Lonely Heart by MJ Kane Page B

anymore.”
    “So you got dressed up for nothin’.”
    “I’m not dressed up. Besides, I was doing my grandmother a favor.”
    She cocked a blond eyebrow. “I’m not your grandmother.”
    I laughed. “But...we are friends, aren’t we? That’s what you said last week.”
    Kaitlyn studied me with those luminous eyes. I held her gaze.
    “Remind me…when exactly did this happen?”
    “Good question. Have you changed your mind?”
    “No, it’s just...,” she bit her pale pink lip, looked away.
    “What?” I prompted.
    “Nothin’.” She sifted through several menus, refusing to glance my way again.
    “If I’m making you uncomfortable, let me know and I’ll leave.”
    “No, it’s just… this whole conversation has thrown me off. But that’s beside the fact. If you hadn’t stopped by, the crib would be in a million pieces right now.”
    For the first time in days I let loose and laughed hard, giving in to the happy emotion. There was something about Kaitlyn’s personality that was refreshing. I never felt weighted down or pressured when I was around her.
    “How? You’re what, five-foot-two and pregnant?” I teased. “What could you do? Stare at it to death?”
    Her eyebrows knitted together while her lips twisted in a smirk. “Okay, more jokes, ha, ha, ha.” She crossed her arms over her belly. “For your information, I’m five-four and it wouldn’t take much to swing a hammer.”
    I howled. “While sitting down!”
    She rolled her eyes, then laughed. “If it works.”
    I studied her profile when her attention went back to the menu in her hand. Large eyes, button nose, full cheeks, the perfect girl next door innocence.
    “What are our dinner options?” I forced my attention back to meal planning.
    “Pizza, Chinese, Italian, wings. I could go for a Philly Steak myself.” She looked up at me.
    I was momentarily mesmerized as she lifted her long, thick braid of blond hair and haphazardly toyed with the end.
    Kaitlyn was beyond girl next door cute. The pregnancy seemed to enhance her natural beauty. Without makeup, her skin glowed.
    I cleared my throat before saying something stupid. “A Philly sounds good.”
    Kaitlyn attempted to scoot to the edge of the sofa to reach her phone sitting on the coffee table. I retrieved it, saving her the movement.
    A few minutes later, our order placed, she reached for the remote control. The moment the TV came on, the image of a woman screaming in the middle of giving birth, filled the screen. Her legs were spread and the room filled with grunts, panting, and yelling. Her spouse stood next to her, one hand behind her head, the other holding her hand as he shouted encouragement.
    “Oh my God, that was worse than porn.” She quickly changed the channel. “Sorry.”
    “That was an eye opener.” I laughed at her now rosy cheeks. “But worse than porn? Porn activities are what led to the pregnancy.”
    “You can say that again,” she muttered. “Okay, what will it be? You’re the guest, so do you want to watch sports, a movie, or a TV show?”
    “Believe it or not, that was interesting. I wasn’t there when my nephew was born, but I’ve always wondered how it happened.” Her laugh made me look in her direction. “I know how it happens, I mean─”
    “You have to admit, you put your foot in that one.”
    I grinned. “Yes, I did.”
    Kaitlyn changed the channel back. The scene changed. The mother now held her newborn in her arms; tears were in her eyes. The next shot showed the father leaning over to kiss his wife.
    Beside me, Kaitlyn sighed.
    “Are you okay?”
    “I keep torturin’ myself. This is supposed to be research, but all I end up doin’ is hatin’ my ex.”
    Curiosity peaked; I waited for her to continue. She didn’t.
    “Is he going to be there?”
    She huffed. “If Luke had any intention on bein’ there when this baby is born, I wouldn’t be livin’ alone or sittin’ here with you.” She put a hand on her brow. “Dang, I’m