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The rose gold felt warm under my fingertips, as it so often did. Of course, my skin heated it, but I liked to pretend it was a small connection with Oliver.
“He didn’t propose? I’m confused.”
Purposely, I hadn’t told Ally what had happened, mainly because it was still so crazy even to me. I’d been vague about everything, letting her know that I’d told Oliver about the baby and he’d been supportive, but we were working things out. Kind of. In our own demented way.
“You aren’t the only one. I came downstairs after the most amazing night and he was making breakfast for my parents, all domestic-like.”
“And?”
“And they all started talking about the wedding. Our wedding. He hadn’t even suggested we move in together or even formally date, though we agreed on exclusivity from the start. It was so weird.”
“Hmm, yeah, but this is Oliver we’re talking about. He likes shortcuts and expeditious routes. He probably figured it was a foregone conclusion you’d marry him.”
“So true. He does think he’s God’s gift. And yet if he’d only asked me, I would’ve said yes, although it’s freaking crazy.”
“Because of the baby?”
“No. Because he makes me feel so…” I shivered, and not entirely because I should have worn a warmer jacket.
I clutched my purse tighter on my lap as Ally had to swerve to avoid a stalled car with its hazards on. The wheels of the SUV spun before gripping the icy road and I had to bite hard on my lip to keep from screeching. “God, every little thing freaks me out now.”
“Because you have precious cargo on board.”
“Yeah.” I lightened up my hold on my purse and refastened my ponytail. “My parents might not go right back on the road. They want to stick around in case I need help with my pregnancy.”
“Not putting a lot of stock in Oliver, are they?”
“Well, they witnessed our blowout.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. In retrospect, I should’ve waited, but in the moment and with hormones and new baby revelations, I was a hot mess. I’ve had time to consider a lot of things in the couple of weeks since.” Carefully, I pried the origami dragon out of my purse that contained Oliver’s question about dating. “He makes me these.”
Ally glanced at the dragon and waited until the stoplight to take it. “Oliver did this. Really?”
“Yes. I hav
e a bunch of them now. I think he did it on a lark once and then when he realized I love them, now he sends me notes on them.”
Ally frowned and returned the dragon. I was still holding it in my lap, touching the wings as if it were a priceless artifact, when she finally spoke again. “He obviously cares a lot about you.”
“Yes,” I whispered. “I actually think he does.”
“And what about you? You care about him too? Beyond the baby.”
“Yeah. So much. It’s just so frigging scary. I’m afraid to want it this much, you know?”
“Sister, do I ever.” Ally clutched the wheel in her mittened hands and nodded. She didn’t look away from the road, a sure sign the conditions were worsening. The windshield wipers thunked steadily, moving as fast as they could to try to keep up with the relentless onslaught of snow. And it was getting dark, which never helped with visibility on snowy nights.
“I’ve been putting off taking the next step because he’s almost been courting me, in this odd old-fashioned way. He even sent me flowers yesterday. Tulips.” I sighed dreamily, picturing their rainbow blooms. “In the dead of winter.”
Ally sighed too. “So sweet. Seth sent me daisies in the hospital and when we brought Alex home and then, of course, there was this.” She tugged off her mitten and the pink heart diamond ring on her pinky winked in the last rays of remaining light. “Can’t wait until I’m not so swollen and can wear it on the finger it was intended for.”
“One hell of a push present. Those Hamilton men do know what they’re about when it comes to fancy romantic gestures. Even Oliver is getting there.” Again, I touched my bow necklace. My other hand was still on the dragon. And inside me was our child, just waiting until tomorrow morning to cause me to get sick again.
Oliver was everywhere with me, even when he wasn’t.
“I’m going to go out with him and then we’ll just see—”
