Page 86 of Just One Fake Date

“August.”

Shannyn was surprised. “That’s only three months away. You must have known for a while.”

“I did and not sharing the news has been killing me,” Kirsten confessed. “I wanted to tell you in person, Shannyn, but we keep blowing off our dinners together and with the wedding plans, there just hasn’t been a good time. You’ll notice my bump at the wedding and I knew I had to tell you first.”

“Aha. You had an ulterior motive for listening to me tonight.”

“No! It’s just that Lukas has been tellingeveryoneand—” Kirsten exhaled “—I wanted to tell you myself. I really didn’t want you to learn from someone else.”

“Thanks.”

Shannyn let her friend chatter while she came to terms with the news. Kirsten was pregnant. Did this mean they’d drift apart? She’d seen it before, the rift widening between those with babies and those without, until it was a chasm that couldn’t be breached. It was as if those former friends had nothing left to talk about.

The possibility made her heart hurt.

“Would you be her godmother, Shannyn? “ Kirsten asked suddenly. “She’s going to need all the kickass women in her life she can get. All girls do. It won’t be the same as having your own daughter, of course, but I’d love to have your help. It’s kind of scary to think about being responsible for a little person.”

A girl. Shannyn was overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of her best friend. “I’d be honored,” she said, her words husky and tears pricking her eyes. “Have you picked a name?”

“We have a list. You know how Lukas is.” Kirsten sounded exasperated. “Nine hundred and seven contenders.”

Shannyn smiled despite herself. “Not really.”

“Not really,” Kirsten ceded. “Maybe only fifty. And he’s making up systems to weigh them against each other.”

“Systems?” It felt good to talk about something else, and gave Shannyn a minute to catch her breath.

“Which ten are shorter,” Kirsten said. “Which ten are easier to pronounce. Which ten are harder to forget. He’s making me nuts.”

Shannyn didn’t believe that for a minute. Kirsten and Lukas were so perfect for each other, an ideal couple with each one’s strengths balancing the other’s. The one trait they shared was a great sense of humor and they teased each other mercilessly. Shannyn had watched them recalculate the balance many times but it always impressed her how smoothly they did it.

“I told him that if he doesn’t ease up on the name thing I’ll send him out for food cravings every morning at three.” Kirsten laughed. “I think he thinks it’s bad luck not to have it all decided in advance.”

“The baby might look like one name suits her better than another,” Shannyn said.

“Exactly!” Kirsten cried. “I knew you’d understand.”

There was a beat of silence between them then Kirsten spoke softly. “You okay?”

“I’m okay. Congratulations.” Shannyn straightened. “You’re going to be great parents.”

“You must hate me right now,” Kirsten said. “We only decided to try at Christmas and it happened right away. I thought it would take at least a year...”

Shannyn interrupted her before she could go far down that road. “I don’t hate you, Kirsten. Don’t evereverthink that. I couldneverhate you. That’s not how it is with friends. You’re happy, so I’m happy. End of story.”

Shannyn knew it would be a thousand times better to feel dead inside, the way she had after the divorce, than to feel one crumb of envy against her best friend in the world. Kirsten was the only one who had held her hand, the only one who knew every detail and loved her anyway.

“Thank you!”

“And I’m so glad it happened quickly for you,” she said.

“No one needs to go through what you did, Shannyn.”

“It’s over and done, Kirsten. It’s okay. Don’t let that affect your joy right now. Please.”

“I won’t.”

They talked for a few more minutes about the plans for the wedding and the baby, then ended the call. Shannyn stood in her office, looking around her darkened apartment, very aware of her solitude. She heard Lisa turn off the television for the night and the floor creaked as her tenants went to bed. Fitzwilliam was snoring, but otherwise, it was very quiet.

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