Chapter 27 Charleigh
TWENTY-SEVEN
CHARLEIGH
“She’s alive!” I throw my hands in the air and dash across the bar to wrap my best friend into a giant hug.
Julianna’s face is buried in her phone, but she looks up when she hears me squealing as I charge toward her. My cheeks are already sore from how hard I’m smiling. Relief washes over when I wrap my arms tightly around her, squeezing as hard as I possibly can.
“My God, I missed you,” I cry, holding her out at arm’s length.
“I missed you, too.” She giggles, setting her phone down on the bar top. It’s open to a thread of messages.
She quickly closes out of it when she sees me staring at it, shutting off her screen as she takes a sip of her bright green martini.
I touch the ends of her silky hair. “Your hair has grown out.”
“Has it?” Her scowls as she looks down. Then her gaze meets mine, realization dawning on her. “Holy shit, it has been a long time since I’ve seen you.”
“There she is.” I laugh, holding my tiny flower-embroidered clutch in front of me with both hands. “And yes, it’s been entirely too long. Basically since just after my wedding.”
“Where are Selene and London?” She peers over my shoulder at the crowded bar, searching for our other two best friends.
“I couldn’t wait any longer to see you, so they said they’ll be here in a few. Selene takes forever to say goodbye to Luca, and I swear, London is just as bad.”
“It’s an aunt thing.” Julianna shrugs her bare shoulder, giggling. “Totally understandable.” Her gold spaghetti strapped halter top shimmers under the dim lights of the swanky Manhattan bar. Although the lights are muted, Julianna isn’t. She’s simply glowing.
“Didn’t you just come from Holt and Selene’s, too?” she asks me.
“Yep.” I pop the P, my lips sticking from my lip gloss. “You know Asher always jumps at the chance to hang out with Holt and West when we go out. Our girls night out has also turned into guys night out.”
“Right.” Her smile falters as her eyes drop to her phone. She takes another sip of her martini, still side-eyeing it.
I swear I catch a hint of sadness in her bright gaze.
I’ve been friends with Julianna for nearly a decade. She isn’t terribly difficult to read. Usually. But there’s something about her tonight I can’t put my finger on.
After swallowing her drink, she shifts her focus back to me and leans forward in her seat to grab both my hands. “It’s been months since I’ve seen you. I want to hear all about your honeymoon and married life since. How are the flower shops doing? Tell me everything.”
“Are you kidding?” I laugh, finally sliding into the empty seat next to Julianna’s.
My stomach rolls through a wave of nausea, but I shove it aside.
“I’ve already told you everything. I want to hear all about this mystery client of yours.
How was it? Can you please tell me who it is now?
I’ve racked my brain trying to figure out whose house you’ve designed.
I keep searching social media and magazines for celebrities who are renovating their homes, hoping to see your name as the designer.
I’ve yet to come across a single tag or mention of you. ”
I’m rambling and I realize it’s the nerves.
Julianna’s back straightens as her hands slip away from mine. She rests her arm on the bar and waves me off. Her phone buzzes, and the screen lights up. I barely get a chance to read the name on the message before her hand is covering it, turning it off.
“Shouldn’t we order you a drink before we get into all that?” She twists in her seat and glances over her shoulder for the bartender.
“Oh.” I wave my hand, dismissively. “I’m okay.”
She pauses when she faces me again, twisting her deep red painted lips. Her gaze drops to my stomach, and the blood drains from my face. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as my best friend’s eyes spread wide.
“Holy shit,” she blurts, shouting over the bar music blaring overhead. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
I wince, scrunching my nose, afraid to say it out loud. I’m not certain why. Maybe because Asher and I haven’t told anyone yet and, up until now, it’s been our secret.
“You never not order at least one drink when we go out.” Her gorgeous blue eyes widen even more. “You are pregnant.”
Biting down on my bottom lip, I nod.
“Charleigh!” Julianna squeals and leaps out of her chair, throwing her arms around me. She squeezes me, bouncing on her toes with excitement. She pulls away from me, and tears spring to my eyes when I see hers. A tear slips down her cheek. “I’m so happy for you both. How long have you known?”
“We just found out last week.” My mind immediately goes back to the moment we read the results of the test and the look on Asher’s face.
I didn’t think it was possible to love him more than I did in that moment.
“We wanted to keep it to ourselves for a bit before telling everyone. I planned on telling the three of you tonight, and my mom this weekend, but you always have read me better than anyone.” I roll my eyes, my mouth stretching into a grin.
