Chapter 35 Jada
I’d never been to The Greenhouse before.
Mostly because the cheapest drink on the menu was over twenty dollars—and that was a bottled water. From Portugal, but surely it couldn’t be all that different.
When I walked into the glass-encased building, with Bryce holding my hand, my jaw fell open.
Thousands of plants hung from the ceiling, placing us in this fairy-like world I’d never seen before.
It was hard to believe we were in Dallas instead of ancient Ireland.
Vines twisted their way up metal poles supporting the outer walls, and air plants rested on each table with raw wooden edges and flickering votive candles.
Glamma had helped pick my outfit for the date, and I was glad because dressy florals felt just right for this setting.
I could spend all day here if it wouldn’t cause me to overdraft my bank card.
Then it hit me—soon, that wouldn’t be a problem.
And yet that uneasy feeling swirled in my gut.
Seeing how Bryce reacted to a simple gift—it had cost me less than a bottled water here—made me realize how much our relationship meant to him.
I think he wanted this to be something real, and I was realizing.
.. I wanted the same. I at least wanted a chance to discover what this could be, if he would allow me to.
While Bryce spoke to a host about seating us with his friends, I decided: I was telling Bryce the truth. Tonight.
Anxiety swirled in my gut at the idea, even as he took my hand and led me to his friends.
I recognized the CFO I saw with Rei first. He sat amongst a group of guys at the bar-height table in a casual button-down and jeans.
The sleeves were rolled up his arms, revealing swirling black tattoo ink that almost disappeared in his complexion.
Lifting his hand, he said, “Hi, I’m Quentin, but friends call me Q.”
I waved back. “Jada.”
He dipped his head and flicked his black eyes down in acknowledgement.
The guy next to him, with pale skin and blond hair pulled back in a bun, said, “I’m Aaric.
” There was an accent to his voice that I didn’t quite recognize, and he had two glasses in front of him—a beer like his friends but also a glass of something green.
Clearly, baby girl didn’t like vegetables much because my stomach turned at the sight.
Thankfully, the final friend there spoke up. “Cruz, the only name you’ll need to remember tonight.”
The other guys chuckled at his bravado while I said, “Is that so?”
He nodded, dark brown eyes squinting with mirth. “I’m the handsome one of the group. The smart one too.”
Bryce sipped from a drink that was clearly meant for him. “Careful, your head might get so full of hot air you’ll float out of here.”
Cruz laughed. “Nice to meet you, Jada.” Even with the arrogance, I liked him already. “You too,” I said.
Aaric chimed in, “I wasn’t sure what to get you to drink, but there are lots of options here.”
“Water’s good,” I said. At my last OB appointment, the doctor said I needed to stay away from sugary drinks too. Yay gestational diabetes.
Aaric said, “Don’t be shy. They have the best drinks here. The mimosas are really popular—they make them with elderberry syrup. So good.”
Bryce dipped his head toward me. “You like mimosas if memory serves.”
My cheeks were feeling hot, and it felt like I had a big PREGNANT sign on my forehead. “Maybe later,” I said, hoping it didn’t sound so awkward. “So tell me, how did you all meet?”
Under the table, I felt Bryce’s hand brush against mine. I glanced over at him to see a small, reassuring smile before he enveloped my hand in his.
Finally, I could breathe again, as Cruz talked about how they met each other in college. “Bryce is kind of like the glue,” Cruz explained. “We’re all here because of him.”
“And what about Jude?” I asked—Bryce had told me about him, even though he couldn’t be here tonight.
The guys exchanged glances, and Quentin kind of shrugged. “He gets shit done.”
I chuckled. “You always need one of those.”
Bryce nodded. “Reminds me of you, actually. I told you guys about how she got past Maya to pause construction during naptime.”
Quentin’s eyebrows arched. “That was you?” He shook his head with a chuckle. “My P&L is not so happy about that.”
I shrugged, not feeling sorry at all. The kids were actually sleeping at naptime now.
“Childcare approval ratings are up ten percent,” Bryce chimed in.
I arched my eyebrows at him, surprised. “They are?”
He nodded. “We have our employees complete monthly scorecards. Good job, Jada.”
Cruz lifted his beer to me. “Here’s to another talking point for my marketing campaign.”
The other guys raised their glasses, and I shook my head at them. “Here’s to a baby sleeping through naptime without a jackhammer waking them up.”
Cruz’s smile was a bit bashful as he said, “That too,” and drank up.
The server came back and set a bottle of water in front of me, then asked if they could bring a tasting plate to the table. Aaric emphatically said yes, and Cruz winced a little before schooling his features.
Leaning in to Bryce, I whispered, “What’s wrong with the food here?”
He smiled slightly before turning so his lips brushed against my ear and shivers went down my spine. “It’s vegan.”
With my senses going wild, it was hard to think of a reason why that was a problem. But then Quentin said, “What do you think of the... arrangement, Jada?”
His question brought me back to reality, and I could feel everyone listening even more intently. They weren’t just asking me if I would be a good wife or partner to Bryce—they were wondering if I would screw them all over.
“It’s asinine,” I blurted.
Aaric and Cruz laughed. Q’s lips even twitched a little.
“I like her,” Aaric said.
Cruz dipped his head. “Finally someone with some sense.”
But Quentin said, “Why agree then?”
My stomach flinched, I swear it. “Same reason you all are getting married. Out of necessity.”
Next to me, Bryce went still. While his friends were nodding in understanding, my heart had stalled right along with his.
It was the wrong thing to say—especially since I was starting to know the real Bryce.
He wasn’t some selfish businessman with his eyes on his bank account.
He cared about people too, and my answer had bypassed all of that.
I opened my mouth to say so, but then someone knocked into the back of my chair, sending my open purse flying across the ground. All its contents skittered over the floor. Several just-in-case tampons gathering dust, a few pens, a pack of tissues, Chapstick, and...
My sonogram.