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I can’t help but feel a little left behind.
I watch all the women and Clover huddle by the couches, laughing and sharing what’s been going on in their lives. Maybe Ellery just needs time to get used to us being a couple. There’s still so much we haven’t endured while being friends that we’ll embark on as a couple. The last thing I want to do is scare her off.
Chapter 21
Ellery
“I can’t believe you’re pregnant,” Adeline says to Bryce.
“I know. It’s crazy, when we said we were done with birth control, I thought it would take a while, but bam, one month and I’m pregnant.” She’s smiling, one I’ve never seen on her before. She’s beaming now that I look closely at her.
“And he or she won’t be far off in age from Clover. If Damon has his way, I’ll bet he’s gonna try to knock me up tonight just so we can have babies close to the same age.” Adeline laughs. “He likes the idea of all of us living on the same block for the rest of our lives and our kids growing up together.”
I choke on the last sip of my champagne, and they both look at me.
“I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to take over your night of celebration.” Bryce bites her lip like she’s worried.
“There’s nothing to celebrate. Yes, Cooper and I are a couple, but it doesn’t change anything.”
“You’re kidding. It changes everything.” Bryce’s mouth falls open. “How could you say that? Aren’t you excited?” Her brows draw down.
“Yes, and I’m happy. We’re happy.”
How do I tell my friends, who convinced me to make it happen and are invested in my relationship, that it’s all happening too fast? I haven’t had a chance to just take a breath. I’ve either seen Cooper or talked to him numerous times per day, every day. He surprises me at work, he surprises me at my apartment, and he surprises me with plans when I’m exhausted after a shift. But I don’t want to make him feel bad, and I really do want to spend time with him.
Bryce reaches over and touches my knee. “Elle?”
I shake my head and glance over at the guys who are involved in their own conversation and not paying us any attention. “No. I’m glad we crossed the line… it’s just that we’ve gone from being best friends to dating for five years overnight.”
Adeline leans back on the couch, giving me a look as if she feels bad for me. She was thrust into the same situation when she was pregnant and handled it fine, so I’m sure she doesn’t understand where I’m coming from.
Clover climbs into her mom’s lap and plays with her toy.
Do I want one of those? I think so. But I’m still making a name for myself at work.
“Probably because you’ve known one another for so long. Like there’s no getting to know each other except in the bedroom,” Adeline says, and that makes sense. “I mean, Damon and I got thrown into this, but we still had to get to know one another. Thankfully, it worked out, but in most cases, it doesn’t.”
“I’m sure there’s a lot of friends to lovers who don’t make it the long haul either,” I say, and Bryce scoffs.
“Don’t do this, Elle,” she says, standing.
“What are you talking about?” I frown.
“Sabotage something good. Slow it down if you have to, but you’ll regret it if you lose him.”
What the fuck? Was I speaking a foreign language?
“Bryce?”
She sits down when I give her the look that we’re not finished here. “I am not going to end this. I love him. I am happy. But I don’t want to plan my entire future right now. I don’t want to look at houses or think about having a baby. I want to know what it would’ve felt like ten years ago when I met Cooper. If we wouldn’t have listened to all the bullshit about sex ruining our futures and our friendship, what would he have done to get me to like him? What would I have done? I don’t want that to not be part of our story.”
She stares at me. She’s always a harsh critic and probably doesn’t understand what I’m saying. “I’m sure Adeline didn’t want to get to know Damon while six months pregnant. You’re forgetting Elle, you did get to know him in small increments as you two became best friends. And that’s what’s going to make it last. Don’t you see what a bonus that is and not a strike against you?”
I look behind me at the guys surrounding the breakfast bar, eating, laughing, and having fun. Cooper looks like there’s nothing that could ruin his mood right now. He’s high on life because of us. As if he can read me, he turns my way and winks. Those dimples are going to be the death of me.
“I do. But…” I shake my head, not wanting to get into it, especially with him only a few feet away. “Just forget it, I’m not explaining it right.”
Bryce stands and goes to join the guys.
