Текст книги "Love Unspoken "
Автор книги: Lisa DeJong
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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 16 страниц)
WHEN HE ASKED, I PICKED the farm because it gives me peace. It’s where I always used to go when I needed time to think or mend a broken heart. If he’s going to hurt me, he might as well do it here.
Not a word was said on the way out to the car or on the ten-minute drive out here besides a few directions from me on where to turn.
He pulls into the drive of my grandparents’ old farm. My dad inherited it after grandma passed away a couple years ago but he hasn’t gotten up the nerve to sell it, and I don’t think he ever will. I hope not anyway. Behind the house is a big red barn and just beyond that is a narrow creek and miles of cornfields. Along the creek is where I like to sit and think. No one bothers me back there.
“Park in front of the barn,” I instruct.
He does, and I waste no time jumping out to grab one of grandpa’s old horse blankets from the barn.
“Where are you going?” he yells from behind me.
“Meet me behind the barn!” I yell back, not even bothering to look at him. Sometimes, when you feel your heart cracking, you do your best to build a shield around it so the pieces won’t fall apart completely. That’s what I’m doing—bracing for the worst while also trying to convince myself I can do this on my own. It won’t be easy—nothing ever is—but I’ve proven to myself over the last year that I’m strong. Hopefully, I’m strong enough to get through this.
When I walk out behind the barn, he’s standing with his back to me overlooking the water. I would give anything to have a glimpse inside his head … to get a snapshot of his thoughts.
“Here,” I say, throwing the blanket down to clear a spot in the long grass. Dad doesn’t get out here to mow often.
“I’m okay,” he replies as I sit down, resting back on my elbows. The warm sun beats down on my pale legs, but I can’t complain because this is what summer on the farm is all about.
“Blake, I need you to say something. I may not like what you’re about to say, but silence is worse,” I admit.
“Do you ever wonder if you really control any part of your life?” he asks, throwing a long piece of grass into the creek.
I’m not sure where he’s going, but I play anyway. “I think our lives are ours to live. Things we don’t plan for are simply obstacles.”
“I didn’t want to get married at such a young age, but with her I just knew. She made me want to be better without even asking. My job was to protect her—make sure she had everything she needed—but I couldn’t even do that. I didn’t chose to live without her, and sometimes when things are really bad, I go to the studio and pretend she’s still at home waiting for me.”
My heart hammers as I wait for him to start talking again. I wonder if he feels it, or if he feels it too much, and that’s why he can’t look at me. I’m waiting for the part where he tells me he can’t do this, and as much as I thought I was prepared for it, it’s going to crush me.
“There’s something I’ve never told anyone. It’s been slowly eating away at me, and I’m not going to be the father your baby deserves unless I deal with it.”
I open my mouth to tell him it’s our baby, but he cuts me off. “The day I lost Aly, I lost a baby too. One I didn’t even know she was carrying.”
My mouth gapes. I never thought … I never would have thought. “How did you find out?” I whisper, quietly standing behind him. I want so badly to wrap my arms around him.
“The doctor told me after her autopsy. He guessed she was about eight weeks along.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“Do you think she knew?”
I can’t take it anymore. I wrap my arms around his waist. I’m not sure where this is going … where we’re going, but he shouldn’t go through this alone. “That she was pregnant?”
“Yeah,” he whispers.
My cheek rests on his warm T-shirt, feeling how fast his heart beats. “No, I don’t think she knew. It’s hard to describe, but after only a few days, I already love my little bean. I want to do everything right by him or her. I couldn’t imagine … I couldn’t.”
He inhales a deep breath. “She used to talk about having kids. I wasn’t ready and didn’t think it would be good for her. After she died, I thought—” he chokes up, his breaths coming faster.
“It’s okay. You don’t need to tell me.” Tears stream down my cheeks. His pain is mine. It has been since he stole my heart all those months ago.
His hand covers mine. “No, I do. I’ve kept it in for so long. After she died, I thought she did it because she didn’t want to disappoint me. That maybe she knew, and didn’t want to tell me. That maybe she thought I’d leave her.”
“It’s not your fault,” I cry, pressing a kiss to his spine. So much of what’s happened over the last week makes sense now. He wasn’t running from me; he was running from the memories.
“Do you believe in God?” he asks out of the blue.
“Yes. He’s given me more than I think I can handle a few times, but I’ve always gotten through with his help.”
“I used to, but after everything that happened with Aly, I couldn’t. Why did he let her get to that point? Why would he let an innocent baby die in the process? Why didn’t he give me a reason to stay that night?”
