Just saying it does something to me. My skin feels warm. My heart kicks against my ribs. Because saying Jake’s name out loud to my friends makes him real in a way he hasn’t been yet. Makes the night we spent together something I can’t pretend didn’t happen.
“Jake?” Stella’s eyes go wide. “Jake Reyes? Our Jake?”
“Yes.”
“Wyatt’s Jake?” Jess leans forward. “Wait. When did you and Jake hook up?”
“His Fourth of July party. Remember when you guys went out of town?” I look at Stella. “You texted me the address. I figured,Why not check it out?”
“Oh my God.” Stella is staring at me like I have grown a second head. “You hooked up with Jake and didn’t tell us? I feel like I don’t even know you.”
“Jake told us he was with you when you found out,” Blair says. She reaches under the table and squeezes my hand. A silent show of support. “How are you feeling about it?” she asks.
The whole table grows quiet, waiting for me to answer.
I take a breath. “Terrified. I just sold my first show, and now I am going to be visibly pregnant during production. What if FlixPix decides I am too much trouble?”
“They can’t do that,” Stella says immediately. “It’s illegal.”
“They can find other reasons. Creative differences. Wrong vision for the show.”
“Over my dead body.” Jess’s voice has that dangerous edge. “If anyone at FlixPix even thinks about sidelining you because you are pregnant, I will personally destroy them.”
“Same,” Stella adds. “Blair and I know everyone in this town. We’ll make sure the right people know what’s up.”
Sophia squeezes my other hand. “I’ve been in this industry a long time. I’ve watched them try to sideline women for way less. But things are changing.” Her voice softens. “They’re not going to throw away a good show because the creator is pregnant. That would be incredibly stupid.”
“How’s Jake handling everything?” Stella asks gently.
“He’s been really supportive. He wants to be involved.”
“Of course he does,” Jess says, and there is genuine warmth in her voice. “That is so Jake.”
“He’s probably already bought out half of Kidsland,” Sophia adds with a grin. “Jake has wanted to be a dad forever.”
I think about the groceries he ordered without being asked. The food he brought over. “Yeah. He’s definitely excited.”
“And you?” Jess asks carefully. “How are you feeling about Jake specifically?”
My throat goes dry. I reach for my water, buying myself a second.
“We’re going to co-parent. Figure it out as we go.”
They all exchange glances. I can feel them silently communicating, deciding who’s going to push me on this.
“Co-parent,” Jess repeats, one eyebrow raised.
“That’s the plan.” I tear off a piece of my cheese roll, not because I’m hungry but because I need something to do with my hands. “I mean, we barely know each other.”
“But Jake is a really good guy,” Stella says gently. “Like genuinely one of the best people we know.”
“He’s also hot,” Sophia adds. “Like objectively hot.”
An image flashes through my mind before I can stop it. Jake’s hands on my hips. His mouth on my neck. The way he looked at me in the dark like I was the only thing that mattered.
Heat crawls up my chest.
“I’m aware,” I manage.
