Chapter 26
Daniel
My phone buzzed on my desk as I wrapped up signing some documents for the London deal.
Everything was in place to start on my newest product to launch, but the fine details were taking longer than I had expected.
And the time difference was taking its toll on me.
I yawned as I reached over and picked up my phone. It was Freddy calling.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Aw, man. Freddy. I totally forgot. I’m double booked.”
“What could be more important than whiskey and a ribeye with your oldest friend?”
I hesitated. I hadn’t told Freddy about Heart yet.
“Ohhh…it’s a woman,” he answered knowingly.
I rubbed the back of my head as I leaned back in my desk chair. “Yeah. I have a date.”
“Who is the flavor of the week this time?”
“Uh, it’s Heart. Well, Addison. You met her at Bemelmans’s that one night.”
I heard silence on the other line. I pulled the phone away from my ear to make sure he was still connected.
“Hello? Freddy?” I asked.
“Hi. Yeah. Still here. I’m just trying to process that you’ve been seeing this same woman for almost two months now…”
I laughed. Little did he know.
“Crazy, right?” I said.
“I think the world has flipped on its axis…”
“Okay. We get it, Freddy.”
“And here I thought you were practically engaged to Kiera.”
“You believe tabloids now?”
“No, but what else would explain your ‘good guy’ image?”
“Maybe because I am a good guy.”
Freddy laughed a little too hard on the other line.
“Are we done here?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“No. Why don’t we double tonight? I’m sure I could change the reservation to four at the restaurant.”
“I don’t know…” I said. I wondered what Addison would think. Tonight was supposed to be just us two.
“Come on,” Freddy whined on the other line. “I’ve already met her. It could be fun. Plus, I have a new girl I want you to meet.”
“Oh goodie. Another one,” I said sarcastically.
“I deserved that,” said Freddy.
“Fiiiine. I’ll meet you at seven tonight,” I caved.
I hoped Addison wouldn’t be pissed, but she didn’t seem the type. Plus, it would be nice to have her spend more time with the people I was close to in life.
“See you then,” he said before hanging up.
At 5 o’clock, I left the office and headed home to freshen up.
I took a hot shower and shaved the thick stubble I had been growing out the past week.
I ran a small amount of pomade through my hair and spritzed on a few generous sprays of cologne.
In my closet, I chose a gray linen suit and a white button-down.
Once I was happy with what I saw in the mirror, I grabbed my phone and keys and rode the elevator down to the parking garage where Armand waited.
The drive to Brooklyn took just over an hour. I smiled as Heart’s familiar brick building came into view. Once we pulled up to the curb, I walked up to the entrance and buzzed her name. A few moments passed before I heard her voice through the small speaker.
“Hello?” she asked.
“It’s me!”
“I’ll be right down!”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come up?” I asked.
“No, my nosy landlord might see you. Be down in a jiff.”
I strode back to the town car and took my usual spot leaning against it.
A few minutes later, Addison pushed open the door to her apartment and stepped out into the warm glow of the sun that had just dipped below the buildings.
She was in a long black dress with thin straps.
The dress jutted out just before it hit her waist, swishing around her like a dancer.
Her hair was pulled up into a bun piled on her head, wavy tendrils framing her face.
“Wow,” I said.
She smiled and did a little twirl. I reached for her hand and pulled her toward me. I leaned in and gave her a quick kiss before opening the car door. We both slid inside, closing the door behind me.
“Is this new?” I asked, feeling the skirt of her dress in my fingers.
“Mhmm,” she said proudly.
“I like it. A lot.”
“I had to do a little shopping. I’m starting to show,” she whispered, running her hands over the dress. I could see a small bump protruding as she pulled the dress against her. I sucked in a breath. Seeing her stomach growing made the baby seem all the more real.
“May I?” I asked softly.
She nodded.
I placed my hands gently on her stomach and could feel the firm roundness underneath my hands.
“Wow,” I said. “When will I be able to feel it?”
“Not for a while,” she said. “I haven’t felt anything yet.”
I furrowed my brows with worry.
“It’s okay,” she reassured me. “That’s normal. Baby’s too small to feel any movement.”
I nodded, feeling relieved. “I haven’t been keeping up with Googling all things baby.”
“It’s okay. I’ve been doing enough reading for the both of us.” She squeezed my hand.
“So, where are we going?” she asked, looking at me with excitement in her eyes.
“Well…I hope you don’t mind, but I told Freddy we could go on a double date...”
“That sounds fun,” said Heart, and the smile on her face was convincing.
“Really?” I asked, letting out a small sigh of relief.
“Yeah. He was really nice. Plus, who else is going to tell me embarrassing stories from your childhood?” She nudged me playfully.
She really was something else. So go with the flow and sincere. She was unlike anyone I had ever met. I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
“What was that for?” she asked.
“You. Just being you.”
