Page 49 of Press Your Luck

I hesitated since I woke up sick, but after that last session with the porcelain god, my stomach was settling. My friendship with these women was important. Crucial. “Sure. I’ll come.” I didn’t want to let Betts down. I could worry about my health later.

At the restaurant,the four of us sat in a cozy booth, with me sipping ginger ale to make sure my stomach stayed calm. I ordered chicken soup for lunch, hoping it would be gentle enough on my insides.

"Can you believe it?" Betts said. "Our marketing firm was sold, and half the staff got the boot. Just like that. I don't even know if I'll find another good position."

"Of course you will." Analyn rested a hand on Betts’s arm. "You're brilliant, Betts. If no one else is smart enough to hire you, I will. Better yet, Naomi's team could use a better marketing person."

I was startled by Analyn’s assertion. Then again, the fact that my love life had more attention than the team suggested that Todd could use a new marketing person.

"I won’t disagree, but hiring isn’t part of my job,” I said, wishing I could hire Betts to teach Todd about marketing.

"Maybe you could talk to Todd,” Analyn suggested.

I nodded. “Sure.” I could hear Todd already. “Why do we need a marketing person? Everything is working great as it is.”

I worried Betts might get her hopes up by my agreeing to talk to Todd. They’d been good friends to me, so I owed it to them to be honest. “But I don’t think he’s looking to hire. He feels all the publicity around Max and me is bringing in fans. It’s not true, though.”

“What’s not true?” Ruby asked, rubbing her baby bump.

“Me and Max. Or me and Big Ed.” That thought made me feel sick to my stomach. “The media saw us and made it up. Todd feels it’s good publicity, which is why we’ve ignored it instead of revealing the truth.”

“I knew it,” Analyn said, surprising me with the force of her words. “Is he making you pretend to be in a relationship?”

I shrugged. “No. He’s just not denying it and he’s asking me not to deny it.” Should I tell them he had a photographer taking pictures of me and Max? “The point is, I don’t know that he’s looking for someone. But I can talk to him, if you'd like?”

“I don’t want to mess things up for you, Naomi,” Betts said. “I know you’ve got enough pressure.”

“I don’t mind asking,” I said. And I didn’t.

“Whatever happens, we're all here for you, Betts. You're not alone,” Analyn said.

"Thanks, guys. I'm lucky to have friends like you,” Betts said.

Ruby let out a little gasp, pulling our attention toward her. She looked down at her swollen stomach and smiled. "This baby is kicking like crazy today.”

"Wow, what's that like?" Betts asked, her earlier troubles momentarily forgotten.

Analyn and Ruby exchanged glances before launching into a series of funny and sweet stories about swollen feet, strange cravings, and the wonder of feeling life growing inside them. I wanted to be a mom someday, but some of their stories didn’t make pregnancy sound very fun.

"Morning sickness, though.” Ruby made a face. “That part wasn't fun at all. I was so glad when that ended."

"That was hard," Analyn agreed, shuddering at the memory. “Waking up every day and getting sick or dry heaving. God. It felt like forever.”

My mind raced. Daily, long-term sickness... in the morning. Could there be a connection between their experiences and the nausea I'd been experiencing? No, it couldn't be possible... could it?

"Naomi, are you okay?" Betts asked, concern etched across her face. "You look pale."

"Uh, yeah, I'm fine.” I worked to shake off my thoughts. "Just still not feeling great from this bug, I guess."

Analyn raised a brow. “Are you sure you and Max—”

“Absolutely,” I interrupted.But me and Pierce...

"Maybe you should see a doctor," Ruby suggested. "It's not normal to be sick for so long. You’re under so much stress, and maybe it’s manifesting physically. You should have it checked."

“I will.” And she was right. I’d probably be diagnosed with an ulcer or something.

"You know what was great about pregnancy?” Analyn resumed the discussion. “I didn’t miss my period at all.”

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