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“I’ll buy, let’s go.” She grabbed my wrist and literally dragged me out of the office. Thankfully, no one else seemed to really notice, and we cleared out of the main office at record speed. She dropped my wrist as soon as we reached the elevators, punching the down button. “Okay.” Zena turned to me, an eyebrow raised. “Spill.”
“What?” I choked out, just as the doors opened. I stepped into the elevator, my stomach churning. It had become a normal occurrence—though I couldn’t tell this time if it was morning sickness or nerves.
“Come on,” Zena pressed as the doors slid shut. “I know something happened. You went in all put together, and you came out like this.” She waved her hand over me, stopping at a place where my shirt was untucked. “We’re friends, Olivia. You can tell me what’s going on.”
“I don’t know...” My voice trailed off as my heart sped up with apprehension. The last thing I wanted was to get in a ton of trouble—or cause a stir in the office.
But Eli started this mess. It would be on him.
“You know,” Zena said with a sigh as the elevator dinged at the bottom floor, “I know that this has been a hard move for you, and you’re so good at all of this. I would never do anything to mess that up for you. You’re my friend.” She gave me a soft smile. “I just don’t think that you should deal with whatever is happening on your own.”
A lump began to grow in my throat at her words, not having realized just how isolated I’d been feeling since coming to New York City. “Okay, but maybe just not here.”
“Got it. Let’s go then.” She grabbed my hand again, tugging me out of the high-rise building and off toward Central Park. “I know just the spot to sit and talk.”
On the way, we stopped and grabbed a salad from a food truck. I followed her nervously to a bench, plopping down beside her. The air was cool, but not so much so that I shivered. It was a nice crisp day, and as Zena dug into her salad I could only stare down at mine, not the least bit hungry.
“Okay,” Zena began with a full mouth. “Tell me what’s going on with Eli.”
“Ugh...I don’t even know where to start,” I groaned, my shoulders slumping. “For starters, I seriously thought that he hated me—and then he came on to me...”
“I knew it,” Zena exclaimed, dropping her fork. “I knew he was so into you! He’s never treated anyone else like that. I knew the moment that I saw him lay his eyes on you. It’s like the lust was palpable.”
“Okay, that’s a little over the top.” I laughed as she got this starry look in her eyes.
“No way, I bet he’s in love with you.”
“I think you’re a hopeless romantic.”
“Whatever, maybe.” She shrugged. “So have you been hooking up at the office? Because that is hot.”
I shrank back against the park bench and set my salad off to the side. “Only a few times, but...”
Her smile faded. “You don’t sound happy about it.”
“It’s just that he’s super adamant about the fact that it’s just some fling—and that it’ll ‘burn out.’”
“Oh jeez.” Zena rolled her eyes. “Such a typical shitty man thing to say. I change my mind, maybe he’s not so romantic. Ugh.”
“Yeah, and that’s why I just think it’d be better if I found a new job. Sooner rather than later.”
She was quiet for a few moments, her fork still resting in the black plastic container. “Can I ask you something?” Zena’s words were full of a startling caution.
“Um...I guess so.”
She hesitated, letting out a sigh. “I know that we haven’t known each other that long, but it’s been so long since I’ve clicked with anyone the way that we do—and I consider you one of my closest friends now.”
“Okay...” I swallowed hard, wondering where the hell she was going with this.
She met my eyes dead-on. “Are you pregnant?”
Holy shit. Is it that obvious?
“Um...” My voice trailed off.
“Oh my god...” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Does he know?”
I shook my head, tears welling up in my eyes. “I don’t think that I’m going to tell him, to be honest. Like, he’s best friends with my brother, and he’s clearly not interested in a relationship...”
