he kind of tried to kiss me.”
“What? Are you serious? Oh my God! What happened?”
“What do you think happened? I pushed him off! I can NOT go there right now.”
“Why the hell not? You’ve been in love with him for as long as I’ve known you!”
“It doesn’t matter. I can’t be with Gabe.” She crosses her arms defensively.
“And why the hell not?”
“It’s just not the right time, okay?” Her jaw tightens as a fine line starts to form next to her mouth.
“What does that mean?”
Her eyes lock onto mine under furrowed brows. “It’s exactly like I told him, I’m trying to make partner. I can’t be dating someone right now, let alone be in a relationship. Plus, he’s my best friend.”
“That’s the biggest load of bullshit I have ever heard. You said that to him, Jules? Seriously?”
Her face turns ashen white, her fingers nervously drawing tiny circles on her thighs. “Yes, what did you want me to say?”
“Jules, you love him.”
“Enough, Ava. It’s just not the right time, leave it.” She won’t look at me and it hurts me to know she’s in pain.
“Jules—”
“OH MY GOD, AVA!” She jumps up. “You’re having a baby! We’re having a baby….” Tears well in her chocolate eyes as she waves the white plastic stick in my face.
My vision floods with tears as happiness emanates from every pore of my body. I let out my breath, and a calm falls over me.
I’m going to be a mommy.
I HEAR THE familiar sound of the door opening and Alexandre’s keys jingling when he tosses them into the bowl in the foyer. He steps into the living room and his eyes crinkle as he smiles at me adoringly.
“Hey, baby.” He places a delicate kiss on my lips. “I’m going to get a drink. Is there something you want?”
Alexandre's lean physique awakens every nerve in my body. My cheeks flush and I bite back the need that’s arising within me.
Later.
“No, I’m good.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back. Think about what you want to order for dinner.”
Once he’s done pouring himself a scotch neat, he sits next to me. I nuzzle my body against him, inhaling his fragrance that feels so much like home.
“So what did you decide?” he asks.
“I’m dying for a cheeseburger.”
His mouth falls open and his eyes open wide as if I’ve grown three heads. “You never want a burger. I had made peace with the idea I was having some fancy salad tonight.”
“Well,” I shrug, “I guess we can get a fancy salad if you want one.”
“Are you kidding me? Hell no. I’ll call the diner down the block. I’m ordering French fries too. Best night ever.” He beams as he pulls out his phone and places the order. “Forty-five minutes,” he says to me as he ends the call. “What do you want to do in the meantime?” There’s a wicked gleam in his eye and as much as I’m dying to do that , I know I have to tell him the news first.
“Knock it off.” I laugh. “How about we play a game?”
He chuckles at my suggestion. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, while Jules and I were running errands, I found this really cool, old-fashion-looking Scrabble game. I used to love playing, so I had to buy it. Would you mind?”
“I guess if you really want to.” He leans back, burrowing his face into the crook of my neck and placing soft kisses down the column. “Sure I can’t persuade you to consider maybe a more hands-on game?” His tongue lightly tickles me and my body shivers.
“None of that. This will be fun!” Pulling away, I grab the box that’s sitting on the coffee table across from me. “Do you mind grabbing me a water after all? I’m feeling kind of lazy. I’ll set up the game.”
He gets up and I make quick work to set up. A minute later, the couch dips and he moves his body toward the game. Excitement courses through my body, my heart beating so fast that I’m sure he can feel the couch shaking. Alex is silent as he takes in the message I have laid out on the Scrabble
“What? Are you serious? Oh my God! What happened?”
“What do you think happened? I pushed him off! I can NOT go there right now.”
“Why the hell not? You’ve been in love with him for as long as I’ve known you!”
“It doesn’t matter. I can’t be with Gabe.” She crosses her arms defensively.
“And why the hell not?”
“It’s just not the right time, okay?” Her jaw tightens as a fine line starts to form next to her mouth.
“What does that mean?”
Her eyes lock onto mine under furrowed brows. “It’s exactly like I told him, I’m trying to make partner. I can’t be dating someone right now, let alone be in a relationship. Plus, he’s my best friend.”
“That’s the biggest load of bullshit I have ever heard. You said that to him, Jules? Seriously?”
Her face turns ashen white, her fingers nervously drawing tiny circles on her thighs. “Yes, what did you want me to say?”
“Jules, you love him.”
“Enough, Ava. It’s just not the right time, leave it.” She won’t look at me and it hurts me to know she’s in pain.
“Jules—”
“OH MY GOD, AVA!” She jumps up. “You’re having a baby! We’re having a baby….” Tears well in her chocolate eyes as she waves the white plastic stick in my face.
My vision floods with tears as happiness emanates from every pore of my body. I let out my breath, and a calm falls over me.
I’m going to be a mommy.
I HEAR THE familiar sound of the door opening and Alexandre’s keys jingling when he tosses them into the bowl in the foyer. He steps into the living room and his eyes crinkle as he smiles at me adoringly.
“Hey, baby.” He places a delicate kiss on my lips. “I’m going to get a drink. Is there something you want?”
Alexandre's lean physique awakens every nerve in my body. My cheeks flush and I bite back the need that’s arising within me.
Later.
“No, I’m good.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back. Think about what you want to order for dinner.”
Once he’s done pouring himself a scotch neat, he sits next to me. I nuzzle my body against him, inhaling his fragrance that feels so much like home.
“So what did you decide?” he asks.
“I’m dying for a cheeseburger.”
His mouth falls open and his eyes open wide as if I’ve grown three heads. “You never want a burger. I had made peace with the idea I was having some fancy salad tonight.”
“Well,” I shrug, “I guess we can get a fancy salad if you want one.”
“Are you kidding me? Hell no. I’ll call the diner down the block. I’m ordering French fries too. Best night ever.” He beams as he pulls out his phone and places the order. “Forty-five minutes,” he says to me as he ends the call. “What do you want to do in the meantime?” There’s a wicked gleam in his eye and as much as I’m dying to do that , I know I have to tell him the news first.
“Knock it off.” I laugh. “How about we play a game?”
He chuckles at my suggestion. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, while Jules and I were running errands, I found this really cool, old-fashion-looking Scrabble game. I used to love playing, so I had to buy it. Would you mind?”
“I guess if you really want to.” He leans back, burrowing his face into the crook of my neck and placing soft kisses down the column. “Sure I can’t persuade you to consider maybe a more hands-on game?” His tongue lightly tickles me and my body shivers.
“None of that. This will be fun!” Pulling away, I grab the box that’s sitting on the coffee table across from me. “Do you mind grabbing me a water after all? I’m feeling kind of lazy. I’ll set up the game.”
He gets up and I make quick work to set up. A minute later, the couch dips and he moves his body toward the game. Excitement courses through my body, my heart beating so fast that I’m sure he can feel the couch shaking. Alex is silent as he takes in the message I have laid out on the Scrabble
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