Page 66 of Pregnant in Plaid
"Then yes. Please. I'm starving."
"You just ate an entire bag of pretzels in the car."
"That was hours ago. I'm eating for two now. Actually, I'm eating for one and a half because the baby is using up valuable stomach real estate in here, but the point stands."
The café is indeed cute—exposed brick walls, string lights, mismatched furniture that somehow all works together. We grab a table by the window, and I immediately order a sandwich the size of my head and a chocolate croissant because why not.
Tessa orders a salad, which feels like a personal betrayal.
"I’m getting married this week," she says when she catches my look. "I can't show up looking bloated."
"You're going to look gorgeous no matter what."
"Thanks, but I'm still getting the salad."
The food arrives, and I take a bite of my sandwich. It's perfect—warm bread, melty cheese, actual vegetables that taste like vegetables instead of sad cardboard. I close my eyes and make a completely inappropriate noise.
"Should I leave you two alone?" Tessa asks, grinning.
"Don't judge me. This sandwich is a religious experience."
She laughs and spears a piece of lettuce. We eat in comfortable silence for a few minutes before she leans back in her chair and gives me that look.
The look that says we're about to have a Conversation with a capital C.
"So," she says. "How are things with Trace?"
I swallow my bite of sandwich and reach for my water. "Fine."
"Fine?"
"Yes. Fine. We're cohabiting without killing each other, which feels like a win."
"Patrice."
"Tessa."
She leans forward. "You're in love with him."
I choke on my water. "What? No. That's ridiculous. I barely know him."
"You knew him well enough to sleep with him."
"That was one night. One great night, but still. That's not love."
"Then what is it?"
"Lust. Attraction. Temporary insanity brought on by alcohol and his stupidly perfect face."
Tessa just looks at me, eyebrows raised.
"Fine," I mutter. "Maybe it's a little more than lust. But it's been what, less than a few weeks? People don't fall in love that fast."
"I knew I loved Gage in two days."
"You're a weirdo."
"Maybe. But I'm a weirdo who's right." She takes a sip of her iced tea. "You should've seen your face when you talked about him yesterday. About the tour he gave you of Ashwood Falls."
