Zander #3
“I want whatever Harlowe wants,” I say for her to hear, but loud enough for Paloma and Javi to catch.
Paloma lets out a small gasp while Javi chokes on his drink.
“How many babies do you want, Lowe? Girls? Boys? A whole baseball team? Just the one? I’ll give you anything you fucking want.
” Javi starts coughing in earnest now and Paloma whacks him on his back until he stops.
“Zander,” Harlowe says slowly, eyes wide, looking spooked by my declaration. Okay, maybe it was a bit much. I should have just stopped at whatever she wanted. It was a good enough answer, but it wasn’t the answer I wanted to give.
“Are you feeling okay, bro?” Javi asks, reaching across the table like he’s going to feel my forehead. I bat his hand away, keeping my eyes on Harlowe.
“I’m serious. We made such a beautiful little boy. He’s amazing. I want as many babies as you want.” I’m high with the feeling of saying this out loud now, of accepting the truth, of knowing that deep down it’s what I want so fucking badly, but only if it can be with her.
“Zander, do I need to take you home? Was there something in that cocktail?” Javi says, leaning over and pulling the glass toward him to sniff it.
“I think you’re scaring her. Dial it back.
This isn’t like you,” he says quietly when he’s closer to me.
His face is concerned, probably thinking I’ve lost my mind to be saying what I am.
He’s never seen me like this. Hell, neither have I.
I catch Paloma staring at me, with a hint of a disbelieving smile turning up her mouth that goaded me into this spot.
I smile and let her see the truth. What I'm saying sounds crazy because I'm crazy about Harlowe.
I refocus on Harlowe’s face and see what Javi does, undisguised fear. But if I know this woman at all, I know she’s afraid to want what I’m saying, not that I’m saying it. I give her a reassuring smile. “I guess we have a lot to talk about before we start talking about babies, right, Lowe?”
She starts laughing and drops her face into her hands.
“Oh, my God, Zander, you’re such a psycho,” she says behind her fingers, which instantly eases the tension around the table.
Javi resettles in his seat. Paloma shakes her head and sends Harlowe a glance to check in, and seemingly satisfied, sips her purple cocktail.
“Well, that certainly turned the mood of the night. Thanks for that lovely conversation starter, Paloma,” Harlowe says, giving her friend a withering look across the table.
“I think you crying over whatever he was saying to you before I asked him the question was the downer, but hey, feel free to blame me for asking what we all wanted to know anyway,” she replies with enough sass to give me a good look into their friendship.
They’re close, probably share everything, and she’s protective of Harlowe.
Good. Can’t have too many friends like that when you have assholes like me out there ready to break the hearts of good women.
“Paloma!” Harlowe says, gripping the table and giving her friend a stern look before shaking her head. “I think I’ve had enough celebrating for the night. I should get home.”
I give her a look, wondering if she plans to go home alone, or if she’ll let me take her home with me. She doesn’t look at me, but a moment later, her hand comes to rest on my thigh, and slowly begins to slide up. With me, it is.
“You can’t be the pooper on your own party,” Paloma says, pouting across the table at Harlowe. “Your mom said she would watch Hendricks all night if you wanted and you still want to call it now? Boo, you’re no fun.”
“There’s a great bar down the street with an exotic liquor selection I could show you if you want to keep it going.
Unless you’re set on these pink and purple cocktails, then I guess I can tolerate another round or two if you promise to share more embarrassing stories about these two,” Javi offers with perfect timing.
I send him a secret look of thanks whether he did it on my behalf or not.
“I could go for a good scotch after all of these sugary drinks,” Paloma says, considering Javi’s offer.
“Fine, let’s go be fun and Harlowe can go home.
” She gives Harlowe a look as if she knows exactly what that means and where her hand is right now.
“Zander, can I trust you to make sure she makes it home safely? We took a car service here to avoid having to drive back after.”
“Yes, Paloma, I’ll take her home,” I answer honestly, and smile wickedly so she knows exactly what I have planned.
Harlowe huffs out a laugh at the exchange. “Stop it, you two,” she says playfully. “You’re worse than my kid.”
“Our kid,” I correct her, and kiss her on the forehead before I rise from the table and hold a hand out to her.
“Ay, Dios,” Javi and Paloma say together, and burst out laughing at the timing.
Harlowe and I stare at each other. She raises an eyebrow at me and I just shake my head. Something tells me I made the right call in who my wingman was for the evening and those two will be quite happy about their situation now. I put my hand on the small of her back and look at our friends.
“You two be safe. Have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn’t do.” I wink at Javi, who just shakes his head back, but the smile on his face tells me everything.