.

As Violet turns onto her mom’s street, I remind myself not to let ulterior motives take control of my brain. This is about my relationship with my child, not about me and Violet.

“Oh,” she quietly says.

I look through her window and find what she’s staring at. Not only is Violet’s mom’s car in the driveway, my own mother’s is there as well.

Violet parks on the street and looks over at me.

“We don’t have to do this now.”

“No, let’s do it.”

“I’m kind of glad your mom is here, actually.”

“Why’s that?”

She shrugs. “I have a feeling she’ll be supportive.”

“Huh?”

I don’t have time to ask a real question, because Violet is out of the car and crossing the yard. I catch up, making sure we’re next to each other when she knocks on the front door.

“Violet. Sean!” Caroline cries as she opens the door. “What are you two doing here?”

Violet draws her shoulders back. “Mom, we’d like to talk with you and Abigail.”

“All right,” she uncertainly says, catching Violet’s serious tone. Her eyes narrow slightly as they slip over to me, but she steps aside and lets us into the living room.

Just as Violet and I take a seat next to each other on the couch, my mom comes in from the kitchen, a glass of iced tea in hand.

“I thought I heard your voices. What’s the occasion?”

“Hey, Mom.” I force a smile, wondering what she’ll have to say in about two minutes.

“Will you both have a seat?” Violet quietly asks.

Our mothers exchange a quick look before they settle into the two armchairs in the corners.

Violet clears her throat. I can practically feel the anxiety wafting off of her. I’m dying to hold her hand, to wrap my arm around her waist…to do something—anything. Since that might not be what she wants, though, I keep my hands to myself.

“As you both know, I’ve been making plans to have a child for a while now.”

“Huh?” I ask, my eyes jumping to my mom. She just nods and shrugs, sipping her tea like it’s no big deal.

Caroline’s lips purse.

“I hope this isn’t about the insemination clinic, Violet. Is this about that?”

“Those plans fell through,” Violet dully answers.

Caroline makes a ‘figures’ face, and if she wasn’t my future child’s grandmother, I’d be on my feet right about now, daring her to keep treating Violet that way.

“But I am still having a baby,” Violet continues. “And I came here to tell you I’m pregnant.”

Both moms stare at her, looking like they’re in shock. Then, as my mom’s face transforms into a look of joy, Caroline’s eyes fall to the carpet.

“Violet!” Mom coos. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations, honey.”

“How?” Caroline demands.

Then, she looks at me again. And then she gets it.

“You two aren’t seeing each other,” Caroline quietly says. “Are you?”

“No,” I hastily reply. Violet’s done enough talking as it is, and it’s no doubt killing her. “But we’ve decided to have a child together. As friends.”

Dead silence. This time, I put my arm around Violet’s shoulder and hold her close. Screw proper behavior or whatever.

“That’s not a thing,” Caroline snorts. “You can’t have a baby as friends.”

I open my mouth to—hopefully calmly—tell her we are indeed doing that, but Violet beats me to the punch.

“Obviously we can,” she snaps, “Because that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Caroline’s chest sharply rises, and her face turns red.

“Violet,” she quietly seethes, “I know this sounds like a good idea today, but trust me, you will regret this. When a man walks into your life—”

“Not everyone needs a husband,” Violet counters. “And not everyone is sitting around waiting for the one who left them fifteen years ago to come back.”

It’s as if all the air is sucked out of the room. There’s no way for a sound to be made. Everyone freezes, caught in this awful moment. Violet’s jab was as low of a blow as they can get; we all know that. And, damn, it hurts to watch that punch hit home. Caroline is frozen, the only thing moving in her face the ticking of her clamped jaw.

Without warning, Mom stands up and claps her hands together.

“Both of you, let’s stop this right now. This is nothing to fight over. Violet has already made her choice…and Sean as well, it seems.”

Her questioning eyes fall on me, and I know what she’s probably thinking. Who is this man on the couch and was has he done with her independent, bachelor son?

We’re sure to have a long, long talk later.

“I’m sorry,” Caroline tartly says, shaking her head. “But I cannot support this. You both are too young to know what you want.”

I tighten my grip around Violet’s shoulders.

“With all respect, Caroline, we’re almost thirty. I think we know what we want.”

Really, I only just figured out what I want, but she doesn’t need to know that.

Violet, who has been oddly quiet for a while now, trembles against my chest, her hands curling into fists.

“None of this has to do with you, Mom, and I refuse to end up like you.”

Violet stands, leaving my embrace like I’m not even there, and pulls the door open. It hits the wall with a bang, and, just like that, she’s gone. I’m left staring at an empty doorway, my mouth hanging open.

A touch on my shoulder makes me jerk around.

“Go talk to her,” Mom whispers. “I’ll stay with Caroline.”

I let out a hot exhale. “Okay.”

