“When are you telling her?” she asked.
“No clue. Before the baby is born she’ll know. Not even on my radar at the moment. What did Megan and Raina say?”
He knew she was going to tell them she was coming out with the relationship. Or they were going to do it next week. They hadn’t figured out how yet, but he could stop at her office on Monday for something and he figured he’d do it with her. Everyone would get a laugh out of it and they could get used to that before the baby news came.
“They were happy that it wasn’t going to be a secret but said they wouldn’t say anything until I told them they could. It’s been nice to be able to talk to them at times.”
“About what?” he asked.
“Just girl things,” she said.
“Why can’t you tell me?” he asked.
She walked over and poked him in the belly. “Because it’s girl talk. You know, like who has a bigger dick.”
His jaw dropped. “You’re joking?”
She burst out laughing. “Of course I am! We don’t talk about that. I don’t know. I don’t have a specific example of anything. They both asked if we could go out to dinner at some point. You’d like Jonah and Cody. They are pretty down-to-earth. But if you don’t want to, that is fine too.”
He liked that she was including him in her life with her friends. That was one thing she’d said she’d kept separate before when she dated, so maybe there was hope for them yet.
“Sure,” he said. “We can do that. But let’s get through this weekend. Elise and my father want to have dinner with us some time too. I told them I’d let them know.”
“That would be nice,” she said. “I know my parents are going to want to meet you right away. They’d want to meet anyone I was dating, but the fact I’m pregnant is a big flag waving to get over for a pot roast dinner.”
He laughed. “Am I going to have to eat pot roast?”
“No,” she said. “I’ll make sure it’s something we both like. I’m not sure I could choke it down either right now.”
“How are you feeling?” he asked, his hand going to her belly. “No issues?”
“Nothing. Which is a good thing because no one can guess. I hope it stays this way.”
“I hope so too, but if it doesn’t just let me know what I can do to help.”
She closed one eye at him. “I don’t care what anyone says, you’re a great catch, Royce. I’m glad you’re going to be my baby’s daddy.”
He’d like to be more than that but knew now wasn’t the time to say it. “You’re a pretty good catch too. So I’m glad I knocked you up and not some other woman.”
She started to laugh so hard she had tears in her eyes. “That was funny.”
“Yeah, it was. But I’m still glad,” he said softly.
“Me too,” she said just as softly back.
32
As A Family
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you today?” Royce asked her the next morning.
“Yeah, I’m sure. I’m going to call Dane in a few minutes,” she said.
Her brother had to get the kids soon and she’d rather tell him before then.
“I’m here if you need me,” he said.
“I’ll be fine,” she said. She was going to another room to call her brother anyway. It’d be easier than having Royce listen in on one half of the conversation.