She leaned over and whispered. “Like the blonde woman behind me. It makes me even happier to know people are finding my place who don’t live here. I mean, it’s not like they’re my friends or family andhaveto come here because I’d call them out if they didn’t.”

I looked at the woman at the next table who was sitting by herself. She was enjoying a super-sized coffee creation while scrolling through her phone. I noticed how lovely her hair was.

“So there’s a new and wonderful complication in my life,” I said as I pulled my treats directly in front of me.

“You’re having twins?”

“Oh, good Lord, no. I’m not sure I could be a good mom to one. I would seriously doubt I could be for two, especially as a single mom.”

“So, what’s new and wonderful? A man? A certain guy we know?

“Lexi, you know now is not the time for me to have a new man in my life. I’m pregnant, remember?”

“Has your baby daddy changed miraculously into Mr. Perfect?”

“Pfft. Like that would happen.”

She looked at me with a frown. “Okay, then just tell me already.”

“I’m getting a dog. Well, to be precise, we found him in an alley. He didn’t have a collar or anything to identify him, and he was skinny and dirty, but he was friendly enough. He cleaned up nicely, and he’s very affectionate. I’m going to keep him if no one claims him.”

“Wow, you’re starting to sound positively domestic. I like it.”

I pulled up a picture I’d taken of the dog and looked at it. My heart swelled. He really was a cutie. I showed Lexi the picture.

“He looks sweet. Nana will probably try to steal him from you, so watch out.”

“I’ve never had a dog before. Hopefully, it goes just like I think it will go in my head. I will love him, and he’ll love me back no matter what, right?”

Lexi squeezed my hand and nodded in agreement.

“This dog, whose name is still a mystery, might be the onlyheI need right now.”

“A dog is more like an additional child, not a life partner,” Lexi advised.

“All I’m sure about is that I want this dog.” I stopped. “And this baby. I want this baby too.”

“Oh, Nik, I want to come around the table and hug you, but you’re eating something with a lot of powdered sugar. And I know from experience that powdered sugar is like glitter. It gets everywhere. Matt is taking me to lunch, so I’m trying to stay relatively clean until then.”

I looked down at my hands and rubbed them together. “So tell me, am I wearing it on my face?”

“Just some down the front of your shirt and a little in the corners of your mouth,” Lexi said with a grin. She made to lick her finger and rub my face, but I reared back.

“Huh uh. No practicing your mom skills on me. You seriously need to get yourself one of these,” I said, patting my stomach. “Might I remind you, they could be best friends?”

“Which again brings up my question about whether you will settle downhereso your child, and my as-yet-unplanned-and-unconceived child,canbe best friends?”

“I haven’t decided. But there are some good reasons to stay here. We’ll talk about it later. Right now, I’ve got to go see a man about a dog.”

I pulled into the warehouse parking lot and shook my head at how cool this place was. The warehouse was nothing special to look at, and you’d never know from the front that the area on the top was a living space. Maybe he was a double secret agent spy—an American James Bond, whose cover was a part-time job at a grocery store. I laughed at my imagination.

“Dan!” I called when I noticed him and the dog at the far end of the lot. The dog trotted toward me, his tail wagging so hard I thought it would throw him off course. I was thrilled the dog remembered me.

“Hey, maybe the dog’s name is Dan. He sure seemed to respond to that.”

“I don’t think so. I’ve been trying names this morning, and he’s responded to all of them except one.”

“Which one didn’t he like?”