“She was sick, Blake. She may not be here anymore, and there may be a baby you never got to meet, but God made them angels. They’re watching over you, and they’d want you to be happy. I know she’d want you to be happy.”
His whole body shakes. I loosen my grip and move around to face him. I thought my heart broke when Derek ended our relationship. I thought it shattered when Blake left on Christmas Day. Those were merely cracks compared to what I’m feeling now staring up at Blake. I’ve never seen a person look so defeated—the wet lines down his cheeks, the way his shoulders curl over his chest, clenched jaw, skin bunched around his eyes in a pained stare.
“She left a note.” His voice shakes.
My hands move up and down his arms, trying to comfort him, but I can’t take my eyes from his face. No matter how much it hurts, I can’t.
“She said she thought I’d be better off without her. She said I’d be able to move on with my life without having to worry about her. She said she loved me … that she’d always love me.” He pauses, taking a deep breath. “Maybe she just didn’t know how much I loved her. There’s nothing I wouldn’t have done for her.”
Holding his face in my hands, I force him to look at me. “That tells me she knew you loved her so much you’d never give up on her. She was tired, Blake, and she didn’t want you to live that way. You were never going to give up on her.”
I swipe my thumbs under his eyes, trying to wipe some of the tears away.
“She was pregnant in the picture I painted of her,” he says after a couple minutes pass. “She was going to be a mom and didn’t even know it.”
“You’ll have that—the painting and the memory.”
He nods against my palms. “I’m starting to believe in God again.”
“Yeah?”
His eyes find mine for the first time since we’ve been out here. “I didn’t want to fall in love with you, but you changed that because … because you’re you. I never wanted to come back after I left, but you were all I could think about no matter how much I tried not to. You’re stuck in me, or I’m stuck in you. Fate didn’t put us in that apartment together; I think God did. He handed me what I needed when he gave me you.”
I stand on my tiptoes, kissing his salty lips. “You’re my super glue, too, Blake. Until I met you, I was falling apart. Our love isn’t easy. We’ve had to fight for it, but it makes us stronger.”
“The night you told me you were pregnant, I left because it brought back too many memories. I needed some time to sort out my feelings, but I want this baby with you. I do, Lila.”
Everything makes sense now. He’s not running from me. He runs from his memories … or to them. I guess it depends how you look at it.
His hands circle my neck, his thumbs running along my jawline. “And when I walked out of the room today, it wasn’t about you either. I felt like I was losing it. It was selfish, and I’m sorry.”
“Do you want to see the pictures?”
“You have pictures?”
I nod, smiling. “Give me your keys.”
He does, and I take off running to his car to grab my purse. I pull them out and run back as fast as my feet will let me in the tall grass. “Here,” I say, handing them over to him.
His brows furrow as he rotates the pictures around.
“You can’t see much yet, but that’s our baby right there.” I point to the little white dot. “That’s why I’m calling him or her bean.”
“And everything looks good?” he asks, running his finger along the picture.
“So far, so good. I’m due in April.”
He places his finger under my chin to bring my eyes from the picture to his. “Even if bean isn’t mine, I’m not going anywhere. I mean what the tech said—”
“It’s yours. She put me at five weeks which means the baby was conceived about three weeks ago.”
He wraps his arms around me tightly. “Oh, thank God.”
I brush my lips against his neck. “It would have been you for me either way, too.”
“Are you feeling okay?” he asks, pulling back just a bit.
“Yeah, I just need to sit down. I’m feeling kind of tired … it’s been a long day.”
“Give me a second.” He sits down on the blanket, patting the space between his legs. “Sit.”
And I do, laying my head back on his shoulder. We listen to the sounds of the water running in the creek, and the few cars that drive by in the distance. It’s the most at peace I’ve felt in a long time.
“Have you ever thought about living out here?” he asks after a few minutes.
“A few times. This is my place I come to when I need to get away from everything else just to think.”
“I like it out here,” he admits.
I try to imagine Blake on the farm working in nothing but his jeans, sweat drenching his hair and chest. It’s not a bad picture.
“When we get back to Chicago, I’m going to tell Pierce that I can’t keep working for him. It’s not fair to you, and I’m sorry.”
“What are you going to tell him?”
I shrug. “He knows about the baby. I think I’m just going to tell him I’m taking some time off to concentrate on me … us.”
His body tenses. “When did you tell him?”
“The day we went to New York. I was sick and could barely function. I needed someone to talk to. He’s the one who flew me here.”
