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“So, can I get a letter of recommendation or something? I am so sorry, Chloe. Mortified to ask.”

I rubbed my temples. She sounded as desperate as I. I suddenly realized how much I missed her.

“What do you say about lunch?” I asked. “Arpeggio’s? I just want to eat a massive bowl of fettuccine alfredo.”

“That sounds fucking amazing,” Meg said. “You sure?”

“Yes. I cannot be more of a disaster than I am right now.”

“I will be there in ten.”

I drove to an old favorite. It wasn’t posh, but it had the best pasta in the north burbs. As I stepped into the dead dining room, I spotted Meg looking very much unlike the woman who had left for LA with my ex. Her hair hadn’t been properly highlighted. She wore no makeup. Damn! Her life was even more of a disaster than I expected!

She stood, awkwardly. Did we hug? I decided I wasn’t ready for that.

Instead, I said, “Hey. Go, sit.” Then, I slid into a booth awkwardly.

“Wow. You are… definitely⁠—”

I cut her off, “Pregnant with a baby I’m having with the cowboy living in the carriage house? Yeah. No one knows. It’s you and Riley. That’s it.”

“Chloe, you can’t hide⁠—”

“I know,” I said. “I gotta see my agent and publicist in two days—I fly out tomorrow—and… I need to cop to it. But I can’t do it.”

“I hate to say this because, yes, you’re adorable, but… it’s going to be impossible to ignore the elephant in the room.”

I grimaced, knowing she was right. A waitress appeared and we ordered fast—our usual choices—the Alfredo for me. Chicken parm for her.

“So, this wasn’t… planned. How does the father feel?”

I laughed nervously.

“Chlo, does he know?”

I grimaced. “He knows I am pregnant. He thinks it’s a sperm donor.”

Her jaw dropped. “Chloe, that’s crazy! Why didn’t you tell him the truth?”

“I know, right!? I’m a dumbass. He thought it was because I talked about doing it on my own once. And he has said he doesn’t want kids. And he's still living in the carriage house⁠—”

“Oh, shit! Chloe!”

“I know. So, yeah, your life is messy, but mine is a disaster.”

She shook her head. “Chloe, you need to tell everyone.”

“What? So my mom can say I am a failure? So I can ruin my brother’s life? So I can tell my agent and publicist I have to cancel the tour they’ve already pushed back? Tell them I probably cannot do press for my next book when they want me to because I will still be nursing a baby? Worst of all, have him reject me?”

“Guys say that. But he has a kid, Chlo. I bet he will change his mind and be sad you didn’t tell him first.”

“And if he doesn’t?” Tears welled.

“I am sure he will want to be there.”

I shook my head.

“Chloe, babes, has it occurred to you that he might be even more upset when he finds out you have literally been lying to him this whole time.”