Page 45 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

Jill shook her head. “I'm not Aubrey's biggest fan, as you know, but if you aren't willing to be in this with her one hundred and ten percent, you should let her go.”

“Did you not hear me? I told her I'd try. She's the one who pushed me away.”

She shrugged. “Trying's not doing, Noah. Figure out what you want or walk away.” She slapped the door jamb. “I'm off. Have a good meeting.”

I watched her go, feeling like the floor was sliding out from under me. She was right. I needed to figure out what I wanted and I needed to act on it, whatever it was.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Aubrey

“How was your date last night?” May asked.

I hadn't slept well at all, trying to figure out Noah and not able to get comfortable without his arms around me. He'd sent me a text right before I went to bed that said,I love the way you look when you wake up after a night in my arms, your hair a messy cloud around your head, your eyes sleepy, the way you smile at me like you're glad to see me.I'd replied by asking him not to text me again unless it was about our daughter. I couldn't handle him sweet, couldn't handle the unrealistic hope it gave me. “It wasn't a date,” I said. “Oscar is just a friend. We had a good time, though. You should have gone with us.”

“Not a date.” She rolled her eyes. “Your non-dates are better than the real dates I've been going on and you're eight months pregnant.”

George was passing through the room on his way to the kitchen when she spoke, and he grunted and glared at her. She smiled sweetly at him. “Hey Geronimo,” she cooed.

He tripped over his own feet and just missed running into the wall.

“So clumsy,” May tsked. She returned her attention to me and whispered, not at all quietly. “Mom's so nice to give him work when he's so clearly challenged.”

George growled and stomped away.

“When are you going to forgive him?” I asked.

May gave me a carefully blank look. “I have no idea to what you are referring,” she said in a southern accent to rival Scarlett O’Hara’s. “Now, tell me about the rest of your evening. Did you do anything after dinner?”

“We went bowling,” I said, unable to suppress a giggle. “He is hands-down the worst bowler I've ever seen.”

May crinkled her nose. “Have you seen a lot of bowlers in your time?”

I laughed at her disdain. “My grandfather, Mimi's father, was in a bowling league and I used to go with him sometimes. He taught me to bowl, though it was no challenge to beat Oscar.”

“Good thing you aren't trying to impress him. Men don't like it when women beat them at sports.”

“He was a really good sport about the whole thing. I don't think he ever believed he had a shot of winning.”

“I don't know,” May said. “Maybe he was hoping to put his arms around you and give you a lesson in rolling the ball.”

I snorted. “He wouldn't be able to get his arms around me in the state I'm in.”

May smiled and wrapped her arms around me. “There's just more of you to love.” She hovered a hand over my belly. “Can I feel?”

“Of course.” She laid her hand over my belly and cooed and talked to her niece. Almost immediately, the baby shifted and kicked right where May's hand was.

May gasped. “Oh, my, she's a strong one.” She bent to my belly. “You're a strong one, baby. Yes, you are.”

“Aubrey,” Nora said, walking in to join us. “We've just had another couple book on-line, can you make sure their room is ready?”

“Sure,” I said. Maybe it should have bothered me, to be tasked with readying rooms when I had been a highly-paid executive assistant, but it didn't. I liked feeling like I had a hand in whether the business succeeded or failed. Nora might have been the owner on paper, but the bed and breakfast had come to feel like my baby as much as the actual baby in my belly. “I had some more ideas for how we can participate in the Catalpa Creek fall festival.”

She frowned. “Isn't the festival the same day as your due date?”

I shrugged. “Sure, but babies never arrive on time.”

She looked worried and her smile seemed forced. “I'd love to hear your ideas. I also met the lovely woman who owns the bookstore in town and we talked about hosting book club meetings and readings here, since they don't have space at the store.”

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