Keeley had a plan. She hadn't baked Aaron a birthday cake since college, so keeping it a secret was imperative—incredibly difficult when sharing a living space.

She baked it during her usual Sunday visit with her dad. Aaron liked chocolate cake but not chocolate frosting, so she made a simple buttercream, dyed blue, his favorite color.

Robert had already asked why she was baking at his house instead of her own. She explained she lacked time tomorrow, making it more convenient to bake while visiting. It was a plausible excuse.

The truth would eventually come out, but she wanted Aaron to know she was pregnant before telling her dad. Keisha and Jeffrey already knowing presented a separate problem.

"Who's this cake for? I don't think you said," her father remarked from the couch, watching a Yankees game, as soon as she turned off the loud mixer.

"Aaron. His birthday's tomorrow."

He smiled knowingly. "Not just anyone bakes a man's birthday cake. How did you end up in charge?"

Keeley shot him an annoyed look. "You know his parents are distant. I'm" She wanted to say she was his only family but couldn't risk revealing too much. "his closest friend."

She stopped, noticing his grin, and focused on frosting the cake. Her perfectionism made it slow going; she smoothed the sides repeatedly until satisfied.

With the remaining frosting, she added yellow dye, making it green, and piped "Happy Birthday Aaron." Finally, she added rainbow sprinkles because it looked too plain.

Satisfied, Keeley placed the cake in a carrier and left it on the counter. She rejoined her dad, adopting her most persuasive smile.

"What is it?" he asked suspiciously, recognizing that expression.

"Could you pick me up from work tomorrow with the cake and drop me off at Aaron's? I don't want the frosting to get smushed."

"Sure. But you don't get off until eightis he eating dinner alone on his birthday?"

She'd already considered this. Nobody eats alone on their birthday, so she'd enlisted Aiden's help. He'd invited Cameron and Jennica, gleeful at the prospect of "surprising that stone statue" (his words).

"No, his friends are taking him out. He just doesn't know yet," she said with a smirk.

"The friends from that wedding?" Robert asked.

"Yes, plus another groomsman. He used to be my neighbor."

"I didn't realize you had the same friends."

"Not all," she said defensively. "He's barely spoken to Valentina, despite being in the same wedding."

Her father hesitated, then looked at her intently. He was ready to be direct. Their relationship had seemed "more than friends" for a while.

He'd respected her privacy, but they clearly acted like a couple. If they weren't, he worried Aaron, clearly in love with her, might be misled.

"Honeybun, are you and Aaron dating?"

Keeley froze. He'd teased her before, but never this directly. Saying no would complicate things later; yes was better, even if she had to lie convincingly.

"Yes."

Robert was relieved. He simply said, "Okay," and returned to the game.

Keeley narrowed her eyes. He was letting it go that easily? He was usually more inquisitive.

"That's all you have to say?"

He shrugged. "What else? I like him. I was worried you were leading him on; you act more like a couple than any friends I've ever seen."

Her jaw dropped. Whose side was he on? No concern for his daughter! Aaron would clearly be favored once married into the family.

"Thanks, Dad," Keeley said sarcastically.

"What?" Robert asked innocently. "You two have been inseparable. How long? Let me guessafter Christmas, before your birthday? Around Valentine's Day? You stopped talking about him after that."

She sometimes forgot how perceptive he was. Around Valentine's Day was when she'd found out she was pregnant. It felt like a lifetime ago.

It was easier to agree than invent a story. "You're a good guesser," she said lightly.

He grinned. "I knew it! Good for you guys. He's a nice kid."

She suppressed a laugh. That "nice kid" was mentally older than her father. But he didn't seem old; maybe because he'd learned to have fun and be goofy for her.

Keeley's heart swelled. He'd done a lot to make amends. Staying with him might not be so bad after all.

"Yeah. He is."