“Oh crap, he hasn’t told you yet. I’m an idiot.” She smacks her forward. “I just assumed that because he declined to come back and work with my father and lost his inheritance because of it, love was definitely something you two—shit.” Her eyes widen as she stares at me. “Okay, yeah. I’m just going to go and um . . .”
“Mattie, come help us, please. June’s got her hands full in the kitchen, and this sign is about to fall if Anna and I don’t keep it straight.”
“Coming, Mom.” Mattie smiles. “I’m happy he found you. Please forget I said anything.”
Oh.
My.
God.
“Look who’s here,” June singsongs. The party is clearly starting and I’m not paying attention because I’m about to freak out.
He loses everything. For me. What . . . how . . .?
“Are you okay?” Lennox asks and I snap back quickly, remembering where I am.
“Great,” I say and point at the gift in her arms. “That basket is adorable.”
I stand to take it from her and lead her to meet my mother and Mark’s family.
No matter what kind of freak out I’m having on the inside, I can’t let it show till this party is over.
Mark
With as many times as I’ve looked at my watch, I’m surprised my neck hasn’t formed a permanent tilted position.
I wanted to be there with Sydney for the entire shower, but June insisted that it be just the ladies and for me to wait until the last half hour and show up with flowers.
Sure, I’ll have flowers. Loads of flowers and blue Sour Patch Kids and a huckleberry malt. One for when I get there and one for later when Syd wants to snuggle up on the couch to watch whatever show she picks tonight.
“So, what are we doing again?” Tripp asks as we wait for our lunch.
“Eating lunch,” Winston says as the waitress at Plum’s Diner lays out our plates.
“We are eating lunch to kill time until I can go back to the house.”
“Aren’t we supposed to be having some kind of party for you?” Tripp asks.
“Oh, yeah, like a diaper party.”
“I don’t need a diaper party.”
Syd mentioned it to me once, but it felt weird. I’m already a little put off by the whole baby shower thing. I wanted to just buy Syd anything she wanted instead of letting others do it for her. We can afford it, so why not? But then that would mean no baby shower, and there is no way I’d let that happen.
“Why not?”
“I don’t need anyone buying me anything. I can buy it myself. I don’t need gifts. It’s weird, letting others buy you things you can afford.”
Both of my friends tip their heads back with laughter.
“What the hell?”
“Sorry.” Winston waves his hand in front of his face and then grabs his burger. “But clearly, Sydney is rubbing off on you.”
“Yeah. It was bound to happen though. Women are like that. Especially once we fall in love with them,” Tripp adds.
“I’m not in love with Syd.”
