Page 8 of Strictly Business

I roll my eyes. “You don’t expect me to let her walk all over me, do you?”

“Michaela, you cannot be serious. You expect me to believe that Nina Villa is being the unreasonable one?”

“She can be.”

“She can be, but not about this. You told me not long ago you’ve been getting in late and struggling with adjusting to some of the changes since moving. She’s given you a lot of slack, but it’s been two years; it’s time to grow up. Take responsibility for your mistakes.”

Grow up? I’ve done more growing up in the past two months than he knows.

“It’s not that bad. I’m just stressed and it doesn’t help when she comes in and she’s so on edge. I guess I can’t blame her for having so many doctor appointments and being away from Nick so much.”

“Back up — doctor appointments?”

Shit.

How did I let that slip? The look on Alex’s face tells me there is no going back, I have to tell him the truth. Because if I don’t, he won’t stop until he gets it, even if that means going directly to Nina.

“What do you mean?” He pushes.

“Okay, what I’m about to tell you… You cannot tell Nick.”

“Is something wrong?” The fear swims behind his eyes and I realize he’s worried this will be another Aunt Evie situation.

“Alex. Swear you won’t tell him. Relatively speaking, no. She’s healthy as a horse, but she’s gonna kill me if he finds out. I’m not even supposed to know!”

“If something is wrong, he deserves to know. That’s his wife and if she’s dealing with something, she needs to—”

I roll my eyes, “She’s not dying.”

“Then, what’s wrong?”

“Promise you won’t tell Nick.”

“I can’t do that, Michaela.”

“Then, I can’t tell you.”

After a moment, he sighs, “Fine, I won’t tell, Nick.”

"Alex..."

"I promise!"

A deep sigh before I lean in a little closer. “Nina can’t get pregnant. She’s been going to specialists. She tried one in Charlotte, one out in Boston… Now, New York.”

“That’s why she’s been there so much — not the office?”

“The office, too. I’m kind of under the microscope, remember?”

“Maybe you shouldn't be late all the time.” He laughs when I throw a balled-up straw wrapper at him. “When is she going to tell him?”

“I don’t know, she’s supposed to go back soon, but it’s not looking good. As long as I’ve known Nina, she’s always wanted kids, I can't imagine—"

“This is gonna crush him, but it’s not like he’s gonna leave her.”

I push scraps of lettuce around my plate. “Nina knows how much he wants a family, and she may not be able to give that to him. Whether we want to believe it or not, this could change things for them.”

“Michaela, you can’t be serious.”

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