“Was it?” Nic asks, making a face. She’s such a bitch sometimes, but I love her.
Ian just laughs. “I figure if I’m the worst singer tonight, I’ll have done a good deed by making everyone else feel better about themselves.”
“You’re a true philanthropist. Unlike Julia.” Nicole snickers, and Heidi pokes her. “What? She made us look bad and you know it!”
“You were all great up there,” Ian breaks in, still on a high from his time on stage. “You three should do a group thing.”
“Yes!” Heidi already has her app open and is adding our names to the list. “Looks like we have a forty-five-minute wait.”
That’s about how much time I’ll need to work my nerve up to go back on stage, but it’ll be fun to do it with them. We get embroiled in song-choice discussion, and Ian goes to refill our drinks. He comes back with more rum-and-diet-cokes for us and coffee for himself instead of another beer.
He notices me looking at his mug when he sets down the drinks. “I want you to be able to let your hair down a little, so I figured I’d be the designated driver-slash-bodyguard for the evening. Happy to drive you all home.”
“Did I mention I like your new baby daddy?” Heidi asks, grinning as she trades in her empty glass for a full one.
I feel my face flush, and I can’t look at Ian. It’s not like I’m going to cheat on Richard with him, but the idea of carrying his pups is weirdly sexy in itself. It’s going to beintimate, even if we’re not together. I already know he’s going to want to be involved in my pregnancy as much as I’ll let him. He’ll go to my doctor’s appointments and attend birth classes if Iallow it. He’d probably even rub my sore feet if I asked, not that I would.
I can’t help comparing that to Richard’s absolute disinterest during my last pregnancy. He didn’t want my symptoms to affect him in any way. He didn’t like that he had to look after Samantha alone when I had a prenatal appointment. He didn’t like that I couldn’t pick things up off the floor as easily during the third trimester, so Sammie’s toys were often scattered around when he got home. That’s probably what the contract from him is about, actually: keeping up with the housework. Annoyed, I pull out my phone and skim the document he sent to prove myself right.
Yep. He doesn’t want to be inconvenienced by any increased food or clothing costs related to the pregnancy, and he doesn’t want to hear any related news or complaints from me before, during, or after, whether emotional or physical. I’m to pay for hiring help if I’m unable to complete my normal chores.
He also doesn’t want to share a bed with me while I’m pregnant or recovering, which is kind of hilarious since he’s gone four days out of five, anyway. He wants me to move into the guest room for the duration. And I’m not allowed to take or post any pictures of myself while I’m pregnant. I’m not a big selfie person anyway, so that’s no big deal.
“See, I told you. It’s nothing,” I tell Ian, handing him my phone so he can see for himself. I chug part of my ice-filled drink, wincing as the cold hits the bridge of my nose.
Ian’s lip curls as he reads. He lifts his head to look at me in disbelief when he reaches the end. “Is he serious about this?”
“Richard is serious about everything.” The rum is hitting me now, making me slur my words a little. I count off on my fingers. “His business, his reputation, his money.”
“What about hiswife?” Ian snaps, handing back my phone. “You’re not allowed toeat moreon his dime?”
It sounds bad coming out of Ian’s mouth, but it’s really not a big deal. Richard is just trying to limit his liability, and he should. “I probably eat more than I need to now. It’ll be plenty, don’t worry about the babies.”
The babies. Like they’re real already.I haven’t even signed the paperwork or made an insemination appointment at the clinic. But the weird thing is that they already feel real.
Ian stares at me for a long minute with narrowed eyes. “I’ll bring you anything you want to eat, day or night.Anything. A goddamn stick of gum at 3 a.m., all right? Just text me and I’ll be there.”
I swallow down the complicated emotions rising inside me. I’m not going to text him in the middle of the night for anything, but I can’t help being touched by the offer. “Okay.”
His breath huffs out. “Does this mean you’re really going through with this? Are you for sure going to…?” He trails off, waiting for me to finish his thought.
“Have your babies?” His eyes widen at my directness. I feel bold. He makes me feel bold. “Yes.”
“Aww,” Heidi gushes from across the table, where apparently she’s been watching us. “I love this for you, Jules. We had such an amazing pregnancy with our surrogate. It’s a really special time.”
“I love this for Richard,” Nic mutters, wiggling her eyebrows mischievously. When Heidi frowns, she protests, “What? Nothing wrong with taking him down a peg. He deserves to feel a little jealous after all the—” She clamps her mouth shut when Heidi shoots her one of her most intimidating disapproving-teacher looks.
“He has nothing to be jealous about. This is a business arrangement about a medical procedure,” I say quickly. Maybe too quickly. But I want to remind everyone—including my own disloyal little heart—what this is all about. It’s not a cute, fluffy romance. It’s not the story of a young woman starting a new life with her fated mate. It’s a really messysituation that we’re trying to make a little tidier by setting clear boundaries. Contracts like the one Richard sent are what will save us from complete ruin.
In my peripheral vision, Ian shifts uncomfortably. Did what I said hurt his feelings? I hope not. Without thinking, I grab his hand and squeeze.
Heidi clocks it right away. I can tell by the way her eyes jerk back to my face after she sees our joined hands. “Sure, it is. Well, congratulations to you both. I wish you a happy pregnancy and healthy babies.” She holds up her cocktail and Nic does the same.
I lift mine, and then we all look at Ian, who hasn’t moved. “How about you? You in?” I bite my lip as I wait for his reply.
For a second, I think he might have cold feet. But then he raises his cup of coffee and clinks it against ours. “I’m all in.”
Chapter 11
