“You have a deal. My apartment is dog and baby-proofed. Angel’s in her crate right now and should be fine for another hour. If you let her out, just keep her out of the nursery—I just painted it this morning.”
We both get up and he pulls me in for a tight, warm hug. Today hasn’t gone as planned, but by the time it’s over, I may be the luckiest man alive… if Aubrey says yes.
30
Aubrey
Olivia’s wedding was beautiful, and while I’m sitting at the small reception dinner with a table full of amazing people who I love like family, I feel… alone. For so long, I was comfortable being by myself—dinners, movies, coffee, museum visits. Not anymore. Ever since I met Jamie, I can’t manage a single day without wishing he was with me. To be fair, all any woman wants to do is share their life with someone. This feels different.
While politely smiling and laughing at jokes that aren’t remotely funny, my phone chimes in my purse. I haven’t heard from Jamie about how lunch went with his dad, and I’m hoping it’s an update. I excuse myself and check it and find a new text from him, quickly clicking on the notification.
Jamie
How’s the reception?
Good. How was lunch with your father?
Good. Are you free?
I don’t bother replying, quickly excuse myself, and step outside to call. He answers on the first ring, “Hey, mama.”
There’s a slight echo, and I pull the phone away from my ear. My cell reception is okay, so I put it back to my ear and reply, “The wedding was beautiful. How did it go with your father? Please tell me you didn’t tell me you asked him to sponsor you for a green card…”
“I didn’t, I promise. But you know how you always say I’m impulsive? Well, I think I know where I got it from.”
“Why is that?” I laugh, the echo still there. When I’m back in Sacramento, I need to look into a new service provider or phone. Wanting to keep things light, I tease, “Did you convince him to adopt a dog too?”
“Four, actually.” When I don’t take the bait, he admits, “No, I’m kidding, but you should probably turn around.”
All of my levity drains from me as I slowly glance over my shoulder. I know it’s him, but seeing Jamie’s only about ten or twelve feet away—if that—leaning against the hallway wall with his trademark smirk and his phone pressed against his ear…. I drop mine and run to him, flinging my arms around his middle. He pulls me in closer and kisses the top of my head.
“Why are you here?” Willing back my tears, my words are barely muffled against his chest.
As he tucks his phone in his back pocket, he sighs, “I missed you too.” After what feels like only seconds—but also several hours—he quietly tells me, “We should probably get your phone before someone steps on it.”
“Fuck my phone. Why are you here?” I repeat, not letting go. “What about Angel?”
“Alejandro is taking care of her until later tonight, when Tracy will take over.”
“Your dad is with her? Does he know she’s a menace if she doesn’t get her little dog siesta, or if you don’t give her extra treats when you’re cooking?”
“Bree.” The sternness in his tone pauses my freakout. “I gave him and Tracy instructions when I was on the plane. It’s just for the night. But if Angel destroys the apartment, she destroys the apartment.”
Jamie loves Angel more than anything in this world, but he has no problem letting his father take over after meeting him for one day? None of this makes sense. “So, what? You thought you could just show up like this and expect me to swoon?”
“That was the general idea, yes.”
Jamie releases me, then steps around to retrieve my phone. While I love that he’s here, I hate surprises, and he knows it. Or at least I thought he did. How the hell am I supposed to function when my best friend just married the man she’s been in love with for over a decade, but then the man I’m in love with shows up and all I want to do is run away and pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist? There is no pregnancy book that covers this.
“So, are you swooning yet?” he asks as he hands me my phone.
“Honestly? Yes, I am.” I have nowhere to stow my phone, so I tuck it between my tits, secured by my bra and a dress that’s a size too small since getting it fitted. “You’re really here,in Vegas?I don’t remember hallucinations listed under pregnancysymptoms, so please give me a sign that I’m not imagining things.”
“You know this is real, but since we’re playing the honesty card, I thought you’d be a little more excited than this. It works way better in movies and books.”
“Yeah.” I let out a snort-laugh. “So, does that mean we’re going to live happily ever after?”
“As long as our happily ever after involves my version of tacos and not yours, I’ll marry you tomorrow.”
