Isabella turned to her. “One shot. It won’t kill you.”
“Oh, lighten up.” Maddie smacked Norah on the back. “Have some fun for once.”
“I have fun.” Norah pouted.
“I’m game,” Taylor said, her black hair pulled into a tight topknot.
The bartender, a guy around Isabella’s age, with a reddish, thick beard shuffled toward them, his eyes widening. “Isabella Whitley.”
“Ricky?”
“In the flesh.” He raised his arms at his sides and stuck out his beer gut, as though he were a grand specimen to behold.
Isabella couldn’t help but smile. “Oh my gosh, you’re so…grown up. Look at that beard.”
“Yeah, well,” he said, mindlessly scratching the scruff on his chin. “And you, look at you. You look great.” He stretched across the bar and pulled her in for an awkward hug.
“It’s so good to see you.”
“You too,” he said into her hair.
“Izzy?” Her name floated over the music in a high-pitched shriek.
She and Ricky released their embrace, and it seemed as if everyone in the bar turned in the direction of the shrill voice. And there stood Kelsey Sanders, Isabella’s childhood best friend, slack-jawed, hands pressed to her hips. But the most obvious and pressing appearance was her protruding belly.
“Kelsey?” She had to question it. Because even though she knew it was her, with the same black bob and bright blue eyes, Isabella’s brain couldn’t comprehend the fact that Kelsey was pregnant. She hurried to greet her, shuffling around people crowding at the bar.
When they reached one another, the women hesitated, the awkwardness of the time apart obvious and stretching between them.
“Holy hell,” she breathed out, without intending to speak the words aloud. “I mean…I can’t believe it’s really you.”
“Wow,” Kelsey said, her gaze trailing up and down Isabella’s body. “You look amazing. Gosh, New York has been good to you.” She put her finger on Isabella’s shoulder and retracted it quickly, shaking out her hand dramatically. “Ooo, you’re hot.”
Isabella laughed, though it came out sounding forced. “You look great, too.” She tried to end the awkwardness by wrapping her old friend in a tight hug, though the round belly in between them was a reminder. “And you’re pregnant?”
“Oh, yes…you noticed?” She laughed, pink highlighting her round cheeks.
Isabella’s jaw dropped, and she blinked. Was she wrong? She hadn’t spent much time around pregnant women, but she knew a pregnant belly when she saw one. Didn’t she?
“I’m teasing, Izz.” Kelsey waved her off. “Obviously you would notice. I’m nearly full term. This baby may just make an appearance on Christmas. Can you imagine? A Christmas baby?”
Isabella shook her head. She couldn’t even imagine having a baby on any day, never mind on Christmas. “A baby. Wow. You’re going to be a mom.”
“Oh, no,” she laughed, tucking her short hair behind both ears. “I’ve been a mom for a few years now. I’ve got two more at home with Grandma.”
“Really?” Isabella’s voice strained. She cleared her throat, attempting to recover. “How’s your mom doing?”
“Oh, not my mom. My mom couldn’t last five minutes with those two before she’d be heading to the liquor cabinet. We still haven’t been able to get her off the juice, if you know what I mean?” She made a drinking gesture with her cupped hand to her lips.
Isabella did know. Kelsey’s mom had been an alcoholic since the girls were young. It was part of the reason why Kelsey had spent numerous nights curled up on the trundle under Isabella’s daybed.
“They’re with Ricky’s Mom.”
Isabella whipped her head back to Ricky who was serving Norah and the other girls their shots but eavesdropping on their entire conversation. He grinned wide, giving her a proud nod of assurance.
“You and Ricky?” Isabella asked.
“Yep. Going on six years now.”
