"Damn right."
"Huh? Sorry, I didn't hear you what you said." She grins with a glint in her eye.
I tug my cap low, hoping to hide how fucking much she affects me. "I said, you're fine. That's fine. Where you are is good."
"Are you Alright? You seem a little flustered." She leans forward, and her shirt dips just enough for me to get a shot of her breasts.
"Is there a reason for this visit? I thought you understood everything yesterday."
She leans back, propping herself up on her hands. "I heard you give me every excuse in the book as to why you don't love me. Do ya mean that?"
"Harper, I didn't say a thing about not loving you or wanting you. This is about me and not being enough for you, or what you deserve."
Her eyes snap to mine and she uncrosses her legs, leaving them set apart. "Does that mean you do?"
"I-I need to get back to work." I incline my head toward the door. "May I walk you out?"
She glances over her shoulder, dropping her head before turning to crawl from the bed. "I'm a complete idiot. I'm so sorry."
"No, you're not Harper." I shift, wanting to keep her here but knowing she should go.
"I'm gonna go, I don't want to cause any trouble or be in the way." She eases over to the door.
"Don't, please. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings; I just think we're not good for each other. Every time we try, something bad happens. Most importantly, I can't take care of you."
She crosses her arms. "Of course, I gave no thought to the fact you might have someone already."
"Yeah, it's not a good- wait. What? There's no one else." My stomach churns.
Her mouth smashes into a thin line. "It's fine, Ridge. I shouldn't have assumed anything about you."
"I'm so fucking lost, there is no one else."
"Why do you need a plethora of condoms in your nightstand?" As if on cue, there's a knock on the door. Harper cocks her brow and jerks the door open.
"Hey, Lover." Trixie stands front and center, sneering at Harper. "How ya doin'?"
Harper's head spins like the exorcists. "Why yes, Lover, please tell us how you're doing."
"Harper, give me one second." I hold my hand up as I turn to Trixie.
"You're fine." She lowers her gaze. "As a matter of fact, it's actually time for me to go."
"Stay." I reach for her, only for her to dodge my hand as she hurries out. There's a hollowness in my chest, nothing, not even a murmur.
Trixie positions herself between me and the opening. "Finally, I've missed you."
"And you're gonna continue," I grab my keys, pushing her back out of the door. "gotta go!"
"Hey! I came all the way over here to see you." She fists her sides.
I stop on the stairs, turning to her. "So, don't come back."
"Dude!" Mack throws her arms in the air as I rush down the stairs, she holds the back door wide. "Go!"
"I love you!" I yell, running past her and into the parking lot. Harper spins but tilts her head, looking behind me.
She jabs her finger at me, but it's not until she's running toward me that I get a clue. "Mackenzie!"
"Ridge..." I whirl back around to find Mack going down. I wrap her in my arms before she can fall to the floor. "the baby."
"C'mon!" Harper slaps my back. "Keys!"
I hand over my keys and pick Mack up. "Front or back?"
"Back! She has more room." Harper sprints to my truck and has the doors wide by the time I get there with Mack. "Get the door, I'll drive."
"Boone." Mackenzie grunts with a heavy breath.
I squeeze her hand, reassuring her we're going to be fine. "I've got it, breathe. Ya know, we're old pros at this."
"I promised him, Ridge. I swore to him he'd be there this time." Mackenzie's tears stream down her face.
My phone's in my hand, but I take just a minute for my best friend. I lean in, resting my head against hers. "I promised you I'd always be here and make sure you got everything you need. Nothing's changed."
"I love you." Mackenzie snubs.
I dry her face, kissing her forehead. "I love you. Now, let me call yo baby daddy."
"Grand Strand?" Harper whispers from the front seat, peering at me in the mirror.
I touch her shoulder, putting my cell to my ear. "Yes, and thank you. We couldn't do this without you."
"I just want to get her there." Her brows knit. "Should I drive like you taught me?"
My chest swells. "Damn right."
"Alright." She shifts gears and switches lanes.
The second ring, Boone picks up. "Hey, what's up?"
"Boone get to Grand Strand. We're havin' a baby, Big Daddy!" That's the end of me. My chest is about to burst, and I can't stop smiling. Harper giggles from the front seat.
"Uh, okay. I'm on the way. Damn, I gotta get Rumor." Boone's already crazed.
I chuckle. "Call your parents for Rumor, and just get to the hospital, I refuse to see your woman's cooter again!"
"I'm coming! Tell her I love her." Boone's voice vibrates with emotion.
"Hang on, you tell her." I hold the phone to Mackenzie's ear. Her tears fall faster with each nod of her head as she listens intently.
"I love you. I will. Please hurry." She sniffles and turn the receiver to me.
"Alright. We'll be there." Boone ends the call without saying goodbye. "He hung up on me. I'm gonna tell them to drop a stitch in that thang."
Mackenzie slaps at my arm. "Stop it! Harper, do something with him!"
"Can't! Maybe talk to the blonde in his apartment." She clicks her teeth at the end, emphasizing the 'T'.
Mackenzie punches my arm. "I told ya, didn't I? The Crab Shack wasn't a place you should be hangin' out at. I told him, Harper!"
"Could you punch him again? You know, for me and all." She narrows her eyes at me at a stoplight.
I rub the V between my eyes. "Listen, ladies. I know this is all kinds of fucked up but right now we should focus on the baby."
"Focus on kissing my ass." Harper lays on the gas, switching lanes like a pro. I'm impressed.
"Dang, dude. You're in deep." Mackenzie winces.
"I know and if two of the most important loves of my life could cut me a little slack, I'll fix it. I'll make it all better."
Harper runs her hand over her cheek, and I cut my eyes at Mackenzie. She shakes her head as she huffs and puffs. Her hand grips mine, readying for a contraction.
"We've got this, Mack. I promise you, Harper's going to get you there and Boone's gonna be waiting by the entrance."
She nods, her eyes brimming with tears. "Okay."
"Alright."
..
I peek over the top of my phone at Ridge as he wears a hole in the place's floor. I've held it in front of my face since Mackenzie was rolled into the back.