Flirting with Forever: A Hot Romantic Comedy(23)

Where had the time gone?

Everly stood and I caught her in a hug, kissing each of her cheeks.

“I’m so glad to see you,” she said.

I basked in her sunshine smile. Everly was one of the happiest people I’d ever met. Even back when her dating life had been a total disaster, she’d always found the bright side.

Now she didn’t have to look very far. She’d married the very stoic, but also very hot and extremely wealthy, Shepherd Calloway. Their daughter, Ella, would be two this summer and she was every bit as sparkly and happy as her mommy.

Once in a while, when I was holding little Ella, I’d experience the strangest twinge in the region of my ovaries. It was the oddest thing.

Although Ella Calloway was the prettiest, most pleasant child I’d ever heard of. She’d make anyone’s ovaries ache a little.

“Where’s our baby?” I asked.

“I was going to bring her, but Richard and Dahlia came by and asked if they could take her to the park. Obviously I couldn’t say no to her grandpa and grandma.”

“That’s okay, I’ll get my Ella fix another time.” I pulled out my chair and sat. “Soph, you look amazing. How are you feeling?”

“Really good,” she said with a smile. “Except in the morning when I spend an hour throwing up. And then in the afternoon when I’m so tired I can’t keep my eyes open. But other than that, great.”

“I’m sorry you’re having morning sickness,” Everly said. “That’s no fun.”

“It’s not so bad,” Sophie said. “Those crystallized ginger candies you got me have been helping a lot.”

“Oh, good!”

“The presentation of ginger is important to the effectiveness of nausea prevention,” Hazel said. “The active ingredients vary in their bioavailability, depending on the processing method and most studies have found that ginger powder, followed by fresh ginger and ginger tea have the most bioavailable ingredients, hence are likely to be the most effective.”

Sophie blinked. “Wow. How do you know so much about ginger?”

“I did a little reading.”

Everly’s eyes widened. “Why? Is it because you’re—”

“Oh.” Hazel fixed her glasses again. “No, I’m not pregnant.”

Sophie and Everly both slumped in their seats, clearly disappointed.

“But I think I’d like to be,” Hazel said, her tone matter of fact.

All three of us gasped.

“What?” Hazel asked.

“Are you and Corban trying for a baby?” Sophie asked.

“It’s been a topic of discussion.”

“Aw,” Everly said, her eyes misting. “I’m so excited for you.”

“I’m not pregnant yet,” Hazel said. “Although I have determined it’s in my best interest to give up alcohol, just in case.”

“Good plan,” Sophie said. “You never know when it will happen.”

I smiled at her. “Says the woman currently pregnant with a broken condom baby.”

She sighed dreamily and rested her hand on her belly. “Yeah.”

How things had changed. Not so long ago, our conversations had revolved around things like careers, dating, and sex. And they’d usually taken place at night, over martinis. Now we typically got together for lunch, rather than Friday or Saturday night drinks, and my friends’ lives were full of husbands, in-laws, and babies. It was all very cute and domestic.

But I couldn’t help but feel a little left out. I didn’t have anything to add to a conversation about a long-term, deeply committed relationship, because I wasn’t in one. Nor did I want one. And babies? I was more than happy to live vicariously through Everly and Sophie, and hopefully soon, Hazel. But I didn’t see babies in my future any more than I saw a husband.

I just wasn’t the type.

Everly reached over and touched my arm. “How is everything at the new house? When can we come over and see it?”

My friends had come with me to look at the house before I’d bought it but they hadn’t been there since I’d moved in. “I love my house. Come over any time. There are still boxes lying around but who cares.”

“We won’t judge,” Hazel said.

“Of course not,” Sophie said. “I think it took me and Cox six months before we unpacked the last box when we moved into our house.”

“Have you met any of your neighbors?” Everly asked. “Are they nice?”

Had I ever. “Well, there’s Phil across the street. He’s obsessed with his lawn. And there’s a very sweet couple a few doors down. I can’t remember their names but they have two kids. Or maybe it’s three. Actually, most of the people on my street have kids. There are a lot of minivans.”

“Cute,” Everly said. “What about the hot lawn mowing guy?”

“Dex St. James,” I said, letting his name roll over my tongue like a piece of candy. “He’s big and burly and not very friendly and he has way too many tattoos. I love his daughter, though. You all need to meet Riley, she’s an absolute doll.”

“That’s sweet,” Sophie said. “Is she little?”

“No, thirteen,” I said. “I went to her school art show the other night and it was impressive. She paints and she’s so talented.”