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“Good things, I hope,” Victoria says. “Maybe a man?”
Lola chuckles, “Yeah, a man, but not the kind you want to be blowing up your phone.” She purposefully avoids looking at Gillian. “Just my brother.”
“Ugh! What does he want?” Gillian snaps. “He knows you’re busy, doesn’t he?”
“Gill, relax, you know how he gets when he’s stressed.”
“What in the world does he have to be stressed about?” Gillian asks with a roll of her eyes.
Lola hesitates, looking askance at me. I know that look. After all, I’ve known Lola my whole life. Gillian and Lola have been thick as thieves since diapers. And that look means she knows what she’s about to say is going to upset Gillian…and upsetting Gillian means things are about to go off the rails. “How about we–” I attempt to modulate the tone of the conversation.
“Harley, please,” Gillian says. “Just tell me, Lola.”
Her friend sighs. “He’s looking at buying the lot by Seton.”
Gillian’s eyes widen with an ire I would not want to be on the other side of. I have definitely crossed her a few times in my life, but ever since I got pregnant, we’ve been closer than we’ve ever been. I am determined not to let her anger be directed at me ever again. “What?!”
“What’s the lot by Seton?” Victoria asks.
I wince. She’s just opened a can of worms.
“It’s an abandoned lot by the school Stella goes to.”
“How can you say that?! It’s a playlot! Kids have birthday parties there.”
“It’s not recognized as that by the city, Gillian,” Lola says uneasily.
Gillian shakes her head. “So what?! It’s used by the community, it should be used for the community. Not whatever development project Axel is working on. We don’t need more condos in California!”
Victoria looks at me. “Sorry, Harley.”
I laugh and lean back. “No apologies necessary. I love the drama.”
Kira has remained silent this whole time, but I feel her glare. That’s enough to shut me up.
“Did you even try to explain to him–”
“You know I don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to Axel and his developments. He’s a businessman!”
“Yes, he’s a businessman. He doesn’t care about anyone else but himself.”
“Gillian, that’s not fair!” Lola cries out.
Gillian tries to respond, but her anger is making her words come out strained and stilted. “I’m sosickof him!”
“Are you okay, Mommy?” Stella asks.
Gillian straightens up and takes a deep breath. “I’m fine, sweetie. I’m fine.” She leans in toward the rest of us and lowers her voice. “I’m sorry, Lola. I’m just sick of him always popping up where he doesn’t belong.”
“For being so sick of him, you sure talk about him a lot,” I say pointedly.
“I don’t like what you’re implying,” Lola says, queasily grabbing her stomach.
“I’m just saying! With the way Gillian reacts like the sky is falling every time he does something that remotely relates to her, I’d say she’s got a bit of a crush.”
Victoria covers her mouth to hide a laugh.
Gillian lifts her chin and narrows her eyes. “I will hold my tongue because this is your baby shower, Harley.”
