“So, when is this happening?” Melody demands. “You’re not pregnant now, are you?”
“God, no. Relax,” I say with a laugh. “I just got Felicity sleeping through the night. I need rest, woman. We’re not even thinking about babies…” I shrug, but I can’t resist adding. “Not until next summer anyway.”
“Next summer!” Lark claps her hands. “That’s so perfect! Mason and I are going to start trying then, too! We could have cousins the same age!”
I make calming motions with both hands, encouraging them to settle the heck down. “But nothing’s a go, yet. Nash and I are going to wait and see where we are in a year and make the decision then.”
I return to folding ravioli, hoping that will be the end of the conversation.
I probably shouldn’t have mentioned something so private in front of Lark and Melody. Yes, Nash and I talked about having another child, but we were naked in bed at the time—a state of being that has occurred an impressive number of times over the past few days, considering we both have full-time jobs and there’s a baby in the house.
You can’t always trust that naked conversations are reasonable conversations. I should have kept the baby dreams to myself a little longer, but the words just slipped out.
I’m so happy I forget that I have anything to hide.
But, of course, I do.
Nash and I are still hiding the initial reasons for our sudden marriage from our families and everyone else.
Living a lie can make things awkward sometimes. Like when we went to his sister’s house for dinner last Saturday. I could see how much Nash hated deceiving Raleigh and Alexandria.
We ended up having a great time—his sisters are warm, welcoming people who tell hysterical stories about their giant family—but when the night was over and we were back home, we both felt weird about it. We agreed we don’t want to keep this secret forever. So we talked it over and decided to tell our families the truth on our first anniversary. We figured that will be enough time to prove our marriage is going to stick, and by then there’s a chance we’ll have other, more exciting news to share that will distract everyone from our teeny tiny lie.
If all goes well, we’re hoping to start trying for a baby in May.
A baby. With Nash.
The thought turns me on way more than it probably should. But creativity is sexy. All kinds of creativity—painting and baking and making love and making babies and building a family with your favorite person in the world.
“You’re humming again,” Melody mutters with a mock glare my way.
“Sorry.” I wince, but I’m still grinning.
“It’s all right.” She stands, wiping her hands on her apron. “I’m going to step outside and get some fresh air, see if the waiters are here yet. Hum until your heart’s content.”
“Take your phone,” Lark calls as Melody starts for the door. “Get a few shots of the venue for the website. It’s pretty out there today.”
“Got it.” Melody snags her phone from the edge of the prep table. “See you two lovebirds in a bit.”
I wait until the heavy door closes behind her before I ask Lark, “You think she’s okay? She’s usually so optimistic. Almost obnoxiously so.”
“She’s fine,” Lark says. “She’s just going through a hard time right now. I don’t imagine it’s easy for her. A few months ago, she had a steady boyfriend and you and I were the ones who were in the relationship dumps.”
I sigh “True. Kind of blows your mind, doesn’t it? How quickly things can change?”
“Totally,” Lark agrees, putting the first tray of baked ravioli in the oven, “and they’ll change for Melody, too. I’m sure of it. Things change quickly in your early twenties.” She turns, snapping her fingers. “Which reminds me, did Nash give you his brother’s phone number?”
I frown. “No, was he supposed to?”
“No, I just thought you might have it. I forgot to get it on the paperwork.” She waves a hand. “But it’s no big deal. I’ll get it from him when he clocks in today.”
After some gentle pestering on my part, Lark graciously agreed to hire Nash’s younger brother, Nick, for some part-time work. The black sheep of the Geary family, Nick recently moved back to Bliss River from Atlanta, after being kicked out of his apartment for infractions I’m still not entirely clear on. After a long day at work, Nash hadn’t seemed to want to talk about it, and I’m easily distracted when he would rather kiss than talk.
I did manage to find out that Nick has food service experience, however, and that he’s looking for part-time work until he can find a tattoo parlor willing to rent him a chair.
His parents are horrified by his choice of careers and most of his life choices in general. As the black sheep of my family, I already feel for the guy, even though we haven’t met yet. And I’m excited for a chance to help Nash. His happiness is swiftly becoming my happiness, and the man himself so much a part of me that I can’t wait to get home to him every day.