“What’s the matter?”
“I’m pregnant!”
“What? Oh my God. Are you serious? That was so fast! The implantation was only a little over a week ago.”
“I know! Apparently, soccer loving, tech guru number 09376230 has super swimmers!”
I laughed and held my hand over my heart. “I’m so excited! I’m going to be an aunt!”
“Now you need to hurry up and get pregnant, too. How’s hot boss’s sperm count?”
I looked at Merrick to see if he’d overheard. His arched brows told me he had. I shook my head. “I’ll be home in a little while. I guess I’ll have to drink both our wine to celebrate!”
“Ugh. Don’t remind me. No wine for soooo long.”
I heard someone knock on a door through the phone. “Greer? Are you in there?”
“Yes, I’ll be right out! I’m on the phone.” She came back on the line and whispered. “Shit. I didn’t think he’d be home for another hour. Don’t tell him I told you first or he’ll be upset.”
My eyes widened. “You didn’t tell Ben yet?”
“He worked late and wasn’t supposed to be home until ten. I wanted to tell him in person. But I had to tell someone!”
“Oh my God. Go tell the poor man!”
“Alright. But hurry home. I want to start a list of potential names!”
I laughed. “I’ll see you in a little while. And congratulations, Greer.”
As soon as I hung up, Merrick smiled. “I guess your sister didn’t need me after all?”
“I can’t believe the artificial insemination worked the first time.”
“That’s great. Congratulations.”
“Yeah. They’ve been trying for five years. I’m so happy for them. She’s going to make such a great mom. Greer was like a second mother to me in a lot of ways because she’s ten years older. She’s a natural caretaker. Which reminds me, I told her about us when I got back from Kitty’s, and she’s already bugging me to invite you to dinner one night.”
“Should I bring a lab report with my sperm count when I come?”
“You heard that, huh?”
“It was kind of impossible not to.”
I sipped my soda. “Do you want to have kids someday?”
Merrick looked away. “If you’d asked me a few months ago, I would’ve said no.”
“And now?”
He reached across the table and took my hand. “I don’t know. Things can change, I guess. I’m only now realizing how much I’ve let my past control my future. I don’t want to do that anymore.”
“You mean things with Amelia?”
He nodded.
A worker walked over and pointed to the trays in front of us. Our plates were both empty. “Can I take those?”
“Oh, that would be great. Thank you.”