Page 37 of F Buddy

She gave me a sheepish look. “Sorry. I just really wanted us to all be together first, all right?”

A waiter finally appeared interrupting us as we talked. The guy looked at our little crowd wearily, holding a pencil poised over his notebook. With so many people there, it took some time for him to get down all our orders, then he left us alone.

“Now,” Sasha said, clapping her hands together and squirming happily in her seat. “I know this is the first time we’ve gotten together as a group since the wedding,” she sent a look my way, and I ducked my head down, “but it’s not like anything has changed.”

Olivia snorted. “Oh, honey, everything has changed. You fell to the dark side and joined the married life.”

There were chuckles and snorts and rolled eyes in the group. I gave Olivia a warning look, wondering if she was trying to reference my current problems. But she gave me an innocent look before turning away.

“It doesn’t feel all that different, to be honest,” Sasha said.

It was easy to tell she was lying. Yeah, their feelings hadn't changed much from before they got married, but Sasha shone in a way that she hadn't before because now she had a ring on her finger to show people she was taken, not to mention she’d had the wedding of her dreams.

Then my friends were suddenly talking all about the ‘married life’. It occurred to me soon after that I was one of the few at the restaurant who wasn’t married. I felt my face warm in another blush, feeling out of place. Food came out to our table in rounds and we talked until the last plate was laid down.

I’d ordered a big meal, even though I’d had breakfast not that long ago. As the rest of them talked, I started to eat, just barely holding myself back from scarfing all the food down.

“Are we seriously just going to ignore the fact that Scarlett changed most?” someone mentioned.

I gulped as all eyes turned to me and stopped eating altogether. The statement could be taken as meaning I was the only pregnant one there. I’d been waiting for it, but having all that attention on me still worried me.

Sasha hummed. “That’s true. You have no idea how shocked I was when you told me the news. I thought you were messing with me until you showed me your stomach. I never knew you were interested in kids before that.”

When she put it that way, I couldn't exactly say I was even fond of kids. I’d never thought about having them because what was the point when my relationships never seemed to work out? I would have rather kept the pregnancy from everyone else, as much as I’d held it back from Zach. But unlike him, they had ways to get in contact with me and could just as easily come to my place to see me.

But just because I had to tell them didn't mean they needed every detail.

“It wasn’t exactly in my plans,” I said slowly. “It just kind of... happened, I guess.”

In a lot of ways, I regretted it. Until I realized there was life growing inside of me, and I liked the thought.

Suddenly, Sasha laughed. I arched a brow in her direction, wondering just what it was that she found so funny. I wasn't the only one confused. She caught the looks but waved them away and waited for her breathing to calm down to answer us.

“I just find it kind of funny, you know? I’m the one that went on a honeymoon, and you’re seven months pregnant.”

“Will you guys be trying for children?” I asked, curious.

None of the married couples in our group had children, and I hadn't heard anyone mentioning having kids either. A part of me was glad I had this first above them getting married before I did—if I ever would, after this—and I couldn’t help rubbing a hand over my belly.

Having a child was daunting, and there were moments I thought I wasn't ready. But then I’d think about how this child was mine, and the possessiveness was all the answer I needed about what to do when it came to my pregnancy. Of course, I was going to keep the baby, regardless of whether or not I got help from the father.

Donny shrugged. “Eventually, maybe, but not at the moment. We’d like some time to ourselves before we decide to grow the family.”

“Oh! But if you ever need help with the baby, we’d be glad to help. It would be good practice for our future after all.” Sasha’s gaze dropped to the hand I still had pressed over my stomach, then she and Donny shared a secret look and a smile.

Something quivered in my chest, and I thought I might cry. And I wanted to, because the way she said ‘their future’ had me thinking about my future and Zach's, because I was pretty sure once he found out I was pregnant, he wouldn’t want anything to do with me.

When I let myself think about it too much, I started to panic. Because, really, what did I know about raising a child? Even worse, doing it on my own. I knew my friends would help me, but I’d still have to do most of the work. I couldn’t have my friends looking after my baby all the time. I’d have to learn to be a mom way before I was ready for it.

I should have hated Zach, just a little.

“If you wouldn’t mind helping me out…” I said slowly because I was scared enough to want the help from my friends.

“We’d be glad to,” she said, reaching across the table and giving my hand a sympathetic squeeze.

I gave her a trembling smile in return, grateful.

“So, Scarlett,” Chad, another friend in the group, asked. “Who’s the baby’s father?”