Page 22 of Unexpecting

″Do you know why someone would put hemorrhoid cream on their eyes?” I asked Coop and Emma.

″For puffiness,” Emma promptly replied.

″Does everyone know that but me?”

″I don’t want to know that,” Cooper said emphatically, rolling his tired-looking eyes. “Was that a Brit or Morgan crisis?”

″Morgan. Anil broke up with her, and she’s a little pissed. They were together six years, and she really expected them to get married soon.”

″And now she’s got to start over with someone new,” Emma said sympathetically. “I’d be pissed too.”

I never looked at it that way, mainly because I’m usually the one starting over with every guy I meet and I’m used to it by now.

″You going to bed right away?” Coop asked me.

I didn’t bother to conceal the yawn that cracked my face. “I would have been fast asleep if Morgan hadn’t called. What’s up?” Cooper shot a guilty glance at Emma, and I could tell what was coming. “If Emma moves in, are you kicking me out?” I asked before he could say anything. “That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?”

Emma’s laugh seemed relieved. “It’s a big house,” she told me. Emma has gone pink, an endearing trait of hers, which makes her look even more adorable. If I was ever thinking of being into girls, I’m sure Emma would be my type. Of course, I’d never tell her that and should probably not even be thinking it, but whatever.

Coop still looked guilty. “I guess J.B. got to you first. Sorry. Anyway, yes, Emma is going to be moving in, and no, I’m not kicking you out. That’s your place downstairs, and really, the way our three schedules are, I don’t think one more person living here will make much difference to you.”

″Well, congratulations. I think it’s great. I take it you’re not kicking J.B. out either?”

″No,” Emma smiled at me. “Do you want him too?”

″Well, sometimes…” I wheedled.

Emma shook her head. “I really think the two of you should get your stuff together. I think you’d be perfect,” she said.

Cooper gave a choking cough.

″I don’t think so,” I said seriously. “Where is he tonight?”

Normally, Cooper and J.B. (and usually Emma lately) would come home together since the restaurant and J.B.‘s nightclub are only a short walk away. Emma used to work at J.B.’s club, but J.B. got her a job asa waitress at Coop’s and the rest is history. She also does quite a bit of acting—in local theatres and once as part of the chorus in Mama Mia. She’s pretty good, but not quite up to making-it-in-the-big-time standard, but I think she came to terms with that a while ago.

″Still hard at work?” I added, already guessing the answer. Not that it bothers me or anything. J.B. can sleep with whomever he wants. It doesn’t matter that last Saturday night he was in my bed, and now, less than a week later, he may be… not that it’s any of my business.

″Well, no.” Cooper looked embarrassed. “I think he offered to give someone a ride home.”

That stung a little, even though there was no reason for it to. I looked pointedly at Emma. “Not that it’s any of my business. But that’s why it would never work with me and him. He likes the ladies too much.”

″So did Cooper,” she noted.

″Yes, but Coop was fairly easy to domesticate. Getting J.B. to settle down would be like trying to teach a cat to pee in the toilet.”

″Thanks,” Coop said wryly. He gave a great yawn and made a move as if to get off the couch. “You coming up?” he asked Emma.

″In a minute. I want to ask Casey what’s going on with the baby thing. Did you give it some more thought?”

This was strange. I narrowed my eyes quizzically at Emma. “Yes, but why…” Why are you so interested? was what I didn’t say since that would be rude.

Emma gave me a sad smile and looked sideways at Cooper. “I can’t have babies,” she told me in a soft voice.

″Oh, Emma. I didn’t know. And I kept going on about it…” Suddenly I felt horribly guilty being so selfish and so obsessed with it, when all the while… “How?”

″I found out about five years ago. A case of HPV left untreated…” She looked resigned. “Apparently I should be a poster girl for getting regular Pap tests.”

″Oh, Em, I’m so sorry.” I leaned over Cooper and gave her a hug. “I’ll never talk about having a baby again.”

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