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And you’ll have a job offer an hour later.
I don’t say that last part—for obvious reasons. I admire Collins’s determination, even if it exasperates me. But I need her to let me dosomething, to help her.
She takes a sip of water. “Maybe. Let me try myself first, before you start pulling strings.”
I smile reluctantly. Busted.
While she’s being amenable, I decide to push my luck. “And promise me you’ll think about moving in.Actuallyconsider it. Okay?”
She doesn’t hesitate as long this time. “Okay.”
24
Perry:Drinks on Friday?
Istare at the message from Perry, then glance at the drooping leaves of the fern I brought in to decorate my desk. The tips of the leaves are curled and browning.
I’ve watered it once a week since I bought it. Is that too often? Too infrequent? I honestly have no clue. Just like I have no idea what to say to Perry. He’s been politely persistent ever since I bailed on drinks, and I’mnot sure why I keep making excuses to avoid rescheduling.
Yeah, I’m pregnant, but I’m alsosingle. My life isn’t over. I can date and flirt and have fun. And I should do those things now—or at least soon, before my life’s latest complication becomes obvious.
I sigh, stand, and stretch.
There’s a big meeting happening with a bunch of important executives right now, so the hallway is quieter than usual as I head into the break room. Margot’s rummaging in the fridge, her blonde hair braided back in a fancy twist that I’m instantly envious of. Lately, a smooth ponytail is the most elaborate style I can manage.
“Hey.” Margot gives me a friendly smile when she spots me. “How are you?”
“Warm,” I say with a laugh. My sweater sleeves are shoved up to my elbows, but I’m still stifling.
Margot nods vigorously. “Right? They’re really cranking the heat. That, or we all turned into penguins over the summer.” She glances around, then takes a tentative step closer. “And how are youreally?”
“I’m better,” I reply. “Thanks for asking.”
All the women I went out for drinks with on Halloween came to my desk to check on me at different points the next day. Stella apologized profusely. Even Aimee stopped by, despite the fact we’d never spoken before that night. Cynically, I think her thoughtfulness might have had something to do with hoping to catch a glimpse of Kit, based on how many times she glanced at the door past my desk, but it was a nice gesture regardless.
I didn’t tell any of themwhyI’d freaked out so much though. Margot is the only one who knows the truth, aside from Kit and my family.
“Good.” Margot slips a folded piece of paper out of her pocket. “Iwas about to drop this off at your desk. My sister recommended this birthing class. And I assume you have a doctor already, but I put the number for her OB on there too, just in case.”
“Thank you,” I say, taking the slip from her. “I really appreciate it.”
“How far along are you? If you—if you don’t mind me asking.”
I don’t mind. It feels nice to have such anormalconversation about my pregnancy. The kind I might have if this had been planned.
“Thirteen weeks,” I answer. “He—or she—is the size of a kiwi.”
Margot smiles. “You think it’s a boy?”
“Yeah. The”—I lower my voice to a whisper because saying this word feels weird at work—“sperm determines the gender, and I picture him with a son for some reason.”
“You told your ex, then?” Margot asks sympathetically.
It takes me a few seconds to realize what she concluded. I completely forgot I’d mentioned Isaac to her during my Halloween freak-out. “Oh. My ex isn’t the father.”
When Margot’s eyes light up with interest, I decide I might have taken this confiding thing a little too far. “What? You’re seeing someone new?”
“Not exactly. It was a, uh, one-night stand.”