Chapter Ten
“Hey there!” April plopped down, tossing her massive bag into the booth beside her.
“Want me to flag the waitress down so we can order something to drink?” I said, raising my hand.
April’s brow furrowed as she dug a notebook and pen out of her luggage. “I just want a Sprite or ginger ale or something. My stomach’s been bothering me.”
I frowned. “Stress? Do you need an antacid? I think I’ve got something in my purse.” I grabbed it up.
She shook her head and waved me off. “No, no. I think I’ll be fine. It’s just weird.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “Just between you and me, I’m a week late on my period.”
I blinked but didn’t say anything, waiting for her to finish, noting how my breath froze in anticipation. Curiously, I was struck with an even stronger feeling of envy than when Louisa had told me her news at graduation.
April continued, “It scared the shit out of me because with the stomach issues and the late period...you know. And I’m such an idiot that it took me so long to realize.”
I took a deep breath, fingernails digging into my palms before I ordered myself to relax. “Did you take a test?”
“I did this morning. Still no Aunt Flo, though. You, ah, don’t think those things do false negatives, do you?”
I shook my head. “No. No, as long as you took the test properly, you’re not likely to incur a false negative.”
She put her hand on her belly. “Oh, thank God. Because when I realized what it might be, I practically had a freakin’ meltdown. I actually asked Jordan to run out and get the test for me while I sat there in a state of panic for half an hour.”
I frowned. “I’m sure Jordan must have been even more freaked out.”
April shook her head. “That’s the weirdest part. He was super calm the whole time, even before I got the negative result. And when I did, he seemed...I dunno, maybe a little disappointed? Or at the very least, not as relieved as I was, or as relieved as I figured he’d be.”
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her, suddenly envious for an entirely different reason. “Huh. Go figure.” Jordan? I never knew he had it in him.
“I know, right? Maybe aliens have abducted his brain or something.”
I shrugged. “Have you two talked about having kids?”
She waved her hand. “I mean, in hypothetical terms, yeah, we have. He wants three. One of each and then a wildcard—that’s what he says, anyway.”
I bit my lip to suppress a grin. “Huh, if only you could choose like you’re ordering off a menu.”
April’s brilliant blue eyes widened. “I have a lot I want to do before throwing myself into the mom thing because I want to take time off while they’re little. At least for a little while. But of course, I don’t really think I’d ever want to stop or pause my career, either. If I could get a work from home situation going with daily help at home, that would be perfect. First world problems, I know.”
The waitress arrived on the heels of that statement, setting down her soda and my iced tea. April stuck a straw in her cup and took a sip. “Again, it’s all hypothetical. I don’t think I can get to that place for a few years, yet. I think I want my first before thirty, though, which gives me about three years.”
“So, he wants three, how many do you want?” I arched my brow and sipped my tea.
“I dunno. One, probably. I was an only child—at least ‘til my dad remarried and had my little sister and brother, but I was nearly in high school by that point. I definitely don’t want a big age gap if I do have more than one. If I can help it, that is. My oma would be freaking out to hear me talking like this. She’s so superstitious. Can’t be planning on what you haven’t already been given and all that.”
I grinned at her. “Well, there’s always the law of attraction and manifesting what you want.”
She gave me a sly look. “I mean, we’re pretty solid with that one, aren’t we? Both of us manifested hot billionaires. Yours has even put a ring on it.”
“About that....”
She held up a hand. “Please. I’ve already had one grown-up type scare today. We aren’t talking about when or if Jordan will actually pop the question—again.” We shared a knowing look. April had confided in me that during our group mountain ski vacation on our first anniversary, Jordan had been plotting to stage a flamboyant proposal, and April had been the one to kill the plans. What made that especially funny was that April liked to freak him out by overtly hinting that she wanted to get married. She apparently had been so convincing that Jordan had taken it seriously. She’d been able to talk him off the ledge, telling him that she wanted him to ask when he felt moved to do it and not because he feared losing her if he didn’t.
Since then, there had been no further whispers of engagement from Jordan. And no more marriage jokes from April, either.
So far, Katya was my only married girlfriend and that had been a complete and total surprise; she’d eloped with her arch-nemesis, Lucas.
I had hopes that the year ahead would at least bring an engagement announcement, either from April and Jordan or William and Jenna.
Yeah, I was that person...the married woman who was so enamored of her state of wedded bliss, even after two years, that she wanted everyone she loved to partake. And sure, marriage wasn’t easy, but I was still firmly in the school of thought that it was worth it.
“Well, who knows, maybe you’ll both come to your senses soon.” I grinned.
“Come to your senses about what?” Lindsay asked, having just approached from behind me. April smiled and scooted around in the booth toward me to make room for her to sit down.
“Hey Lindsay, how are you doing? Long time, no see,” April said as Lindsay complimented her on her very large bag.
Lindsay slid into April’s former spot, setting her leather legal pad cover aside. “Hey ladies. I’m doing great, April. Thank you. What are we discussing?”
April handwaved at me. “Oh, she’s being a sappy married woman. We should definitely change the subject.”
Lindsay laughed and flicked her blond curls back over her shoulder. Lindsay had been divorced for about four years now and had been a serial dater until recently. She was now living with a guy who was around her age, for once, and she seemed happy.
Lindsay laughed. “Oh yeah, I already got that from her. We should come up with some kind of signal to each other to change the subject when she gets like that.”
My mouth dropped. “Wow. I’m sitting right here.” Maybe I was starting to get annoying? I made a mental note to check myself.
“We get it,” Lindsay replied smoothly. “You’re deliriously happy and want all your friends to be. It’s cute.” She wrinkled her nose at me with a grin whileI narrowed my eyes at her in response. “I’m serious. Don’t always be so suspicious. Now, where’s the waitress? I don’t eat lunch this late and I’m starving. After that, we can get down to business. We have a world to conquer, after all.”
And she was right. I did have a world to conquer—a man’s world. And I was fortunate to be surrounded by smart women who could help me do it.