Page 62 of Forever With You

I lowered my gaze, at once very unsure of what I’d just done. Maybe I should’ve kept my mouth shut. “I’d missed a ­couple of pills while I was moving, and the condom broke,” I said, feeling the need to explain so they didn’t think I just ran around having unprotected sex. “I know it’s not traditional and—­”

“Wait.” Roxy raised her hands. “Okay. I’m sorry. I’m just shocked. I didn’t expect you to say that. I don’t think anything is wrong, and I can tell you think that’s how we feel. We don’t.” She glanced at Katie. “Right?”

“Right,” Katie said. “I don’t even think my mom knew who my dad was.”

Roxy’s brows knitted.

“When I was little, I was convinced that my dad worked for the CIA, and that was why I never met him. He was like a spy or something,” Katie continued as I bit down on the inside of my cheek. “Then I realized it was like one of the three possible guys and none of them were spies. Unless they were a spy when it came to finding the nearest bar.”

“Um. Okay.” Roxy blinked, returning her attention to me. “What we’re trying to say is that we’re just surprised, but we’re not judging you or Nick.”

My spine was still stiff. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.” Contrite, Roxy leaned forward. “And I’m so, so sorry if I gave you that impression. Really.”

I nodded, wanting to believe her, but it was hard to forget the excitement when Avery announced her news, compared to the absolute shock clearly written on Roxy’s and Katie’s faces when I told them I was pregnant. Drawing in a deep breath, I decided to let it go.

“Are you guys happy about it?” Katie asked, as blunt as ever.

The flutter returned to my chest. “Yeah, we ... we are. As strange as that sounds, we are happy about it. It was a shock, but we’re getting used to it.” I paused, and my next words sort of just rushed out in a jumbled mess. “Nick did this thing Wednesday night when he came over to see me. He asked if he could, you know, place his hand on my stomach, and when he did ...” My cheeks started to heat. “He said he felt close to the baby, and I ...”

“Turned to goo?” Roxy said, eyes unfocused. “Because that’s what I would’ve done.”

“Jumped on him and ripped his clothes off?” asked Katie. “Because that’s what I would’ve done.”

I laughed softly. “I think my ovaries exploded, but I kind of just sat there. It was ... there really aren’t words when it comes to how that feels, I guess.”

“Wow,” Roxy said after a few moments. “I can’t believe Nick is going to have a kid. That you’re going to have a kid.”

“He’ll be a great father,” I immediately said.

Her eyes met mine and she nodded seriously. “Yeah, he will be.”

I wondered if she knew about his grandfather, but if not, I didn’t feel it was my place to tell. The rest of the conversation centered around all things baby—­crazy baby talk. Like if I wanted a boy or a girl. Did I have a name picked out yet? Who knew?

Katie wanted to be the godmother.

I had no idea how to respond to that—­to any of what they were saying.

“You know what this reminds me of,” Katie said while we waited for our checks. “That movieKnocked Up. Except you’re less annoying than that one chick and Nick is definitely more attractive than that guy.”

The skin around Roxy’s eyes crinkled as she laughed. “Did they end up together in the end?”

It had been many years since I’d seen the movie, so I couldn’t remember, but as dumb as it sounded, I hoped so. Even far more bizarre, as we got up to leave, I kept thinking about what Katie had said more than once. That I would break Nick’s heart.

I scoffed at the notion, because seriously, but nevertheless, an odd sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach. Once in the car, I pulled out my cell and typed out a text to Nick that I wasn’t sure he would be that thrilled about.

I told Roxy and Katie.

“You’re going to think it’s the most boring thing ever,” Nick said, after I asked him what he studied in college. “It actuallyisprobably the most boring thing ever. Accounting.”

A startled laugh left me as I watched him.Hewas cookingmedinner.

That had been his response after I told him that I’d dropped the bomb on Roxy and Katie. He’d pretty much said, “Hey, I’m making you dinner tonight. Hope you like roasted chicken.”

I liked food in general, so I was excited.

I also liked Nick ... in general, so this also excited me.

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