“Want to come to Caleb and Sarah’s with me? We’re doing a game night.”
He nods enthusiastically. “Yeah, sure. I’d love that. My car is around the corner.” Bo opens the front door, and we step out into the storm. He leads me by a floating hand above my waist toward his car as the wind whistles around us. The passenger door is opened for me and closed behind me. Then I’m regaining my senses and attempting to warm my hands with my breath as he opens his door briefly before throwing himself inside.
His car isreallynice. I don’t know a lot about cars, but with a monitor screen the size of a tablet in the centre console and leather-wrapped seats with buttons for seat warmers, I imagine it cost a pretty penny.
“Great ride,” I say like a total dunce.
His lip twitches as he pushes a button and the car erupts with beeps and lights and a subtlevroomof the engine. “Thanks.”
“You remember how to get to Sarah’s?”
“Think so. Pretty sure everything about that house is carved into my memory.” He pulls off the side street, windshield wipers working overtime.
At first, I think he means it because of how nice their home is, or somethingalluding to Sarah and Caleb’s obvious wealth. But then I realise the way in which he said it. As if the home was infamous. Referring, subtly, to thelasttime we were both at Sarah and Caleb’s. I feel my cheeks warm with a blush and thank the moon for not shining too brightly.
“I’m glad you asked me to come. Honestly, I haven’t been sure about how to dothis,but I think spending some non-appointment time together would be good. To get to know each other. We’re sort of…” His voice trails off as he looks over his shoulder, changing lanes.
“Stuck together?” I offer.
“I was going to say something like working toward a mutual goal, but that sounded too unattached.”
“I called us colleagues the other day, and Sarah was aghast.”
“Aghast, huh?” he teases.
“Flabbergasted, if you will.”
“But there is no proper term for this,” he says in a way of agreement.
“Co-parents, I guess.”
“Butparentsfeels like a title reserved for when a kid is physically present,” Bo says. “No offence.” He speaks to my belly.
“Let’s aim for friends?” I suggest.
“Friends that are having a baby together.”
“Yes. Friends with foetuses.”
“A totally new type of benefit.” He laughs. “But yes. Friends is good.”
“Great,” I concur.
“I’m going to friend the shit out of you, Freddie McNulty.”
“So aggressive,” I say, giggling.
“A trait of mine you should probably know. I’m wildly competitive. Even in a mutually beneficial task. So prepare to be friended. Hard.”
“You’ve already made it weird.” I sit straighter, crossing my arms. “And you should know, I’m also very competitive. Which, I’m sad to say, is why you’ll never win. I’m going to be your best friend so fast that your head will spin. As for you? You’ll be a mere acquaintance to me.”
“You’re on,” Bo fires back.
“And don’t call me Freddie,” I say, crossing my arms.
“Sure thing,Frederick.”
CHAPTER 11