“I hate that he’s always saving you from me. I’m done giving him reasons to save you.”
“You don’t know how happy I am to hear that. Is there anything else you want to tell me so you don’t have a reason to run anymore?”
He groans, wrapping his arms around me. “Pierce was the one who gave me your parents’ address. I called him after your text and promised him I was going to do my best by you. Took me almost twenty minutes, but the perfect ass finally gave it to me.”
That’s one thing to thank Pierce for when I talk to him. “Is there anything else?”
“Just that I love you. I’m all out of secrets.”
I push my way out of his arms, and turn around straddling his lap. Folding my arms around his neck, I kiss every inch of his handsome face ending with his lips. We kiss until I’m out of breath and numb.
“Does anyone ever come back here?” he asks between kisses.
“Just me.”
His lips brush against my throat, his hand tugging on the neck of my T-shirt to give him access to my chest. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving to you how much I love you.”
“Just stay,” I pant. “That’s all I need you to do … stay.”
“What else?” he asks, pulling my bra below my breast, sucking on my nipple. They may be a little tender, but he does it gently. My hormones are out of control—I either find myself wanting to cry or have my clothes ripped off. Pregnancy is going to be interesting.
I tug at the bottom of his shirt until he lifts his arms allowing me to take it off. “I need you.”
“You don’t have to ask twice,” he murmurs, his lips still exploring my skin.
Within a few seconds, he has me on my back, tugging my clothes off in record time before working the button of his jeans. He thrusts into me without hesitation keeping his eyes on me the entire time. “Have you ever been out here before like this?” he asks, pushing in then slowly pulling back out.
“No,” I answer, struggling to speak.
“I like being your first.”
The pressure builds. “You’re my first baby daddy, too.”
He thrusts all the way in, filling me completely. “I’m your only baby daddy. Now and forever; I promise you that.”
The rest is sweet bliss.
A feeling that goes beyond happiness to euphoria.
And ends in ecstasy.
WE DROVE FRANK BACK to Chicago yesterday. It wasn’t without a few bumps with a bout of morning sickness that slowed us down in the morning, followed by a craving for pancakes—pancakes with Nutella.
Today is different. I’m about to walk into Stanley Enterprises for the last time. And Mallory comes home, that’s something to look forward to. I’ll need it after a day like today.
The first few minutes are like any other day. I set my stuff on my desk and power on my computer. Reece is leaning against my cubicle with coffee in hand right on cue.
“Hey, stranger. How was your trip home?”
“Crap. I completely forgot to call you. Things got a little hectic.”
She raises her brow, shaking her head. “You have to give me more than that.”
“Blake drove all the way to Nebraska. We made up, I went to the doctor and confirmed that everything was okay, and then we spent some time with my family.”
“Back up,” she says, holding her hand up. “You took him back again?”
I wrinkle my nose. It’s hard to explain without telling her things I can’t. “To understand Blake, you have to know him. There are things he told me I can’t share that help explain why he runs. You just have to trust me when I say he deserves another chance. Besides that, I love him enough to try again.”
“I really want to yell at you right now, but I’d probably do the same thing. In fact, I know I would because I’m even more of a hopeless romantic than you are.”
I smile. “Isn’t that the truth.”
“So where are you guys at now?” she asks, sipping from her cup.
“We’re together. I’m his. He’s mine.”
“I’m happy for you. I really am, but if he leaves again, you better let him go.”
“Oh, don’t worry. He’s already been told. Having a baby is forcing us to at least pretend to be adults.”
She’s beaming this morning. Something is definitely different about her, but I can’t put my finger on it
“What have you been up to this week?”
“I went on a date with the guy from IT. He doesn’t look so bad in jeans and a T-shirt.”
Now it’s my turn to raise my brow. “Big Bang Theory guy?”
“Yes, I actually went on a second one the other night. He gave me the best kiss I’ve ever had, hands down,” she says quietly, glancing around to make sure no one else can hear.
“Does that mean there’s going to be a third?”
She grins. I notice she has a new shade of red lipstick to go with her tight red dress. “He’s taking me out to dinner tonight. I’m glad I gave him a chance; he’s funny and smart. There’s never a quiet moment.”
“Oh, Reece has herself a boyfriend. I’m happy for you. I can’t think of anyone who deserves a little romance in their life more than you.”
“Maybe we can double sometime? I don’t know how much Blake would have in common with him, but it would be fun.”
Sadness rains on my mood. There’s something else I need to tell her, but I need to talk to Pierce first. “Yeah, let’s do that if tonight goes well and all.”
