“Oh, that’s great,” Mom says brightly.
“Yep.”
“Well, I’d love to meet her one day. You’ll have to introduce us.”
“Sounds good.” Yeah, not happening. Maybe before she got engaged, I would’ve introduced the two of them. But now that I can’t consider her my best friend, plus the fact that she’s getting MARRIED, I don’t think I need to mix my family with Claire.
Mom pauses. “When’s the last timeyouwent on a date?”
I snort a laugh. I know exactly how long it’s been—almost three years. The last date I went on was two months before I started my job at Coastal Vista. It was a blind date with my roommate’s sister. She was nice enough, but after I met Claire, there was no point in dating anyone else.
“It’s been a while,” I say to my mom.
“Well, maybe you should think about it. You’re a catch. And I’m not just saying that because I’m your mom.”
“I don’t know. The only relations I have time for are the math kind.”
She’s silent for a moment.
“It’s a math joke, Mom. Relations and functions…”
“Ah. Gotcha.” I can almost see her shaking her head at me. “I’m serious, Ryan. Give dating a try. You’ll see. There’s going to be a nice, beautiful girl who will love you.”
“Okay, Mom. I’ll think about it.”
But I don’t tell her that the only nice girl I want is promised to someone else.
CHAPTER 9
Claire
On Thursday morning,I’m met with my new normal at work—solitude. After greeting Grace and Betsy, I head back to my desk and start working on my prep and grading.
A scuffle across the cubicles draws my attention, and then I hear a loud, “Ow!”
“Shawna?” I hop out of my chair and round the corner, finding my very pregnant coworker rubbing her foot. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be on leave!”
“I know,” she says. Her brown hair falls around her shoulders, and when she straightens, she looks…well, she looks pregnant. Glowing, but tired. “I wanted to pick up my laptop so I could check my emails while I’m home.”
“Don’t you have the app for that?” I ask.
Her blank eyes meet mine, and then she shakes her head. “Pregnancy brain. You’d think after three kids, I’d know not to trust myself.” She sighs. “Well, it was nice to get out of the house, though. I’m going a little stir-crazy.”
I huff a laugh, then examine her desk area. “Are you trying to unplug the laptop?”
She nods. “But I can’t quite bend anymore.”
“I got it.” I kneel and unplug the power cable from under her desk.
“You’re a lifesaver,” she says. “Who knows, maybe I’ll start prepping my fall classes while I’m on leave.”
“Or you’ll snuggle up with that sweet baby of yours,” I reply. “When is she due again?”
“Leap year day. Can you believe it?” She looks down at her protruding stomach and lovingly pats it. “She’s getting pretty big in there. I hope she comes out around her due date. Her brother was eight pounds, ten ounces, and I don’t think I could handle much more than that.”
My heart warms just being near her. Shawna has been like an aunt to me. I’ve missed her presence in the office this semester, but I don’t blame her for being home to prep for her baby. I’d take advantage of our amazing maternity leave policy if I could, too. Hopefully, one day I will.
I hand her the power cord to her laptop, and she gasps. “Wait…is this…” She snatches my left hand and examines the ring. “Did you getengaged?!”
