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“We do, man,” Nick adds. “Go change clothes. You look like shit. And then I suspect you won’t be joining us for soup?”

More?I start laughing. “Not tonight, but what’s on the menu?”

With her arms in front of her already explaining, Natalie replies, “French onion. I got the best gruyere at the market today for the topping.”

I scoot my chair out. “Sounds good.” Gripping the back of it, I debate how I’m supposed to say this without getting Natalie excited and Nick rolling his eyes at me, ready to say I told you so. Ah, fuck it. They’re my best friends. If I can’t share my happiness with them, who can I? My family, but that’s the next step. “I’m going to take some of my clothes over to Tatum’s, so I might not be around as much in the next few days.”

Their reactions are predictable, sans the I told you so, but that’s what makes them so great. They voice their concerns up front, but when all is said and done, they support Tatum and me. “Oh, and we’re having the baby. I didn’t know if you thought we might not, so yeah, I’m going to be a daddy.”

“Harrison,” Natalie says, getting up quickly. She hugs me, and I think I feel her body rattle with a soft sob.

“Are you crying?”

“I’m just so happy for you, and I get to have a baby at the same time as my best friend. This is such a beautiful day.”

Nick comes around and pats me on the back before pulling his wife to his chest. “C’mere, babe.” To me, he shakes my hand. “Congratulations. Look at us all grown up and becoming dads.”

“Didn’t see that coming.”

“The best things in life aren’t the ones we plan. They’re the ones that happen naturally,” he says.

Nick could be talking about his own relationship or mine.Maybe both. Definitely both.

Whatever the grand plan was for me, I’m glad Tatum and this baby are a part of my destiny.

26

Tatum

“Don’t be nervous.”

His voice is soothing, despite me being too anxious to say anything.

Holding my hand on top of his leg, Harrison says, “Look at me, Tate.”

I look at the handsome man next to me in the cab and nod, too anxious to say anything. His hold tightens, giving me security, and he kisses me on the cheek. “It doesn’t matter what they say or don’t say. All that matters is what’s right here in this car. You. Me. And this baby.”

“I can’t drink.” Panic rises inside. “I shouldn’t admit it, but I need a glass of wine or something when I’m around them.”

“The French drink wine when?—”

“I’m not French, and I’m not drinking. I understand it’s a coping method.” Taking a deep breath, I exhale, seeing the restaurant up ahead. “I’ll just have to get by with . . . I don’t know. Water and you. That’s enough.”

He chuckles. “Glad I can be of service. But for real, you say the word, and we’ll leave.”

“Thank you.” I do feel calmer though I won’t truly feel better until this dinner is over. I can usually handle dinner with my parents, especially on my birthday, knowing I’ll get something fabulous or a blank check. But this dinner is different. Not only am I introducing my boyfriend to them but I’m also telling them I’m pregnant.

Sure, I could wait on the latter, but why? My friends know, so it’s only right that my parents do before Page Six does.

We walk into the restaurant, and we’re directed to the bar to wait. “What do you want to drink, baby?”

Baby . . .I remember the first time he called me that and how for that time I was with him, I felt like his. Now hearing it in public like it’s a fact, I find peace because he’s truly shown me how much he cares. It may seem like a little thing, but it’s more than I’ve ever let anyone else in. “Perrier with lemon, please.”

I remain standing awkwardly off to the side near a column as he works his way between two couples to order the drinks at the bar. It wasn’t that long ago that I was jealous of him talking to those women after The Resistance concert. Rubbing my baby, I relish in the comfort that spreads. Now, here I am about to be the mother of his child.

This is quite the plot twist.

He returns, handing me a drink. “This place is packed. Do we need a reservation?”