“Oh, I’m hoping it goes really well.”
“Reece!”
“What?” she says through gritted teeth. “You aren’t one to talk.”
“You’re right. I’ll shut up.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
I rub my forehead, stressing over everything I have to do today. “Can we catch up later? I have to go talk to Pierce for a few minutes.”
“Are you still battling morning sickness? You don’t look so good.”
“I kissed the toilet twice before I even left for work. It’s usually over by lunch, so I have that to look forward to.”
“Just let me know if you need anything,” she says as she walks away. I almost wish she could stay so I could avoid the inevitable.
After yet another trip to the bathroom, I head to Pierce’s office. The door is open a crack so I knock lightly, pushing it open in the process.
He immediately stands from his desk, giving me all his attention. “You’re back.”
“We drove back yesterday. You can’t avoid real life forever.”
“It would be nice, wouldn’t it?”
I smile, shutting the door behind me. “It would. Look, Pierce, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Take a seat.”
I do, mostly because my stomach is already turning again. Add some nerves to morning sickness, and it’s a whole new ball game. “First, I want to say thank you.”
“For what?” He comes around the desk, sitting along the edge with his arms crossed over his chest.
“For helping Blake find me. I know how hard that must have been for you.”
He shrugs like it was nothing. “It was the right thing to do.”
I nod, leaving it at that. “Today is going to be my last day here. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but it’s not fair to Blake. The more I think about it, I’d hate to be in his shoes given everything that you and I’ve been through.”
“I know how he feels, but is there any way I can change your mind? You may be one of my newest designers, but you’re also one of the best.”
Shaking my head, I say, “No, I think I’m going to start something small from home. Something I can continue after the baby comes.”
He smiles sadly. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too,” I admit on the verge of losing it. Pierce was the first person I met in Chicago. A lot has happened between us that I’ll never forget, but sometimes, you even have to let good people go.
“I told him if he hurts you again, I’m going to kick his ass. Hold him to the promise he made me.”
“Trust me, if he leaves again, there won’t be any need to. I’ll kick his butt first.”
I stand, needing to make my escape before I turn into a mess. He surprises me, pulling me in for a hug. “If there’s anything you need, don’t be afraid to call me. You’ll always have a special place in my heart.”
“You’ll always be in mine. Someday, I hope you find someone who will love you the way you deserve to be loved. You deserve that.”
“I thought I had, but I had to let her go.”
“There’s still someone out there for you. I truly believe that. It wasn’t me.”
“Only time will tell,” he remarks, letting his arms fall away from me.
“Bye, Pierce,” I say, putting a couple feet of space between us.
“Bye, Ms. Fields.”
When I look up, he has the look of sorrow. This is a forever goodbye, and we both know it.
I hurry out, running back to the same bathroom I’d been in before stepping into Pierce’s office. I cry for a few minutes because in some ways I just lost my best friend.
In another time, he could have been the one, but my heart belongs to Blake. It always will.
After straightening myself out, I head to Reece’s desk to break the news to her. It’s not going to be easy, but I’ll still get to see her after I leave here.
She’s staring at a drawing on her computer and doesn’t see me coming. “Reece.” My voice is quiet in an attempt to not scare her.
“Jesus, Lila. I’m supposed to be the one scaring you.”
“Sorry, I was wondering if you could come over tonight before your date for a little bit? Mallory will be back, and I’d like you to meet her.” And there’s something else I need to tell you, I think to myself.
“I should be able to. I don’t think our dinner reservation is until 7:30. Do you want me to bring anything?”
“No, I’ll have a bottle of wine chilled, though.”
“Now you’re talking. Do you want me to ride home with you?” she asks.
“No. I mean … I’m going to leave early today because I have a few things I have to take care of.”
“You’re okay, though, right?”
“More than,” I say, smiling. There’s a lot to look forward to.
“Does six work?”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
I head to my desk next, throwing the few personal belongings I have into my bag. As I walk away, I glance back at my desk one last time, putting it into memory. I always thought this was my dream, but it wasn’t really. My dream was to be happy, and I’m finally there.
I drop an envelope off to Jane with Pierce’s name on it that holds my keys and passwords inside. For the last time, I step in the elevator and ride to the lobby. It’s just another moment where I hope I’m making the right decision. Another one of those darn forks in the road.
Blake isn’t home when I open the door, but Mallory is standing in the kitchen making cupcakes. I feel like we’re right back in college again. She drops her mixer and pulls me in for her signature bear hug.
