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“Maria is pregnant,” I repeat slower, and I’m sure this is probably the first-time in my entire life that I’ve thrown Jared off like this.
“Holy shit, man,” he begins, chin resting on his hand, thinking through my words.
There’s nothing but silence for a few moments, me staring at Jared, and Jared staring at the floor.
Finally, he breaks the silence. “Does her dad know?”
I give him an incredulous look. “Of course her dad doesn’t know. That conversation is going to be a nightmare.”
Just the thought increases my worry tenfold. Tom has always been good to me, and I’ve truly enjoyed working with him. But that relationship was based exclusively on work. How am I supposed to tell him that I knocked up his only daughter?
“How far along is she?” Jared asks, obviously enraptured by this recent turn of events.
“Almost eight weeks now,” I explain, and this time, my lips quirk up in a small smile as I consider my future child. “Maria and I read that the baby is about the size of a kidney bean.”
Jared releases a small scoff at my words. “Look at you. You’re enjoying this.”
And he’s right. Of course, I’m terrified, and I wasn’t begging for a child, but it’s with Maria, and that fact alone makes me giddy.
“But really,” Jared continues, getting serious again, “you’re going to have to tell Tom soon. Definitely before she begins to show.”
“I know. I know. We plan to do it soon,” I tell him calmly. “We just need to think about the best way to go about it.”
Standing up from the couch, Jared comes over to me, patting my shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll take charge of your funeral arrangements.”
“Such a giver,” I tell him dryly, the sound of the door opening snapping our attention to it.
In walks Maria, a plastic bag of takeout clutched in her hand.
“I didn’t know you’d be home yet,” Maria calls out as she goes into the kitchen, setting down the bag of food.
“Yeah, I didn’t have to go back into the office once court let out for the day,” I explain, accepting the side hug she gives me on her way out of the kitchen.
“Oh, hey, Maria,” Jared says a little too cheerfully, giving away that he’s trying to hide a bit of awkwardness.
Maria narrows her eyes at Jared, sizing him up. “So, you know?”
Jared’s shoulders sag. I hadn’t even noticed before that they had tensed.
“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
“I figured you’d be the first to find out.” Maria shrugs, and I watch as she absentmindedly rests her hand on her stomach.
The gesture now seems so natural for her. I can’t help but smile while I stare at her.
“Well,” Jared drags out the syllables, “I’m going to take my leave. Jessica’s annoyance at my lateness will be worth it, though.”
With one last goodbye, Jared shows himself out.
“Hungry?” Maria asks, turning to me once the door closes behind Jared.
“Depends what you’re offering.” I smirk, bending down to nibble on her neck, receiving a small smack to the shoulder.
“I ordered from that Italian restaurant you like,” she tells me, and my mouth waters at the thought.
I should have known from the smell.
“Chicken parm?” I ask, stars probably appearing in my eyes at the prospect of that meal.
