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Liv’s features sank. “Oh, Della...”
“I know.” My voice cracked. “Hayes said he’s going to help me figure it out, and I trust him, but I also know there aren’t a ton of options here.”
I reached for a napkin from the bag and wiped at my eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean for this visit to be a big cry fest.” I bunched up the napkin in my hand, crumpling the scratchy white tissue.
“We’ve both shed plenty of tears over the years—don’t start apologizing now.” Liv bumped my shoulder.
I shook my head at her. “I just don’t know what to do.”
“Whatever it is, we’ll find the solution together,” she promised. “Once we’ve eaten our weight in mozzarella sticks.”
I chuckled and hugged my friend. Just like that, a little bit of my life felt right again.
50
FLETCHER
With the younger two girls in bed and Maya finishing up homework in her room, I went to the home office to file paperwork for the practice. It was the least favorite part of my day, but it had to get done.
I was so much in the zone, I didn’t notice my wife coming into the office until her pregnancy bump knocked over a picture frame on my desk.
“Shit,” she muttered, picking it up and then brushing her hand over her belly. “I’m never going to get used to this.”
I looked up at her, amused. “You okay?”
“Fine,” she grumbled. “Enormous. When’s this baby coming out again?”
“You’ve got a few months, I’m afraid,” I said with an apologetic smile. “How was Della?”
“Great, but there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
I closed my laptop and rubbed my eyes. “I’m all ears. Let’s head out to the kitchen?”
“Sure.”
I went around the desk, putting my arm around her waist. I loved the way her stomach rounded with our child. Her hand covered my own, and she walked with me to the island, sitting at one of the barstools.
“Care for a mocktail?” I offered, grabbing a couple glasses from the cabinet.
“Sure.” She leaned forward on the counter, resting her chin in her hand. “It’s funny they call them virgin drinks, since all us pregnant whores are the ones drinking them.”
I nearly snorted. “Liv.”
She grinned. “You know how I got pregnant. Or should I refresh your memory?”
My cock twitched. “Damn, woman, let me make your drink first.”
She replied with a wicked giggle, and I went about cutting a lime in half, pulling a few leaves from the mint plant above the sink, and adding sparkling water.
“So I had an idea I think could be really good,” Liv began tentatively. The last time she talked like this, I ended up with a puppy she and Maya found alongside the road. So when I turned to face her, it was with a heavy dose of skepticism.
“I—”
We heard the sound of a loud engine along the road and growing closer in the driveway, then gave each other a look.
“Hayes,” we said at the same time.
She gave me a smile. “Better mix an extra drink.” She pushed up from the stool, going to the front door, and I may have stared at her ample curves as she walked away.