Page 72 of The Billionaire's Paradise

Like he still couldn’t believe it.

And maybe I couldn’t either.

We were having a baby.

CHAPTER 27

Pregnancy,it turned out, came with homework. Not just for Leilani—but for us.

There were vitamins to pick up. Books to read. Doctor’s appointments to coordinate, birth plans to review, maternity leggings to praise without sounding condescending. Cal, of course, approached it all like a project launch. He and Rashida had spreadsheets, task lists, backup lists for the task lists. He bookmarked six different articles on prenatal nutrition and bought a pregnancy pillow roughly the size of a jet ski.

I was in charge of snacks. Emotional snacks. Emergency snacks. Snacks that could be thrown across the room without injury. I was also in charge of affirmations, again without sounding condescending.

You are strong.

You are radiant.

You are growing a human being, and if you want to punch someone in the throat today, that is valid.

We started sending Leilani silly check-in texts every morning—

Good morning, goddess of gestation.

Did you take your folate today, queen?

Do you want pizza or ice cream with pickles? We can deliver both.

She responded with photos she uploaded—puffy feet in fluffy slippers, pineapple smoothies, and a growing collection of maternity T-shirts that said things likeSomeone In Here Wants Fish TacosandI Grew An Organ Today, What Did You Do?

Tutu took her to yoga. Kimo rubbed her feet with something made of volcanic ash and eucalyptus. Even Mrs. Mulroney tried to knit a belly band before it mutated into what looked like a pink woolen restraining device for a rottweiler.

In the middle of it all, I noticed Cal had been trying his best not to bring up work… or Hal… until one morning—

“I’ve got an idea, and you might not like it but hear me out,” he said, pouring coffee and speaking quickly like he needed the words out.

“That sentence was practically one long word. Why are you acting anxious?”

“Because you’re gonna say no and I need you to say yes.”

“Yes, to what?”

“Lunch. With Hal. Just the three of us.”

I blinked. “Why would I ever want to have lunch with Hal?”

“Because I need to keep working on this deal, but I don’t want you to feel sidelined again. And the only way to do that is to bust the myth, break the spell, make you see there’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Are you sureyou’renot the one under a spell?”

“Matt, just hear me out.”

“I heard you already. And I’m saying, in what universe would I want to have lunch with Hal?” I asked.

“And I’m saying if you come to lunch, you’ll see there’s nothing to worry about. And there’s certainly nothing to be jealous of.”

“Pah-lease! Why would I be jealous of Hal? The guy’s a jerk.”

“Matt, you don’t even know him.”