Page 9

NINE

Lena

Lena couldn't say she was in the mood for a baby shower and she’d genuinely considered not going, especially after the mess she made at dinner. But Maria was one of her oldest friends and it would be petty to miss such an important event simply because her ex was going to be there.

Especially because she didn't have all that many friends and she was grateful that none of their mutual friends had picked sides in the break-up.

She groaned as she carried her gift through the front garden. She had to pay extra for one-day delivery on her expensive car seat but all the small stuff from the wish list had already been picked.

This was what she got for leaving it till the last minute.

A large homemade welcome sign hung on the front door, pointing guests towards the side entry.

Lena followed it where she entered their kitchen.

She'd been here enough times to not feel awkward for just entering but the truckload of balloons were new.

She kicked some out of the way but almost tripped, off-balance from the large box she was carrying.

"Let me get that," a chipper voice said.

The load was lifted out of Lena's arms and she smiled upon seeing Alix. "Hey, thanks."

"No problem. Gosh, this is heavy." With a grunt, Alix set it down on a side table with a lot of other presents on it already. "There we go."

"Am I late?" Lena asked, already glancing around the room for that familiar face, voice, head of hair. She was always looking for Aditi, a habit she still hadn't beaten.

Alix made a thinking noise. "Ehh, you're not the first to arrive, not the last either. Aditi isn't here yet, if that's what you're asking."

"I wasn't," Lena lied, instantly relaxing now she knew her ex wasn't here yet. At least she could greet Maria without worrying.

She used the opportunity to do exactly that. She greeted her pregnant friend with a warm hug and apology for what transpired over dinner.

Maria squeezed her tight with that understanding smile of hers. "It’s all right. I know it’s selfish but I really do hope you and Aditi can figure out how to be around each other. I want this baby to have all her aunts in her life, that includes you."

"That's sweet," Lena said, a little emotional. She'd been feeling so upset with the rescinded job offer that she'd forgotten how much she loved her life here. While her job wasn't perfect, all her friends lived here and they were her family, regardless if she and Aditi were together or not.

She got herself a drink, chatted a bit with a variety of Maria's friends and family, and helped Maria's husband move some chairs into the room.

She didn't stop glancing at the door, always looking for Aditi.

At this point, she wasn't sure if she was looking forward to seeing her ex, or dreading it. Maybe a bit of both.

Aditi arrived not much later with not one, not two, but three gifts in her arms. As expected, she'd overdone it and nobody was surprised by that.

Aditi was a giver, had always been a giver.

She loved taking care of people, something Lena had reaped the benefits off while they were together.

It was one of the things that had drawn her to Aditi.

That, and those irresistible lips of hers.

She pulled her gaze away and focused it on a spot in the garden, embarrassed she was even thinking these kinds of things.

She pretended not to listen or notice Aditi making her rounds, greeting people with that upbeat tone of hers.

Every room became instantly brighter once Aditi entered, something Lena was well aware of.

Lena waited for that unavoidable moment where Aditi would approach her but it didn't come. She glanced around, trying to work out if she was imagining it or not. Did something, or someone, prevent Aditi from making her way to this corner of the room? Or had Aditi simply not noticed her?

She spotted Aditi at the table where she was pouring herself a drink. The moment they locked eyes, Aditi quickly looked away and pretended someone on the other side of the room had called for her attention.

Lena was baffled. She knew they weren't exactly on great terms but she hadn't expected to be outright ignored. Not by friendly, chatty, always-had-to-say-something Aditi. Had she done something wrong? Or was she just overthinking it?

She stewed on it for a little while, watching Aditi flit from conversation to conversation, never making it over to this corner of the room. She never even looked this way which was ridiculous because Lena was standing right next to a gorgeous potted plant that she knew Aditi loved.

After half an hour of being ignored, Lena was fed up. She finished her juice, wishing it was something stronger, and intercepted Aditi on the way to the table with snacks.

"Are you avoiding me?" Lena asked, not bothering with small talk or polite greetings.

Aditi glanced up at her and shrugged. "Maybe. It’s not like you want to date me though so why do you fucking care.”

Lena flinched at the painful echo of her own words.

She really shouldn’t have lashed out like that no matter how jealous and hurt she was.

How much of a punch to the gut it was to know that Aditi was swiping on the apps, no doubt capturing all the hearts of the lonely singles with her adorable pictures.

“I’m sorry,” Lena said sheepishly.

Aditi gave her a surprised look. "For what?"

"I shouldn't have said what I said. And certainly not the way I said it.” She scratched the back of her head, her gaze travelling to Alix and Maria. “We’re going to keep running into each other so it wouldn’t hurt to be on friendly terms."

"That's what I said."

"And I'm saying you're right."

Aditi's perfectly shaped eyebrows raised up. "My, my. Lena Brown admitting someone else is right? Call the newspapers."

"It's not that unusual. And nobody calls the newspapers nowadays."

"No, but 'call the gossip blogs' doesn't have the same ring," Aditi replied, finally smiling. "But is this your way of calling a truce?"

"I suppose it is." Lena took a deep breath but she wasn't as annoyed as expected. "There's no reason to always be at each other's throat, right?"

"I couldn't agree more." Aditi nodded. She held out her hand, making her bracelets clatter together. "Friends?"

"Friends might be a bit too much," Lena said, hesitating to slip her hand in Aditi's. She ignored the little thrill shooting up her arm and the warmth of Aditi's hand, managing to keep her composure. "But sure, friends."

Aditi's smile radiated pure joy and was so bright, it was blinding. Lena's heart skipped a traitorous beat, not that it surprised her. Aditi was as irresistible now as when they first met. That didn't mean Lena was going to jump her, there was too much baggage for that.

Still, she could appreciate that beaming smile, the one that felt like the rising morning sun after a long cold night.

"So, what did you buy Maria?" Aditi asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"I got the car seat. I know it's boring but it's all I could get last minute," Lena replied, glancing at the table with presents that was even fuller now. "I saw you went overboard with the gifts. Why am I not surprised?"

"I would've bought Maria's entire registry if my budget allowed it," Aditi said, beaming with affection. Knowing her, she meant it too.

"You could always ask your supervisor for a raise," Lena joked.

Aditi chuckled in disbelief. "I didn't realise you wished me death."

"I don't think Katherine would kill you. Who would pick up all the odd shifts then?" Lena said, realising she'd slipped so easily into casual banter, she hadn't even noticed until it was too late. There was just something about Aditi that relaxed her, it always had.

Frustratingly, that still seemed to be true.

"Very true. She needs me alive," Aditi conceded, her nose crinkling when she smiled. "So how've you been? How's work?"

Lena grimaced thinking about her colleagues. "Ehh. I'd rather not talk about work."

Luckily for her, Maria's sister, the one who was organising the baby shower, called everyone's attention from the front of the room.

She introduced herself quickly and announced the start of the baby shower games.

"We've assigned everyone a partner with whom you will go through the baby bear trials!

The pair who accumulates the most points will win a prize. "

Everyone cheered except for Lena who suddenly got a bad feeling. Surely she wasn't paired up with Aditi...? Coming to a truce was one thing but having to spend the entire afternoon together, playing silly games, that was a whole other matter.

Maria's sister handed her a little card and it confirmed what Lena feared.

Yup, her partner was nobody else than Aditi.