“We were. Years ago. He was different. I was different.” I slide down on the bed, lowering my voice. “Sometimes it feels like we’re roommates who love each other and have sex.” A beat. “Had.”
Becks laughs. “Isn’t that… marriage?”
“Is that why you turned Shane’s proposal down?” I pull the covers over me.
She huffs. “I told him I didn’t want to get married and he said he was fine with it.”
“He’s probably worried too.”
“How?”
“You know how you’re worried he could just… take off?” I get comfy.
“Yeah. Still do.”
“He’s probably worried that if you’re not married, he won’t have any legal rights.”
“Of course he will,” she says. “He’s the dad.”
“It’s different,” I say. “And if you’re married, he can’t just bolt without consequences. You could sue his ass.”
She goes quiet, I can hear her thinking.
“You just want me married because you are,” she says finally.
I snort. “It’s so much fun. I do nothing while he runs himself into the ground.”
She snorts right back. “How’s the job search?”
I pick at a thread on the comforter. “Matthew’s insurance doesn’t cover daycare, so if I work, it has to be from home. Preferably from my bed. Ideally without pants.”
“Dream big,” Becks says. “Okay… have you talked to Zara lately?”
I shake my head, then remember she can’t see me. “No. She texted when Penny was born, but we haven’t actually talked. Why?”
“She’s going back to work soon. You should ask her about childcare. Then you won’t have to stress about finding some work-from-home thing.”
“Zara has her mother-in-law,” I say flatly. “Sorry,exmother-in-law. I know I sound bitter, but how come hers will watch her kid while mine wouldn’t even pick her up?”
Becks goes quiet.
“Becks,” I press. “What?”
She exhales. “Zara probably didn’t want to worry you, but… her ex kind of filed for custody.”
I jerk upright. “What?” I lower my voice when Penny squirms in her bassinet. “What?I thought they were co-parenting.”
“It came out of nowhere,” Becks says. “He and his mom accused Zara of being neglectful and shit. They claimed all these ‘incidents’ happened that didn’t.”
My mouth falls open. “What the fuck?”
“Thankfully the baby cam proved Zara never hurt little Thiago. She passed her mental health assessment too. But obviously now she doesn’t want to leave the baby with that lying bitch.”
I nod slowly, stomach twisting. “Obviously. What’s happening now?”
“Zara had a hearing today,” Becks says. “I wanted to be there, but you know… the adoptive parents for Ursula’s baby showed up, and she didn’t want to be alone.”
“Of course,” I murmur.