“Sean?”

“Yeah?” I ask, pulse thundering in my ears.

“I think I understand,” she whispers. “But even if I don’t…it’s your choice.”

My chest nearly melts from the warmth that fills it. “Thanks, Mom.”

Without looking at Caroline, I leave the house. Violet’s car is right where we left it, but she’s nowhere to be seen. Dashing onto the sidewalk, I scan the area for any sign of her.

“Fuck,” I exhale.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I call her number. No answer.

I’m not about to sit around and wait for her to come back, though. Violet’s no doubt feeling all alone right now. I have to show her she’s anything but that. I have to show her that I’m here for her.

In every possible way.

Where would I go if I were her? I rush down the sidewalk, thinking hard. Suddenly, it hits me.

Arms pumping at my sides, I run across the street and down another block, not stopping till I’m at the park. Violet’s just where I thought she’d be, sitting on the bleachers and staring at an empty baseball diamond.

“Violet.”

She turns at the sound of my voice, revealing the tear streaks on her cheeks. Quickly, she rubs at her face and turns back around, probably ashamed to be caught crying.

“How did you know I’d be here?”

“Are you serious?”

I stop at the bleachers and look up at her. She’s on one of the very top benches, putting her several heads above me.

The spot is a significant one, I guess you could say. In our early high school years, whenever we managed to sneak a bit of liquor from her mom’s cabinet, we’d head over here. Sometimes, we’d meet up with friends, but other times, it would be just the two of us, sipping on forbidden whiskey and watching the moon rise or the clouds drift by.

Thinking about it now, I realize that the times with just the two of us were the best. Despite the pack of friends I surrounded myself with in high school, most of those relationships don’t mean anything now.

But one person still does.

“I’m coming up,” I say, hoisting myself onto the bleachers and taking a seat next to her.

“How nice of you to formally announce your arrival,” she dryly responds.

I nudge her with my shoulder. “You still have your humor intact. That’s good.”

She tries to smile, but it quickly turns into a frown. “I can’t believe her.”

There’s so much pain in her voice, I think just the sound of it is cracking my soul in two.

“Don’t. You don’t need to believe or pay attention to anything anyone else says.”

“She’s my mother,” Violet whispers.

“I know.” I nod, throat becoming increasingly thicker. “She’s surprised right now. Who knows how she’ll feel in a week.”

Violet rolls her eyes. “Probably the same.”

“Violet,” I rasp.

She stares at me. Her tears have dried, but her eyes are big and full of emotion. The reality that she’s carrying a little person we made together hits me once more. It’s still hard to believe.

“What?” she asks.

“I…” I trail off.

I want to kiss you. Want to be everything to you. Want to love you until the day we die.

“I’m here for you,” is all I say. “No matter what, I’m here for you. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, says, or does. All right?”

Biting the bullet, I take both her hands in mine. Fresh tears spring into her eyes.

“Okay,” she whispers.

She goes to wipe away her tears, but I stop her hand.

“No,” I whisper. “There’s nothing wrong with showing you have a heart.”

As the words tumble from my mouth, I realize they’re not just for Violet. They’re for me, as well.

“I love you, Violet,” I choke out.

Her eyes go round, but it’s too late for me to stop now. The truth is barreling this way, and it has the force of years of unacknowledged feelings behind it.

“I don’t just mean as a friend,” I rush to add. “I love you in the way a man really loves a woman. I’m in love with you, Violet. I know that wasn’t part of our agreement at all, that I shouldn’t have fallen for you, but God, it’s hard, okay? It’s damn hard when you’re so beautiful and strong and smart. If this is insane, just tell me, and I’ll shut up. I’ll never mention it again. I’ll still be a good dad, I’ll show up to everything, be there every—”

Violet presses her mouth to mine, instantly ending the speech. Now, it’s my turn to blink in surprise.

I’m only in shock for a moment, though. Violet is kissing me. Does this mean…?

Running my hands through her hair, I give her a long kiss back. Her fingers curl on the tops of my thighs, and her tongue dances across mine.

I could kiss her until the end of time, but there’s talking that needs to be done.

With a gasp, I break my lips from hers. “Violet, do you—”

“I love you too, Sean. I always have.” She frantically shakes her head. “Ever since the day in the cafeteria when you brought me sunflowers for my birthday.”

I chuckle, but it’s a kind of laugh I’ve never heard from myself—one full of heart-stopping emotion.

“You knew then?” I ask.

“Yes,” she whispers, smiling through new tears.

“I think I did, too,” I quietly say, gently holding the sides of her head and looking deep into her eyes. “I was just too dumb to admit it.”

“We needed to grow up. That’s what it is.”

“Yeah?” I run my thumb along her lower lip, and she nods. “Well, thank God we finally have.”

Before she can answer, I take her mouth with mine.