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“God, where do I even start?” I go over my options internally before finally deciding to just throw it all out there. “I’m pregnant.”
My teal-haired friend nearly launches herself out of her chair as she yells, “Bitch, say what?”
Every single person in the room turns to glare. But, like the badass AJ is, she glares right back until they all turn away.
“I know you didn’t just say you were pregnant.”
Sheepishly, I nod. “Yup.”
“Since when?”
“I just found out for sure this morning.” I laugh, trying to diffuse the tension. Spoiler alert, it doesn’t work. “You’re actually why I took a test. I honestly would’ve chalked it up to too much dancing or getting overheated.” My bestie stares at me, her brown eyes the size of dinner plates. “Well, I mean, we were trying—so it’s not totally out of left field.”
“Excuse me,” AJ hisses, “what the fuck do you mean you were trying? No, just no. Who are you and what did you do with my bestie?”
I concede, because I’m sure that’s exactly how it feels to her. So, while we get our nails filed and buffed and polished, I tell her everything. From my mom having to move home with her parents, to the conditions of West’s trust. I tell her about Virtual Kitty and West owning it, and how we angry-fucked each other. I confess about Buck and Lesli’s, and how West carried me out of there over his shoulder like some kind of sexy caveman in a suit. Her expression softens as I explain my growing feelings, and how I love him, and he loves me. She looks downright enamored when she learns of all the little things he does for me day in and day out, and when I tell her about the contract he had me sign to protect me, I’m pretty sure she’d say yes on my behalf if he happened to get down on one knee.
Not that I think marriage is in our future—though if I’m being honest, I wouldn’t be opposed to it either.
By the time I finish filling her in, my nails are on point and my soul feels fifty times lighter. It’s not like us to keep things from each other, and while secrecy wasn’t my intention, it still happened.
As we walk out of the spa, AJ stops me. “You know what this means, right?”
“Uh, that I’m going to have a baby?”
She smacks her palm to her forehead, her silver-glitter nails sparkling in the sun. “Obviously that. But more immediately, shopping! We have to go shopping!”
My instinct is to turn her down—but West made it abundantly clear when he slipped me a debit card tied to his account with my name on it that I was to treat myself anytime I wanted. Until now, I’ve been very judicious with my spending, but today…today feels like a good time to celebrate. “Let’s do it!”
Two hours and many, many bags later, AJ and I are utterly shopped out. AJ tempts me with the offer of coffee, but I’m exhausted, and think a nap would serve me far better than caffeine would right now.
We part ways, with a promise to meet up next week as well. I’ve got to admit, while I think West and I needed that time together, being out with my bestie feels good.
Back at the house, West is nowhere to be found, but he did leave a card on the island along with a small black velvet box with a black grosgrain bow.
With my interest piqued, I slide my thumb beneath the flap of the envelope and slide the card from it. I crack up when the front of the card comes into full view. On it, in a bold, colorful mismatch of fonts, it reads, “You’re as beautiful on the inside as you are from behind.”
A laugh rumbles out of me as I open the card to read the inside.
Stacia,
You’re every good thing in this life I don’t deserve, but goddamn if I’m going to let you go. I love you more every day, and I can’t wait for the next phase of our journey with you by my side.
Love always,
Your baby daddy
Right when I think this man couldn’t get any swoonier, he goes and does shit like this.
I place the card back into the envelope before carefully untying the ribbon and opening the lid of the box. Sitting inside of it, on a bed of tissue paper, is a gold necklace.
I remove the necklace with care, running the cool, delicate chain between my fingers before examining the bar pendant hanging from it. The back of the bar has a few small indentations in it and when I flip it over to inspect it, I can’t help but laugh. The cocky bastard had it engraved to read baby mama. And as ridiculous as it is, it is so fucking us and I love it.
