“Now, about the baby—”

“Ugh. I can’t do this with your sweaty arm wrapped around me and you breathing down my neck.” She pulls out of my arms and faces me.

She might not realize that what she’s doing right now feels more intimate than me holding her. I’ve never met anyone whose look I could feel like Stella’s. Her eyes are like lasers. “So, about the baby.”

She smirks, “What you want proof? I told you I brought the stick.” She rummages in her purse. It’s somewhere here...”

“You mean the stick you peed on from a week ago? Not unless I’m drunk, I don’t fucking wanna see it.”

She roars in laughter, and I can’t help but join after a moment. When she catches her breath, she gasps. “I promise I wasn’t trying to gross you out. I just thought since I was coming here to cause chaos, I’d arm myself with proof.

“The proof is in when your belly swells with my child. Speaking of, it’d be so hot to see.”

“Um, no way. Not at six months.” Stella counters

“What, are you four or five weeks already? You’d be showing plenty by then. Sooner if you’re carrying twins.”

Now it’s my turn to guffaw at the horrified look on her face.

“Why do you even know so much about women anyway… Oh, I forgot, you mentioned having a sister.” A cold sweat runs down my spine, but I grunt noncommittally and dive for a change in the subject.

In a more brusque tone than I intend, I say, “So, the earliest we can wait is twenty-four hours. We’re doing this tomorrow— I’ll send a car for you. Nine in the morning okay?”

Stella shrugs, “It’ll have to be.”

“Great. Someone will come by your place later today to hand in the prenup and other paperwork and I’ll be available to talk you through any part you may find confusing.”

“Hey, excuse me, it’s not advanced calculus.” She quips, “I’m sure I can manage.”

I pause. “Sure. Tomorrow then.” I bend to the intercom. “Mabel?”

“Wow. If I didn’t know better, I’d think that was my cue to get lost.” She looks at me like I’ve sprouted a second head. “Remember to hand me a fucking neck brace before you switch moods on me next time.” She starts toward the door and then stops. “Happy Birthday, jerk.”

She storms out without a backward glance, muttering about ‘stewing in a foul mood.’

That actually makes me smile.

Chapter Sixteen

Ryan

The beeping of my phone pulls me from sleep. A smile stretches my lips when I see it’s Stella. I’ve not seen her since we got married a month ago.

“Hello, wife.”

“Yuck. Try again.”

“That reminds me, I’m going to need to call you something other than ‘Stella’ when we’re in public.”

“Why?”

“It’s standard couple behavior for some reason. Even my parents do it.”

“Really?”

“Don’t ask. Actually, on second thoughts, I should give you fair warning about what my mom calls my dad.”

“What does she call him?”