“Yeah. She’s the one who wanted to force me to tellMaverick.”
“How’d she take it?”
“I’m not sure, to be honest. We had a huge fight and we’re nottalking now.”
“Over the baby?”
I playaround with some noodles with my fork. “Yeah. It’s a mess. She’sbeing a total bitch. Maverick says that she’s dealing with this inher own way, but I gotta tell ya, I’m not impressed.”
“Can’t say I blame you there. But do me a favor and don’t staymad at her for too long. With a baby coming, you’ll only regretit.”
I wave.“It’ll be fine. We always work through our problems. This is justreally out there is all.”
“Of course it is.” She guffaws, smiling. “My goodness. This isyour folks’ first grandchild, too, isn’t it?”
Inod.
“Well, then, there you go. Maybe Sloane’s a little jealous.You were also the first sibling to get married, too,right?”
Anothernod.
“Sloane’s just as competitive as you in the professionalworld, Ellie. It sounds like she’s competing on both frontsnow.”
“But she’s found a great guy. I don’t know what her dealis.”
“Forgive me for stating the obvious, but, she’s not having ababy with him.”
“Well, I know that, but it’s not like I plannedthis.”
“How many people actually plan babies, too, huh.”
“Exactly.”
Shechanges the subject. “So tell me about Maverick. What’s helike?”
“He’s really sweet and thoughtful. And he’s one of those guyguys, you know? Not the usual corporate type that I’m alwaysdrooling over. No, he’s rugged and tough, since he grew up on aranch.”
“Is he good lookin’?”
I smile.“He’s so good lookin’, sometimes I can’t stand it.”
“What’s he look like?”
I tellher and she’s grinning as she’s picturing him in her mind. “Gosh,he sounds too good to be true the way that you’re describing him,Ellie.”
“And that’s the problem. I’m so worried that he is too good tobe true.”
She patsmy arm. “Give him a chance, Ell. He may show you up.” Anothersubject change. “Come on. Show me around this palace. I can’t waitto see it.”
***
Maverickshows up at my doorstep in the evening, after sending me textsexplaining why he couldn’t make it for dinner. He says that he hassome things that he needs to talk to me about, and I cringe justthinking about it. I really hope that nothing is wrong. But as heknocks on my front door, carrying a bag that smells so good, I canonly imagine it’s got his mama’s cooking inside, I let him in. Hegives me a quick kiss on the mouth, and I can’t stop thinking,‘well, this is new…I like’.
“Sorry for ducking out at dinner time.”
“It’s okay, Maverick. I told you I had company,anyway.”
Then hetells me something that makes me feel faint.