“Apparently, all I had to do was decline an alcoholic drink.”
“I do know you well.” Julianna laughs, despite the tears flowing down her cheeks.
“And I know you.” I tuck her hair behind her ear. Her eyes well with fresh tears. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Of course.” She sniffs and dries her cheeks. “My best friend is going to have a baby!”
“What?” London shrieks from behind me.
I spin in my chair, and Julianna’s eyes dart past me.
Selene and London are standing just two feet behind me, their jaws practically on the floor.
“You’re pregnant?” Selene shouts, and if I gave a shit about anyone in this bar, I’d be completely embarrassed by her ability to make a scene, even though she is the quietest out of our group.
I give her a sheepish grin. “Yes.”
“Hell fucking yeah!” London shouts, bouncing on her feet giddily. Both women race toward me, wrapping their arms around me.
I can’t help the tears, the laughter, and the warmth radiating across my body. I sigh with happiness, knowing I’ve found my family.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” London asks, playfully slapping my arm.
“The plan was to tell you tonight.” I settle back into my seat. “I just thought we’d get through catching up with Julianna first.”
The three of us turn our attention to Julianna, who’s sitting in her chair, typing out a message on her phone. Noticing us staring at her in silence, she stuffs her phone into her matching gold clutch and slides out from her seat.
“You met someone, didn’t you?” I ask, nodding toward her bag.
“Oh, my God,” Selene chimes in. “Was this mystery client a man you had an affair with? Is that why you’ve been so secretive these past few months?”
“I haven’t been secretive,” Julianna argues.
She moves around the three of us, backing up and shimmying toward the dance floor.
She sticks her arm straight out and points her finger directly at me, swaying her hips to the song playing.
“Charleigh may not be able to drink tonight, but there’s nothing to say she can’t dance. ”
“Hell yeah,” London says, snatching up my hand to drag me out of my seat.
“Eh,” I grumble, resisting a little. “My stomach has been feeling a bit queasy. Morning sickness isn’t restricted to only mornings, you know.”
“Oh, I’m aware.” Selene rolls her eyes, knowingly. “We have to at least dance for a little bit to celebrate, though.”
“Fine, but only for a few songs,” I agree, slipping one hand into Selene’s, the other into Julianna’s with a smile. “I don’t want to pull a Luca and ruin anyone’s night.”
“Have either of you seen Julianna?” I shout over the music to Selene and London.
Both women are leaning against the bar, sipping their glasses of prosecco, exhausted from the past hour of endless dancing. It’s their third glass, and I can already see the bubbles in their eyes.
“Um.” Selene pops up, searching over the heads of everyone in the crowd surrounding us. “Now that you mention it…”
“I think she went to the bathroom,” London cuts in. “But that was a while ago, before you stepped out to answer your work call.”
“Everything okay with the flower shop?” Selene asks.
“Huh.” I trail my tongue along my teeth, lost in thought. “Oh, yeah, everything is good at the shop. Have you noticed anything strange about her tonight? Julianna, I mean. She’s been acting weird, right?”
I haven’t been able to shake this feeling all night, especially with her constantly being on her phone.
Selene shrugs, her blonde ponytail swaying. “Maybe a little. But she seems happy and in a good mood, so I’m not sure what could be wrong.”
“I don’t think anything is wrong, necessarily. She just seems different.” I check over my shoulder one more time, hoping to spot her, but I don’t. I turn back to Selene and London. “I’m going to go check on her.”
“Do you want us to go with you?” Selene sets her champagne glass on the bar top.
“That’s okay.” I give her a smile, already backing away. “Finish your drinks.”
I leave Selene and London and head for the bathrooms down the darkened hallway in the far corner of the bar.
After pushing through the copper door of the women’s restroom, I step inside and call for Julianna.
The bathroom isn’t large, consisting of only three copper hammered sinks and three stalls opposite them.
I peek around the corner of the first stall.
The door is propped open, and I nudge it open with my finger.
“Julianna?” I announce again, stepping away from the first stall.
The sound of hushed giggling and heavy breaths catch my attention, drawing me to the third stall closest to the wall.
Two feet wearing gold strappy heels peek out from under the door. Behind them are two large, black shiny dress shoes.
“Oh, my God.” I giggle, crossing my arms and leaning against the sink. “Julianna Capuleti, I know you’re in there.”
Three seconds of silence, then, “I’ll be out in a second, Charleigh.”