Page 47 of The Billionaire's Wife

I glanced up as my name rang out, then slid off the stool and headed to the counter. “That’s me. Thanks.”

The kid—honestly, he looked twelve, but since it was the middle of the school day he had to be at least eighteen, didn’t he?—smiled and handed me the paper bag of food. “Have a good one.”

“Thanks. You, too.” I took the bag and headed toward the exit, weaving between tables and patrons. I was looking for Manny, but didn’t see him. Maybe with our appointment set for seven, I didn’t need to be looking over my shoulder constantly?

Oh, who was I kidding? I was going to end up paranoid for the rest of my life.

I enjoyed the short trip through the sunny yet cool fall day back to the bookstore. I paused outside and looked up at the sign above their plate glass window. They could absolutely add “Books and Coffee” or something along those lines underneath. It’d make a good addition, honestly. And coffee always drew people. Maybe Megan’s husband was onto something with his idea.

I went in, the bell on the door jingling cheerily and, I assumed, causing Megan to poke her head out of a door in the back.

“Oh, great. Long line, I guess? Come this way.”

She disappeared into the room before I could answer, so I crossed the store to the far wall. Looking through the doorway, I saw a desk with a laptop, and a four-person round table squeezed into the corner. A dorm-sized fridge hummed in the corner near the desk.

“Welcome to the staff room.” Megan spread her arms grandly and laughed. “It’s not much, but most of the time I’m here alone, so it works. Have a seat and let’s eat.”

I chuckled at her rhyme and moved around the table to the far side so I could see out the door into the bookstore. It wasn’t that I necessarily wanted the wall at my back, but also? I really didn’t want an open door at my back.

I sat and opened the bag so I could pull out the enormous Cobb salad Megan had ordered.

“Have any trouble with the modifications?” Megan took the container as she sat across from me.

“No. Once I started listing them, they asked if it was for you and just took the paper.”

Megan laughed. “I guess I eat there too much. Or I order the salad too much. Their sandwiches are great, but I’m trying to cut carbs.”

I frowned. This was the second time she’d made a dig at her weight. “You look great. Also you have a Twinkie in your lunch. Sandwich bread is better for you than that.”

Megan’s cheeks flamed red and she sighed. “I should cut sugar completely. I know that. But sometimes I just neeeed it.”

“Dopamine is a thing.” I unwrapped my sandwich and took a bite. I studied Megan as I chewed. “Why the weight worries?”

Her eyebrows lifted and she looked down at her salad, then started stabbing her fork into it. “The doctor said it’d help with getting pregnant if I lost ten to fifteen pounds.”

“Seriously? You’ll disappear.”

Megan laughed. “Hardly. But thank you. That’s what Cody says.”

“You’ve been trying a long time?” This was starting to feel like wading into too much information. “You know what? We barely know each other. Don’t answer that.”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind if you don’t. And no, not really. We got married this summer and we haven’t been not trying, you know? I just kind of figured it’d happen. People talk about honeymoon babies all the time and…” Megan shrugged. “I guess I was hoping for that.”

Wow. Okay. I couldn’t process the idea of actually wanting to get pregnant that fast in a marriage, but it wasn’t like I had a super healthy example of marriage anywhere in my life to draw on. Or not many. Tristan’s parents were amazing.

Ohhhh. What must they think about this? They probably hated me.

“What are you thinking? I can take it.” Megan watched me.

“Nothing about that, really. Just a tangent.” I waved it away and took another bite. “I know my opinion doesn’t count here, but honestly, I don’t think you need to lose weight or worry yet. Focus on being healthy.”

“It’s like you’re listening in when Cody and I talk.” Megan shook her head and sighed. “I’ll try. It’s hard not to obsess. Especially with Kayla due in December. And I know Noah and Jenna are going to try to start their family as soon as they’re married on New Year’s Eve. I don’t want to be the last one with no kids.”

Since I couldn’t think of anything to say, I just nodded.

“Saying that out loud makes me sound horrible. Especially when I know Whitney can’t have kids, so she and Scott won’t be trying. And Sunshine is in her forties, so while possibly she and Wes could have a kid, it doesn’t seem super likely. So I’m not even the odd one out for real.” She frowned down at her salad. “I should’ve gotten a sandwich.”

I laughed and nudged the untouched half of mine toward her. “I’ll share if you have a plate or something to scoop some of your salad onto.”

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