Page 42 of Love Me Again

"Oh!" I gasp when I finally realise who it was. "Blake, I'm sorry, you're the last person I was expecting to call me. How did you get my number?" I question and hear himchortleon the other end.

"I'm a very resourceful man," Blake states, and Iknit my brows. Why was he calling me at this time? "Listen, I know you're probably wondering why I'm calling you out of office hours, but I wanted to invite you to join me for lunch tomorrow?" I look at the girls who are watching me inquisitively.

"Lunch? Tomorrow?" I repeat and scratch my head. "Sure, we can have lunch." I agree and shrug when Aimee gives me her signature 'what the fuck' look.

"Excellent, I'll pick you up from the office, around one 'o clock? This is my personal number. Save it." Blake replies, and I nod.

"Uh, okay, I'll see you then," I hang up, staring at the phone dumbfounded. I jump when Jo hits my leg to get my attention.

"Explain...." She drawls, her brown eyes peering at me curiously.

"Who the hell is Blake, and more importantly, is he hot?" Aimee questions and I set my phone aside and shrug.

"Blake Bryant is an investor for one of our projects, and yes, he's a very handsome man," I explain with a sigh, and they nod slowly, still looking at me expectantly. "What?"

"What do you mean, what? Why is he asking you out?" Jo questions, her brows drawn together.

I roll my eyes, "He's not. It's a business lunch to go through the contract for the project, that's all." I clarify, and Aimee doesn't seem convinced.

"He went out of his way to find your personal number to call you, out of office hours to invite you for a business lunch?" She drawls sardonically, and I nod and shrug. Aimee looks at Jo, and they shake their heads. "It's definitely a lunch date." Aimee snorts.

"What does he look like?" Jo questions, intrigued, and I shrug indifferently.

"I don't know, tall, dark hair, blue eyes," I explain, chewing on my lip. "Oh, actually, he follows me on LinkedIn," I suddenly remember and pick up my phone again. I load up the app and search his name before I hand it to the girls. "That's him."

"Yowza!" Aimee exclaims, her blue eyes wide as she stares at the phone. "Oh, sweet lord, is that a face made to be sat on or what."

"Let me see," Jo says, taking the phone, and her mouth drops open. "Holy crap, Shay. He's hot!"

I roll my eyes and snatch my phone back off of them. "You two are ridiculous. It's business. I'm not dating him, for God's sake. I'm married and pregnant." I utter, laying back on my bed and rub my bump. Aimee giggles a little, looking at me. "What?"

"You know it sends him a notification that you checked his profile." She states. I sit up and gape at them while they laugh at me as I turn five different shades of pink. I throw my pillow at Aimee, who falls over on the floor, cackling.

"Why didn't you tell me that before?!" I complain, irked, throwing my stuffed bear at her, and she shrugs, still laughing.

"It only just occurred to me."

"Oh my God, how embarrassing, now he's going to think I'm interested in him!" I groan and fall back on my bed, covering my face with my hands. The doorbell rings and Aimee gets up and dashes off to answer it. I'm actually thoroughly humiliated; how am I going to face him tomorrow? I could throttle Aimee.

Shortly after, Josh came over with a pizza for us, and we tackled building the crib together.

"Josh, I'm sure that's back to front," I advise him, looking at the instructions and the typical man that he is, of course, doesn't accept that he is wrong until he steps back all proud of himself and the crib collapses. "I did—"

"Don't you dare say I told you so." He utters, scowling at me and then at the pieces of wood on the floor.

"You're doing great, baby." Aimee praises, chewing her slice of pizza. Josh looks at her and shakes his head before he sits back on the floor, attempting to rebuild it again.

I sit back, watching him, and sigh deeply before I turn my gaze and stare out of the window. "You okay, bish?" Jo asks, and I nod.

“She called him her boyfriend. I guess that means they’re officially together.” I admit shaking my head forlornly. Jo scoots over to me and wraps her arm around me, and I lay my head on her chest. Josh looks over and frowns.

“She was probably trying to hurt you, Shay. Don’t pay no mind to her.” Josh says, picking up another piece of wood for the crib.

“She was at the office after hours, Josh. They’re spending time together.” I glance down at the ring on my finger. “He’s moving on with her, and I’m here in agony, crying like a fucking mug, doing all the shit on my own that we should have been doing together to prepare for our baby.” I shake my head, angrily wiping away the tears.

“You’re not on your own, Shay. You have us.” Aimee assures, and Josh nods in agreement.

“I know, and I love you all so much, but it’s not the same,” I admit. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this. In a matter of weeks, I’m going to have this tiny person who will rely on me for everything, and I’m terrified I’m going to screw it all up.” I sob.

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