Page 22 of Girl Going Nowhere

One of her shoulders lifts as she shoots me a sad smile. “I didn’t want to freak out too soon if it wound up being nothing. She told me everything was fine and that sometimes it takes time after being on the pill for so long. Plus, I’ve been stressed, so it could be a factor.”

“Of course,” I quickly agree.

“But what if it’s not?” she whispers.

This time, I squeeze her hand in comfort. “I know it has to be hard, but you’ll get through this. If the doctor told you everything was fine, then believe that. I’m sure if you’re in your head about getting pregnant it’ll mess with you.”

She reluctantly nods in agreement.

“Whenit happens, I’ll be right there by your side. I’ll throw you a kick-ass baby shower like the one you threw for me.”

Skepticism takes over her somber expression, and I know what she’s going to say. “You hate planning parties. Remember that birthday bash you insisted on taking lead on for Veronica’s eighteenth birthday?”

I cringe at the memory of the curtains catching on fire when I set the cake too close to them. In a rush to put the fire out, the table got knocked over with all the food on it. Cake included. “Yeah, that didn’t go well.”

“It was a disaster.”

“But I’m better now! More responsible.”

I want to remind her of the amazing second birthday party I hosted for Maia. It was Cookie Monster themed because she was obsessed with everything blue and sweet last year. I may have gone a little overboard; at least, that’s what my mother told me when she saw how much I’d decorated the apartment, but the birthday girl had a blast, and that’s all I cared about.

My best friend slowly nods, shaking herself out of the negative mindset. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Do you want anything else, or do you think you’re set?”

I glance at my plate, left with only crumbs from the chocolate cake I ordered. “I’m good. I just need to use the restroom before we go.” We went through almost an entire bottle of wine between the two of us on top of water to make sure we were good to get back to her place.

She deals with the check, despite my argument through the meal, while I head toward the restrooms in the back.

A few minutes later, after drying off my hands and checking my hair and makeup in the mirror, I leave the bathroom and let out a yelp when a hand wraps around my arm.

“I thought that was you.”

I’m pulled into a tiny alcove, where I get pressed against a wall by the man I was staring at earlier.

“I thought you left,” I tell Rafael.

His lips quirk up at the corners, probably pleased that I noticed him. “Not until I said something to you.”

“Well… here you are.”

“Hereweare.” He says it like a challenge as we lock eyes.

Mine narrow suspiciously. “So what?”

“So,” he prods casually. “We probably shouldn’t have bumped into each other again. Yet here we are at the same restaurant.”

I shrug. “Maybe you’re stalking me.”

Amusement lights up his eyes. “Maybe. Or maybeyou’restalkingme.”

“Guess we’ll never know.”

“Guess not,” he agrees lightly.

We stare, but there’s something familiar about his eyes that I can’t quite understand.

I clear my throat, jabbing my finger behind me toward the dining room. “My friend is waiting for me, so I should go.”

“Give me your number,” he says quickly as I slip away from his hold. “Or I’ll give you mine.”

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