Chapter 14 Behind Closed Doors
FOURTEEN
Behind Closed Doors
When we finally arrived home, I was determined.
Since Bruno returned to my life, it felt like all I had done was take.
I wanted to do something for him, especially after the pancake disaster at the lodge.
The groceries I had ordered on the drive were already delivered, so I started working.
Bruno got into the shower, and I set to work on paella.
After all our years together, he still doubted I could cook, though the real issue was never ability, only interest. I planned to show him.
A sharp, demanding sound disturbed my movements. I squinted as I crossed the room to the intercom on the far wall and picked up the call. "Hey, Jarvis."
"Mei is here. Should I send her up?"
Mei? She was never a pop-up sort of friend, so panic filled me. "Yes, send her up. Thanks."
After lowering the fire under the pot, I grabbed two wine glasses.
Whatever she needed to share might need either celebrating or cheering up, and for both occasions, wine would do.
As soon as the doorbell rang, I stepped out of the kitchen.
One look at Mei's face when I opened the door told me we would not be celebrating.
"What's wrong?"
Instead of answering, she walked past me into the condo. "Is Bruno here?"
The way she looked around my place I knew she wanted privacy. "He's taking a shower, but I can get rid of him."
"No. That's OK. I just need to talk."
I noticed her hand shaking. "Mei, what's wrong? Tell me."
Either she didn't hear or needed more time to say the words, but Mei just kept walking ahead until she stopped, mid-stride, in front of the wine and two glasses I set out. Her frown confused me.
"Figured that might come in handy," I said and lowered myself onto the couch, patting beside me.
Mei didn't come over.
"You'll have to drink it all by yourself."
Something was off. However, I felt I shouldn't push her and kept my mouth closed, giving her the chance to say whatever she came to say.
Unsure what to do next, I filled my glass. As soon as the cold rim touched my lips, Mei spoke. "I'm pregnant."
Silence.
We stared at each other, and her eyes filled with fear while my whole face froze in shock.
Mei finally lowered herself beside me. "Yes, you heard correctly. Yes, I'm sure. I'm pregnant."
Her words weren't cheerful; in fact, the quiver of her lips told me she was about to cry.
I wrapped an arm around my friend. For a few seconds, I wasn't sure what to say.
Mei was the most ambitious person in our group.
She didn't just plan to be a doctor, she had big dreams, and never once did she say that one of them was having a child.
"I can't believe I got myself into this situation. I'm too smart to get myself get knocked up."
"Breathe," I said, then slowly inhaled through my nose, held it for a few seconds, then let it out through my mouth, hoping she'd follow my lead.
When Mei rolled her eyes, I took a different approach. "You have options."
She shook her head. "I can't do that."
In truth I knew she'd probably say that, but I just wanted her to feel less trapped. "Mei, you already have an undergraduate degree. You can do this."
My best friend shot me a look like I'd lost my mind, then jumped to her feet. "Alex. I'm pregnant, and the man is married. I'm here to become a doctor and make a better life for my parents back home in China. All of that is now ruined."
"Whoa, whoa. Calm down," I said and pulled her back down. "You don't have to give up on your dream because of a baby."
"Be serious, how am I supposed to be a full-time student and a mother?"
Realizing I needed a moment to collect my thoughts before I argued some sense into Mei, I took a sip.
Then I had it. "You always told me your parents would live with you once you got married and started a family, which I'd kill myself before allowing mine to do, but couldn't they come and do that now?"
Shit! The tears rolling down Mei's face told me that suggestion was terrible.
"My parents don't even think I've ever had a boyfriend, much less."
I stared at her with mouth hanging open. "Are you kidding me. They are floating around China thinking you are a virgin at your age?"
"They're old-fashioned," Mei said in a dejected voice, then mumbled, "How do I tell Jeffrey this?"
"Easy. Hey, Jeffrey, you're going to be a father."
The corner of her mouth twisted into a smile. "Maybe I'll tell my parents he died; they'd forgive me for a dead fiancé more than accepting I've been fucking the parts of New York you left uncharted."
"Hey," I said, carrying a wounded expression, "at least I took precautions."
Mei's eyes widened. "Wait, Jeffrey and I used protection…this might not even be his baby." Her voice cracked on the last word.
"Shit, will we need to do a paternity test? I knew fashion models were in high demand…"
When Mei's shoulders slouched and she lowered her head into her hand, I shut the hell up.
"It's even worse than I realized."
"Why?"
She sighed. "I got myself knocked up by a homeless man with no ambition, one who wouldn't take a stable job if his life were on the line."
Damn, we say we are best girlfriends, but even we have our secrets from one another.
I had lost track of how many times Mei promised she would never deal with Throne again, and her refusal to meet my eyes told me her underwear model fuck buddy was the father of the baby she carried.
"We need reinforcements. Let's call Olivia and Demetria. "
Mei shook her head, and I was shocked she'd confided in me and not the others. A mini smile formed on my face.
"They're already on the way. You're just the one among the group who couldn't judge me, so I started with you first."
I stood and crossed my arms tightly, stung by her words.
She wasn't wrong, I had no business throwing stones from my glass house.
Screw my hurt feelings. I pushed them down deep where I kept all the other things I didn't have time to feel.
Mei needed me now. "Alright, when those other two bitches come, we'll make a plan. "
I talked with Mei for quite a while. When Bruno came out of the shower, he did not waste any time.
He simply announced he was stepping out and kissed me on the cheek.
He could probably feel the tension. Mei sat curled on the couch, hands pressed to her stomach like it hurt.
I kept trying to comfort her, but I could tell I wasn't doing the best job, and I was running out of things to say: reasons this would be OK, and that everything could still all work out like she wanted.
A sharp buzz from the intercom cut through the silence.
That must be Demetria and Olivia.
Mei looked at me. I looked at her. Neither of us moved. Our eyes traveled to the kitchen at the same time. The ringing kept going.
"Demetria will judge me for sleeping around."
"That's not new; she always does that," I said playfully as I headed to the intercom.
"Olivia will probably say I'm stupid for sleeping with Throne."
"She's been telling me that I was stupid since freshman year, that's not new either."
Behind me I heard Mei chuckle.
"The way you tell it, nothing has changed."