“I haven’t done that in over a year.”
I laugh. “I hope you didn’t break my ribs.”
“Are you hungry?”
“What are you making?”
She practically skips back to the kitchen, pouring chocolate chips into her bowl. “Chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese, chocolate chip filling and a ganache on top.”
My stomach growls. Nothing has stayed down yet today. “I’ll have a few crackers and some ginger ale while they bake. I’ll be more than ready by the time they’re done.”
She grimaces. “Is that a new diet I haven’t heard about?”
I clear my throat and take a deep breath. Might as well just get it over with. “No, I’m pregnant.”
The spoon literally clanks against the metal bowl as she looks up at me. “What?”
“I’m going to have a baby. I just found out last week.”
She grasps the edge of the counter, mouth hanging open. “Who—”
“It’s Blake’s. I had an ultrasound last week when I went back home. There’s no question about that.”
“How did he react? You told him, right?” she asks, shoulders falling forward.
I nod. “We’re fine. More than fine actually.”
“You’re talking about Blake Stone, right? My Blake Stone.”
“Of course. The jerk I fell in love with because you neglected to tell me I was going to have a roommate when I moved here.”
She stirs frantically. “Do you know where he is? I got in a little after noon and haven’t seen him.”
“He was heading to the studio today to work on a few things. I’m actually going to run over there if you want to join me.”
“I’d love to, but I’m so tired of traveling. Besides, I think I need a few minutes to process all this before he comes home. I don’t know if I want to hug him or kill him.”
I give her my evil eyes. “Don’t kill him. He’s my baby daddy.”
“Gross,” she gags, stirring even faster.
“By the way, my friend Reece is coming over at 6:00, and I’m going to call my friend Dana, too. Want to join us for a few minutes? I kind of had something I wanted to tell everyone all at once.”
Her eyes widen. “There’s more?”
“It’s not a big deal … not compared to the other news.”
“Do I get my bed tonight?” she asks.
“It’s all yours. I’m curling up with Blake.”
“You can go now.”
“I feel so loved!” I yell as I walk out the door to hail a cab.
I find a ride easily since it’s only two o’clock on a Monday afternoon. When I came to Chicago, I was running from my emotions—from the past. I found a new home, but it had nothing to do with where I’m at, but everything to do with the people I met. They could go anywhere with me, and it would be home.
As we continue down the familiar city streets, I call Dana, asking if she can meet us at the apartment tonight. Not much to my surprise, Charlie agrees to give her the night off because it’s Monday and all. I mention the baby because I want her to hear it from me before she steps into the apartment tonight. She’s surprised, but like everyone else, she’s supportive, telling me she’ll do whatever I need. Her kindness makes leaving even harder.
After paying the driver, I run up the metal stairs. Blake is standing right in front of me with his arms wide open when I walk in.
“Hey, baby. How did everything go today?”
I bury my nose in his T-shirt, breathing in his familiar scent. Home. “It wasn’t easy, but I have no regrets.”
“Did you tell the girls?” he asks, rubbing his hands up and down my back.
“They’re coming over at six. I figured I’d tell Mallory then, too. I told her about the baby.”
His hands stall for just a second before they continue massaging my back. “What did she say?”
“She thinks we’re nuts.”
“We are.”
I laugh, standing as tall as I can to kiss him.
I notice his paintings stacked against the wall. “What are you doing with all those?”
“I’m keeping some and putting others in a gallery to sell. We’re not going to have room for all of this.”
“Which ones are you keeping?” he points to the smaller stack, and I immediately walk to it. The first is the picture of me, then a few I don’t recognize, and the last is the one he’d done in the apartment several weeks back. The one that was very unlike his usual work. “Are you going to tell me about this one?”
“The day I painted that was the day she was supposed to be born two years ago,” he responds, coming to stand behind me.
“She?”
“Yeah, the blood work determined the baby was a girl. For some reason, it really hit me that day. Finally letting myself mourn Aly while I was gone for all those months let me mourn her. I even gave her a name.”
I reach my hand back, tangling my fingers with his. “What is it?”
“Anna. Aly always loved the name Anna.”
It’s a simple gray tree with no leaves, only branches. To the right sits four little pink birds. What I never noticed before were the letters etched inside each that spell Anna. My eyes well up just thinking about how lucky our baby is going to be to have a dad like him. He’s a little hard on the outside, but all kinds of sweet on the inside.
“I’m glad you’re keeping it. Where’s the one of Alyssa?”
