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Stella takes a long gulp of water from the glass Daphne appears with. “Thanks,” she says as Daphne leaves again.
“I think you need to start at the beginning,” Stella croaks.
I tell them about Gabriel finding my search, how he has been acting strangely, and then last night’s bombshell.
“What have you said to him?” Nat asks, her face giving nothing away.
“I told him I need to think about it,” I tell them honestly.
Stella sits back and stares at me, her forehead creasing.
“Responsibility or no responsibility?” she asks.
“Responsibility,” I reply.
Stella pinches her lips between her fingers. “As in co-parenting?”
I nod, surprised she’s heard of it. “You’ll need a legal agreement,” Nat adds.
“Agreed and discussed. It was the first thing Gabriel said.”
“Other than offering to donate his sperm, you mean.” Stella smirks and I roll my eyes at her. “How is this going to work?”
I sigh. I can’t lie to my friends. “He suggests we allow everyone to think we’re in a relationship. Fewer questions or insinuations.”
“He’s gone up in my estimations already. Gorgeous looking and thoughtful. So why haven’t you bitten his hand off?” Stella asks, folding her arms over her chest and raising an eyebrow.
“He’s my boss. If it all goes wrong, I lose everything. My job and my home,” I say, running a hand over my face.
“What is likely to go wrong?” Stella asks before her eyes widen. “Are you going to sleep with him?” she asks in a proper whisper this time.
“No,” I say more loudly than expected, although Gabriel and I haven’t discussed the method officially. He saw me looking at sperm donor sites and offered to be my sperm donor.
“Pity,” Stella mumbles, making me laugh, and Nat pushes her sideways. “What?” She says, holding up her arms. “You have to admit, that guy is sex on legs and moody to boot. I bet he’s an animal in bed.”
I groan. The last thing I need is to think about Gabriel...in bed.
“That is not how this is going to work,” I say. “If it happens at all.”
It’s Nat who surprises me with her next statement. “Why not? You want a baby. He wants a baby. Surely, it’s got to be better for any child to know both its parents. And Gabriel has A-mazing genes. Just imagine the gorgeous babies you two will make together. The firm I’m working for has done a couple of legal agreements for co-parenting couples. If you want me to take a look, I’ll be happy to.”
We eat our food in silence, everyone caught up in their own thoughts.
“We’re here for you, whatever you decide,” Nat says once we’ve finished eating.
“Thank you. I love you guys,” I say, meaning every word.
“The feeling’s mutual,” Stella adds, gripping and squeezing my shoulder as we prepare to go our separate ways.
I head back to the office, my mind semi made up. There are a few important topics that we must address, including the method of conceiving this baby. Since Gabriel mentioned his desire to become a parent, the possibilities have already begun to take root.
CHAPTER 19
GABRIEL
Ienter the apartment to voices. Leah didn’t tell me her girlfriends were coming around this evening.
“There you are, darling,” a voice says before I’m enveloped in a floral hug.
