Finally, she tucked it away. “I’m meeting Violet next weekend to go maternity clothes shopping.”
Maternity clothes. She looked the same, but there were outfits she no longer wore. How much was her belly growing? My curiosity would skyrocket if I let it. “That’ll be fun.”
“I think so. Poppy’s gone for a soccer tournament, and Daisy’s there, too, with Laila. So it’s me and Violet.”
“That’ll be nice.” I slid a gaze toward her. My conversation skills sucked today.
“Yeah. I honestly haven’t spent much time with just me and Violet. It’s like I’m getting to know my bossy older sister.”
“But you miss Poppy?”
She blinked rapidly, and I turned my attention back out the windshield. My fingers twitched to reach for her, but she might shut down.
“Yes, but we each have our own lives. I’m sure it’s pregnancy hormones.”
While that might be valid, her feelings were still legitimate. “Have you told her that you need a little me time with her?”
“No, it’s a busy time for her.”
I filed the Poppy topic away for later. “So. Maternity clothes?”
Clover smiled and ducked her head. “Yeah. She asked about baby furniture, but until I have a place, there isn’t a point. And it’s early yet.” She reclined back and linked her hands over her stomach. “A lot of people don’t know they’re pregnant at this point, and I feel like I’ve known forever.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No. I’m glad I knew at our wedding. Made it easier, I think. I would’ve had to move on all over again.”
Not the wedding. Our wedding. “I knew I was getting a two-for-one deal.”
She chuckled. “Yeah. For a little while.”
Her words echoed in my head. Our time was almost up. “Have you changed your mind about finding out what you’re having? My money’s on a baby, but it could be a kitten.”
Her laughter filled the cab. “As long as there’s only one and not one that was hiding from the ultrasound. I’m not sure I’m ready for the stress of multiples. Especially if it’s puppies.”
“Oof, not multiple puppies.”
“No.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m going with the surprise. Why not keep the trend up? Get dumped at the altar? Marry his brother? Only get the house for three months? Surprise, it’s a pony.”
“At least one good surprise.”
“Maybe one of those other ones hasn’t been so bad.”
The adorably sexy woman was wiggling her way further into my chest wall, and at times like these, she reached out and tapped on my heart. My brother’s ex. No matter how many times I repeated it to myself, the effect wasn’t as strong as it used to be.
“Have you looked at the apartments yet?” she asked like she wanted to move on from the topic.
I gladly took the exit strategy. “Not yet. I lined up a few in-person investor meetings right away after the holidays. Next week, I can tackle a place to live.”
“In person? Is that normal?”
“Sometimes, but I think with my background it’s more crucial. Right away in the new year, I’ll head to Denver first, then Dallas, and to keep the D theme, DC.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of traveling.” Her tone was even. Was she relieved I wouldn’t be hanging out? We could make a clean break, and she could be done with all things Wagner?
“Yeah, but I figured I was risking it at that time of year anyway. Never knew when it would blizzard.”
“Speaking of that, do you have plans for Thanksgiving?”
