After lunch, on his walk back to the office, he kept going over what his sister said. He was angry, and maybe he was punishing Arryn for everything that'd happened to him. But he wasn't in love with her. No way. He could never love a woman who'd lied as much as she had. He wouldn't allow it. But he wanted his daughter to know that he'd take care of the both of them. In his book, Arryn should be satisfied with that.

When Rhys got home that evening, he found his wife asleep on the couch with Guinivere curled at her feet. Wallpaper books, fabric swatches, and paint samples covered the floor and coffee table.

He set his bag down and stepped deeper into the room. Her long dark hair fanned out over the throw pillow she'd propped under her head. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. One hand rested on the baby bump, and the other hung off the edge of the sofa. Looking at her caused a lump in his throat. He didn't love her. He couldn't. He wouldn't. He'd already let too many women take advantage of him. She was one more to add to the list. The only difference was now there was a child to consider. One conceived out of lies and manipulation.

She roused. He quickly went into the kitchen. It wouldn't be good for her to catch him staring at her like a lovesick fool.

She sat up and stretched. "Oh, I didn't hear you come in."

He coughed and averted his eyes. The way she was stretching only highlighted the fact that her boobs had gotten bigger. "I read women need more rest when they're pregnant."

"I cooked most of the day. I was tired. Your mom called. Seems your parents and mine hit it off so well at the wedding, Tawny invited them for Thanksgiving."

"Hail, hail, the gang will all be there."

"Have you read over the list of family names your mother gave me? If there's one you and I both agree on, I'm not opposed to using it. Otherwise, we can just choose one for a middle name."

"I told you days ago I'd get to it."

Arryn joined him. "I made shakshuka for dinner. I used to eat it all the time after we visited Israel when I was little. I didn't know how you feel about spicy foods, so I also baked some chicken."

"I'll try it."

"Okay." She went to the fridge, moved things around, then set a dish on the counter.

Rhys stared down at the recipe. It looked like a bunch of eggs drowned in tomato sauce.

As she set the table, she talked. "I have some paint samples to consider. I didn't want to go with the standard pink. I thought we might do stripes in cream. Alternate glossy and matte."

"Do we have to decide right now? The kid won't be here for three more months."

She heaped portions into two bowls and pulled out some flatbread, and he felt terrible for what he said.

"After we eat, I'm taking food out to Papi and Abuelito, but you don't have to go."

"No, I'll go with you."

As usual, they ate in silence. Rhys guessed she'd gotten used to his curt answers and figured there wasn't much need for conversation. He kept going over in his mind what Ace said earlier. She was right about one thing. He should be nicer. Regardless of what Arryn had done, she was trying hard. He looked over at her. "The glossy, matte thing sounds fine."

She jumped at the sound of his voice, then glanced up. "Oh. Okay."

He expected her to say something else, but she didn't, and again, he felt like a jerk.

On the way to deliver the food, Arryn rode in silence. Rhys wanted to talk, but couldn't think of much to say. Finally, a thought came. "I had lunch with Ace today."

Arryn didn't respond or look at him.

"I mentioned how you like to decorate food, and thought you might want to make something for Olive's and Effy's class parties."

"I guess I could do that if it will help Ace. I know she and Val stay busy, and since I'm out of a job, I've got loads of free time," She paused and worried her lip. "But just so you know, I've been sending out resumes. I don't intend to freeload."

"I wasn't giving you an assignment. I just thought it might be something you'd enjoy doing." Hell, it seemed no matter what he said, it came out wrong. And why would she be looking for a job? Did she expect him to throw her out as soon as the baby came? "I don't want you to worry about a job. I mean, you can work if you want, but it isn't necessary. I mean..." his voice trailed. Everything he said came out horrible. She'd gone from thinking he was telling her to get a job. The next minute, she probably thought he was trying to keep her home to play the dutiful Susie Homemaker wife.

Now she looked at him. "I know what you mean. But when our marriage ends, I want you to understand I don't intend to mooch off you."

Rhys should say more, but he didn't. She'd made her mind up; the arrangement would end sooner than later. Why else would she already be looking for employment?

When they arrived at her Papi's, Arryn's focus went straight to the Buick sitting in the drive, and panic stabbed her chest. "What's my mother's car doing here?"

He followed her gaze to the blue car. "I guess she's visiting. Is that good?"

Arryn ignored the question, flipped the visor down, and stared into the mirror. She threaded her hands through her hair. "I'm a mess."

"You're fine."

She smoothed her shirt and straightened her collar. "No, I'm not. I should have changed into something nicer."

"What? Like another person?"

She sucked in a quick breath, then pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Shit," Rhys said. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."

She turned to face him and fiddled with the top button on her blouse. Her eyes were glassy as if she was biting back tears. Jesus, he was a dick. "Let's get this over with."

Rhys got out, rushed to get the bags from the backseat, and followed Arryn inside where Mom, Papi, and Abuelito sat at the dining table eating pie.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

She rose and hugged Arryn, then Rhys. "Your dad mentioned how much he missed my pineapple rum cake, so I baked one for him." She patted Arryn's belly. "You feeling alright? The baby doing okay? You look beautiful. Glowing, even."

Arryn waved off her mother's compliment. "We're both fine."

Papi and Abuelito joined them, and offered hugs to Arryn, then shook hands with Rhys.

"Don't let us interrupt," Rhys said. "Arryn cooked all day, and we wanted to bring the food while it was fresh."

"They're ready to freeze," Arryn said.

"Thank you, corazón." Papi gave her an extra hug.

"Do y'all want some dessert? There's plenty." The men sat again.

"I'll take a slice," Rhys said, then leaned over and whispered to Arryn. "Do you want to tell them the sex of the baby? Your decision." Since he'd let it slip during lunch with his sister, he decided it was time to tell everyone, before Ace blabbed.

"We're having a girl." Arryn blurted without any forethought.

Her mother stopped slicing the pie and jumped to her feet, as did Papi and Abuelito. Arryn rose, and they circled her in a group hug.

"A girl! Oh, my goodness!" Mom said.

"You're in for a world of trouble," Papi said to Rhys. "Take my word, she'll have you wrapped around her finger. When Rynnie gave me those puppy dog eyes, I couldn't tell her no about anything."

"Nothing sweeter than a baby girl," Abuelito said.

Thirty minutes later, on the way back home, Arryn didn't talk. Rhys still felt terrible about the remark he'd made earlier, so he tried to make conversation. "What's going on with your mom and dad?"

She said nothing. Just continued to stare out the car window, and he figured she was giving him a much deserved silent treatment. But then in a small quiet voice, he'd not heard before, she answered, "I guess they're seeing each other."

He'd come to the same conclusion. "How do you feel about that?"

"There's no way you can understand this because your parents are happily married. But for years the one thing I wanted most was for Papi to come home and us be a family again. I look back now and realize how selfish that was because they were miserable together. But when you're a kid, you just want to be happy even if it means your mom and dad are unhappy." She rubbed her hand across her stomach. "Somehow the baby has changed Mom."

The sadness in her voice caused Rhys to wonder if she was thinking about the future of their child, and how she'd be raised without her dad around. And that made his heart ache in a way he'd never felt before.

Aww.

Come on, Rhys. Get your shit together.

TEASER: Standing between his legs, she slipped one hand inside his shirt, fingers gently touching his chest.

I wonder what's going on there 😜