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She freezes in the doorway, eyebrows shooting up as she stares at me with exaggerated horror.
“Awww, Ivy! I was gone for, like, thirty minutes, and this is what I come back to?” she says, setting the snacks down.
I try to respond, but all that comes out is a choked sob. I wave instead, useless, tears pouring down my face like a broken faucet.
Her phone rings, and she lifts a finger. “Give me one second, honey.”
She steps aside to take the call, smiling almost instantly.
“Hey,” she says, practically beaming. “Yeah, I would love to.” A pause. “Okay, alright. Me too. Bye.”
She ends the call, still smiling. And now I’m smiling too—while sobbing. Which makes no sense at all. My face is red, my nose is running, and I’m grinning from ear to ear like an idiot. I lunge up—waddle, really—to hug her.
“Oh my God, Vanessa, you loveeeeee him?” I say through tears, trying to tease.
But it comes out like a wounded moan and I start crying all over again.
“What the heck is wrong with me?” I groan. I stretch my arms toward her, wanting a hug, and she immediately puts up her hands like I’m a biohazard.
“Ewww, no! Clean your nose,” she says, tossing a pack of tissues at me like she’s saving her own life. I blow my nose, wipe my face, and collapse onto the couch like I just ran a marathon.
At nearly seven months pregnant, I’m swollen, exhausted, and getting to the point where rolling over in bed feels like a three-point turn.
“Come, sit,” I say, patting the cushion beside me. “We need to talk about this ‘I love a man’ situation.”
She grins, and slides onto the couch beside me, crossing her legs like she’s settling in for a tea spill.
“Okay, so—remember that guy who asked me out and I told him no because I didn’t want to complicate things? But you insisted I give him a chance and ignored all my calls for a week until I sent proof I said yes to that first date?”
I squint at her. “Yes. Your boss. Tony. But sure, let’s pretend like he’s some mystery man.”
She bites her lip, eyes sparkling like a middle schooler with a crush.
“Well… he invited me to a wedding. And I said yes.”
I gasp. “You did not!” Then my eyes go wide. “Wait. That was him on the phone just now?”
She shrugs, trying to play it cool. “Maybe.”
“Awww, friend! When did this even happen? I know the first date went well, but you didn’t say anything after that.”
“I know,” she says, her voice softening. “But you’ve had so much going on. I didn’t want to add to it or make you feel worse.”
My eyes fill again. “Vanessa… now I feel bad that you felt the need to hide that. I’m so sorry, Ness.”
She holds up both hands like they’ll somehow block my emotions. “Okay, Ivy, please do not cry again. We just got your nose situation under control.”
I laugh around the lump in my throat.
“Besides,” she continues, “I know how you can make it up to me.”
I raise a brow. “I’m listening.”
“Well, he said he’d be running a little late to the wedding, but he’ll make sure I’m on the guest list… and I’m allowed to bring someone with me so I’m not awkwardly standing alone.”
“Okay, so you’re taking Jeremy? I’m sure Marissa won’t mind.”
She glares at me. “Ivy! What would I look like bringing my best friend’s brother to a wedding with my boss?”