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She threw her hands up in surrender. “Jesus, Quinn. I’m sorry, okay! You know I hate apologizing—”
“I really don’t care, Roxie.” He turned his attention back to the flames dancing in the fireplace. “It’s been a long-ass day, and I’m not in the mood for you right now.”
“That’s fair.”
The lack of sarcasm in her voice had his gaze swinging back to her. His brow furrowed. A tiny part of him felt bad for his friend. But the other part was still pissed.
“Look, I know I was a total bitch today. And I’m really sorry. I was super stressed out because I’ve got my first big catering gig tomorrow night, and Mayor Green’s wife has beenhoundingme since five thirty this morning. Then, when Alex showed up to work late and was acting all out of it, it pushed me over the edge. My imagination got away from me because I knew you were over at her place last night and—”
Whoa.He flinched. Hard. Like she’d dumped a bucket of ice water over his head. “What the hell, Roxie?”
“Ewww, Quinn. I wasn’t thinking of you likethat.” She shuddered, and her face scrunched in revulsion. He had never been more thankful. “My point is I wasn’t rational. I let my temper stew, and I didn’t think. Then you mosey on in, completely ignore the fact that I’m running a friggin’ business, and start coddling her like she’s some broken little child, and, I don’t know, I just snapped, okay?”
“Was there an apology somewhere in there?” A non-apology apology. Classic Roxie.
She frowned. “Now you’re just being a jackass. You know I hate it when you’re mad at me. I said that I was sor—”
“Rox,” he interrupted with a tired sigh, the fight in him gone. “I don’t care what you say to me. I never have. You can tell me to fuck off and spit nails at me for all I care.” He rose, crossed the room, slung his arm over her shoulder, and yanked her into a hug. “I’ve heard it all from you before, and sure as shit, I’ll hear it all again.” He pulled slightly away to look at her. “The apology you owe is to Alex. Not me. And when you go and tell her you’re sorry, it’d be appreciated if you—oh, I don’t know—painted me as less of a man-whore to her.”
“Yeaaah. About that.” Her eyes closed, and she grimaced, embarrassment staining her cheeks. “Sorry for the flavor-of-the-month bit. I think I was projecting.” His brows lifted at her explanation, but she didn’t give him a chance to comment. Her eyes flew open, and she said, “I know! How about I make you guys dinner tonight? I’ll make a fabulous meal and leave. I promise. Will that make up for it?”
Classic Roxie. Her mind was like a crazy multi-ball pinball machine.
“That works for me. But stay for dinner.”
Worried green eyes met his.
“Talk to her, Roxie. Make it right. She needs all the friends and support she can get right now.”
* * *
Utterly relaxed, Alex sank deeper into the tub. Quinn had been right. A long soak was exactly what she’d needed. It had been a rollercoaster day, but when she thought back on her lunch with Quinn, she couldn’t help but smile.
For one brief moment, she’d been a regular woman having lunch with a man who—if she were being completely honest with herself—she was wildly attracted to. It’d been just food, conversation, and perhaps a little bit of flirting, but the simplicity of it all had made her feel so blessedly normal.
Foreign, giddy hope had stirred in her belly while they’d sat in their booth. As if whatever they had between them—the comfort, the electricity—could lead to something more. Something meaningful.
But then lunch had ended, and they’d returned to the stark reality of her life: her pregnancy, her not quite ex-husband... the flowers, the mystery calls. Talk about a letdown.
Her heart sank.
How could being reminded of her pregnancy be a letdown?
She was an awful person.
Stepping out of the tub, she picked up a plush towel and began to wipe herself dry. When she got to her abdomen, she paused.
There was a tiny little baby in her womb.
Years earlier, when she’d been told that she couldn’t have kids, she’d been devastated. So, now that she was pregnant, she should be thrilled.
And she was. Most days. But when she really thought about the enormity of what was to come... she panicked.
She knew women had children by themselves all the time. But still. The idea of raising this child on her own terrified her. Though, it wasn’t the logistics of single parenthood that kept her awake at night, that crippled her with waves of anxiety. It was doubt.
What if she couldn’t fully love this baby?
The thought alone made her feel like a monster.