She smiled up at me and she just looked so damn beautiful.
“Let’s tell Freddy tonight.”
“Wait? What? About the baby?” she asked in surprise.
“Yeah. Why not?” I shrugged.
“I’m just surprised. That’s all. I felt like I was kind of your secret or something.”
My stomach dropped. I didn’t know she felt that way, and the way she said it sounded so sad. I reached for her hands and brought them to my lips, kissing each knuckle.
“I’m sorry you felt that way, Heart. I just…I’m not used to this. Whatever this is. I just wanted to protect us. Protect the baby.”
She nodded slowly.
“I know what the paparazzi and tabloids can do to people.”
“It’s okay. I understand,” she said softly.
“But I do want to tell my best friend about us. About the pregnancy. If you’re okay with that.”
“Of course, I am. My best friend already knows everything about you.”
Ah, yes. The bulldog from her apartment. I’d have to really try to get in her good graces when I had the chance.
When we arrived at Royal 35, I saw Freddy already seated at a booth with a raven-haired girl on his arm. He spotted Heart and me and waved us over excitedly. I could tell from his smile he had already had his usual whiskey on ice.
When Heart and I approached the table, he stood and patted me on the back before giving Heart a hug.
“Nice to see you again,” he said. “This is Virginia.”
His date stood and shook our hands firmly. She was naturally pretty and dressed in a sophisticated cream skirt suit. She was different from most of the women I had seen Freddy with. Those were usually in lingerie they tried to pass off as dresses with layers of makeup on.
We all sat at the booth, and the server came around to take our drink order.
“We will have your finest bottle of Cabernet for the table,” said Freddy, handing the server back the wine list.
“Oh, um…actually…” I started.
Heart put her hand on my arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. I looked at her and she gave a little nod, as if saying it was fine.
The server left and Freddy was already eying me suspiciously.
“What’s going on?” he asked, looking between the two of us.
“Well, I… er… we, kind of have some news,” I said nervously. “We’re having a baby.”
“Shut the fuck up,” said Freddy loudly, slapping the table excitedly.
Heart laughed beside me.
“Is he fucking with me?” Freddy asked Heart.
“Nope,” she answered, her smile so wide.
“I don’t know what to say. Congratulations!” said Freddy excitedly, pulling me in for a hug.
“Thanks, man,” I said.
“How far along are you?” asked Virginia, leaning in.
“About two months,” said Heart.
“Wow, you look amazing. I’m jealous of your glow!”
“Oh, gosh, no. I feel like a total whale…”
“Not at all!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” said Freddy, interrupting their girl talk.
We all looked at him.
“Who is your OBGYN?” he asked, a hint of competition in his voice.
I realized I didn’t know the answer to that question. It felt like something I should know.
“Oh, it’s this place on Park Avenue. I’m not sure I’ll be staying there, though. They’re not very friendly. It felt really cold.”
I looked at her in slight surprise. She hadn’t told me anything about going to the doctor or having a bad experience. Then again, I hadn’t asked. I couldn’t help feeling a little jealous she hadn’t confided in me about it.
“Well, that’s bullshit,” said Freddy. “If you’d like, I can recommend a few.”
“Not you, ” I said, shooting him a look.
“I wasn’t suggesting that.” Freddy put his hands up in defense.
The server brought the bottle of wine then and began filling the glasses on the table. Freddy told him to just fill two.
I leaned in and whispered in Heart’s ear.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the doctor?”
She shrugged. “It just never came up.”
“I hate that you had to go through that by yourself…”
“I wasn’t by myself. I had Monica with me.”
I sat back in my seat and grabbed my glass of water, taking a sip. I tried to swallow down my hurt feelings.
For the rest of dinner, Virginia and Heart were deep in conversation about everything baby. They were talking about nursery colors, baby registries, names, and clothes. I tried eavesdropping a little, but Freddy was yapping away and when he wasn’t, he kept shooting me these weird, meaningful looks.
Once we were finished with our steaks, the girls excused themselves to go to the bathroom, leaving Freddy and me alone. He took a sip of wine, giving me another weird look of his.
“What?” I asked pointedly.
“This is just…crazy,” he said.
“I know.”
“Are you really ready for this?” he asked, leaning back in the booth and giving me a curious look.
“Of course, I am. Would I be here with her tonight if I didn’t think I was ready? If we weren’t ready.”
“Yeah, but you hardly know each other…”
“We’re getting to know each other now.” I started to feel defensive.
“Okay,” he said, nodding. But I could hear the doubt in his voice.
“I’m ready, Freddy.” I said with a chuckle at my rhyme.
“Well, I’m happy for you, man.”
I watched as Heart and Freddy’s date walked back to the table. Heart laughed, the crease of her eyes fanning out in genuine happiness. I hoped I was ready for this, but doubt was beginning to seep in. Damn you, Freddy.