“I’m not selling it. I just haven’t decided where I want to put it. Maybe I should give it to Pierce.”
“But, it’s yours. I don’t want you to feel like you have to give it up because of me.”
His arms come around me, hands covering my stomach. “It has nothing to do with you. There just comes a point where you have to let go.”
“What do you want to do?”
He rests his chin on my shoulder. “I’ll always have the photograph and the memory. I think I’d like to give this one to Pierce.”
“I think he’d like that.” I can only imagine Pierce’s face when he sees it. Pierce cleaned up some of the bad blood between them when he helped Blake find me last week. If this doesn’t take care of the rest, I’d be surprised.
“Let me get these loaded into Frank and then we’ll get you home. I’d like to see Mallory for a few hours before we go,” he says, pecking my cheek.
“Do you want some help?”
“Don’t even think about it. I’m putting you in bubble wrap until April. By Christmas, you won’t even be able to leave the house without me on your tail.”
“Blake—”
“Don’t argue with me, Lemon Drop. You know you don’t have a chance at winning.”
He’s right so I might as well save my energy. He carries the first two out to the car, only allowing me to unlock the trunk. I hold it open as he carries out the other three then we drive away leaving the warehouse in the rearview.
“How do you feel about all this?” he asks.
“I’m excited and nervous, but that comes with any change,” I say honestly.
He grabs my hand. “We’ll be fine as long as we’re in it together.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I ask.
He pulls my hand to his lips, kissing each of my knuckles. “More than okay.”
When we walk into the apartment, I stay back waiting to see if Mallory is going to hug or strangle Blake. She pulls him in for a signature hug but says something to him that makes his eyes double in size. She pinches his side, which causes a yelp.
“What was that for?” he asks, rubbing against his ribs.
“For being a jerk to my best friend.”
“Jesus, Mal. Stop acting like a thirteen-year-old girl.”
“I will when you start acting like a twenty-seven-year-old man,” she chides back.
“I’m all man, obviously.” He winks at me, and all I can do is roll my eyes.
“Pig,” she teases.
“Squirrel!” he yells before he disappears into his bedroom. She told me once that he always called her that when they were kids.
“I can’t believe it.” Her voice is quiet as she stares at his closed door. “My brother actually looks happy.”
I shrug like it’s nothing, but inside I’m dancing. Before I have time to respond, there’s a knock at the door.
“Do you want me to get it?” Mallory asks.
“No, I’ve got it,” I answer back, opening the door to Dana. She looks cute in a pair of black leggings and an oversized black and white striped tank.
She wraps her arm around my neck. “How are you doing, Mama?”
“As long as we’re past noon, I’m good.”
“I brought a bottle of sparkling grape juice so we can celebrate.” I laugh when I get a glimpse of the brown paper bag it came in. She shrugs. “I don’t want anyone to think I can’t hold the real stuff.”
Mallory comes up behind me. “Hey, I’m Mallory. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too. I’ve had the female version of Blake on my mind, and you’re not it.” Mallory is naturally thin with long brown hair; she looks like an angel compared to her brother.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” She smiles. “Let me take the bottle from you. I’m guessing this is for her,” she says nodding in my direction, “because I have the real stuff for us.”
“You’re darn right.”
Another knock sounds on the door. Reece.
“I haven’t seen you in forever,” I tease when I open the door.
“Eight hours does seem like forever.” She sticks out her lower lip.
“Awe, but you have the Big Bang to keep you company.”
She wags her eyebrows. “Maybe I’ll find out if he lives up to that nickname tonight.”
“Reece.”
“What?” She throws her arms up. “I’ve been reading a lot lately, and I have an itch that needs to be scratched, or I’m going to go crazy.”
Dana and Mallory both laugh. Reece’s face burns red. “Reece, I want you to meet Mallory.”
Reece raises her hand slowly to take Mallory’s. She has the I-want-to-get-the-fuck-out-of-here-look on her face. “If it makes you feel better, it’s been forever for me, too. My electric boyfriend is getting a little tired of me,” Mallory admits in an attempt to ease Reece’s embarrassment.
“Sounds like Lila is the only one getting any around here,” Dana chirps in.
They all start laughing, but I don’t really find it funny. Their shoes would be easier to fill—no broken hearts.
We continue small talk as Mallory brings a plate of cupcakes and glasses of wine to the table. I wonder what Blake is doing, but then I hear the shower running.
“So,” Dana says, “why did you call this meeting, Lila? We know the big news, but there has to be something else. It’s too early for a baby shower.”
