Her eyes get big, but in an excited way, not in a shocked, disgusted way. "Single dad? How old is his kid? And how did you find out?"
"She was a student in Liam's class. Just found out today when he came for the last show-and-tell. I think she's eight?" I explain.
"That is such a fun age! Awww, I can't wait until Briar is eight. But at the same time, I want her to stay a little chubbycarrot forever." Evie flashes us her lock screen, a picture of Briar with her bright orange hair. Everyone oohs and ahhs the way people do when they see a cute baby.
"My niece is pretty freaking cute." Iris sticks out her lower lip and makes that face people make when they coo over a cute baby.
"Like I said, it really doesn't matter to me because I'm not looking to be anyone's step-mommy." I down the rest of my drink, hoping to use my empty glass as an excuse to get away from the table and this interrogation for a bit. This was not the reaction I was expecting from any of them.
"Looks like you need a new drink, B. I'll go to the bar with you." Fia rattles the ice in her empty glass and steps off her stool.
As she walks by me, she links her arm with mine, not giving me the option to run off on my own like she knows I want to.
When we’re out of earshot from the table, she leans over, arm still linked with mine. "I could tell you wanted that conversation to be over."
"Ya think."
"Unfortunately for you, I'm not ready to drop it."
"Noooo." I stop in my tracks and attempt to pull away from her.
"Oh no, you're not getting out of this." She tightens her grip on my arm and trudges forward, toward the bar. "Remember, we have a rule that as long as we're sleeping together, we have open and honest communication."
I groan and roll my eyes at the reminder. I usually love open and honest communication because it always involves me telling people I don't want anything serious, and that's that. No one ever pushes me for more. With Fia, our check-ins are always lighthearted and well-intentioned. Ourpriority as friends is to never let our physical relationship get in the way of our friendship, and it never has. "Fine. Let's talk. Tell me what you think I need to hear. Tell me how I'm broken and how I need to give him a chance."
"Is that what you want me to say?"
"No. But I know it's what everyone else wants to say."
She slows our pace and tugs my arms so I'm facing her. "Have I ever had the same opinion as everyone else?"
My chest shakes as I suppress a laugh. "No." That's one thing I love about Fia, we're both a little rebellious and hate being like everyone else, including how we think.
"Okay, so I need you to trust that what I want to say to you is in your best interest."
"Alright. I'm listening."
We continue walking and belly up to the bar when we get there. As we wait for the bartender to wait on us, she leans into me. "Were you shocked when you saw him today?"
"Duh. He was literally the last person I was expecting to see at my class." I correct myself, "Liam's class."
"You were a little excited to see him, though, weren't you?"
"Excited isn't the word I'd use, but I definitely felt something. Nausea, maybe?"
She nudges me with her elbow, calling my bluff. "Yeah, whatever."
"He makes me kind of nervous, which I hate."
"I could tell."
"You thought I seemed nervous when it was the three of us?"
"Well, you definitely weren't nauseous, I can tell you that."
Now it's my turn to nudge her. "Shut up."
"I mean, you didn't choke at all when you sucked hisbig, beautiful, fat?—"
