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OLIVIA
I stared at the row of cardboard boxes Zena and I had just put together. “It feels like I just went through this.”
“Well, that’s more than likely because you did.” Zena laughed, shaking her head at me. “But seriously, two cross-country moves in such a short time has to be the most draining thing ever.”
No, getting pregnant by your brother’s best friend and boss is.
“I don’t know. I think the change will be worth it. Besides, working with someone like Jen is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” I kept my eyes focused on the boxes rather than Zena’s eyes, which I knew were giving me that concerned look of hers.
“I just…don’t you think that you should tell Eli about the baby before you go?” She had asked the question a hundred times since she’d found out, yet somehow she thought that the answer was going to change. “I mean, even Owen thinks that you should.”
“I know Owen thinks that.” I didn’t hide the irritation from my voice. “He’s been on me to tell Eli ever since he found out. He’s convinced that Eli is worried about me or something too.”
“Oh?” Zena tilted her head in my direction. “Now that’s a new spin on things that I haven’t heard.”
“Yeah, me either.” I shrugged, sliding one of the boxes over to my bookshelf and beginning to load it up. “It feels like he’s trying to guilt-trip me to be honest. It’s exhausting.”
“Well, or maybe he just wants his best friend to know that he’s becoming a father—and Owen is becoming an uncle. Maybe he wants to be able to share the news?”
I nodded, taking a deep breath and looking up at her as she began to pack the few decorations I had in my living room. “I know. I’m not like some heartless jerk or something—and I know that eventually, maybe, Eli is going to know it’s his. But—” I paused, dread seeping into my thoughts. “Can you imagine the two of us co-parenting? We can’t even get along when we work together.”
“Well, there’d probably just be a lot of sex.” Zena burst into a fit of laughter and I joined her, though I didn’t feel the humor in it at all.
I missed the sex. I missed Eli, to be honest. For all the times that he was a total douche to me, there were moments that he made up for it. Not to mention, the day I had turned him down in the conference room had appeared to really get to him…
Well, at least I thought it might have.
He hadn’t acted like anything had changed at all between us, but I’d noticed that he quit stealing glances my way like he used to, and then when our eyes did meet, there was something in his eyes that left me even more breathless than before.
But it doesn’t change the fact that he’s not ready for a baby.
Which, it wasn’t like I was, either. The more time that passed, the more I was starting to wonder if keeping it a secret was such a good idea. Owen was supporting me fully with it all, and had actually taken a turn, acting more excited than anything else.
Maybe Eli wouldn’t take it that bad.
I thought about it for a moment while Zena and I kept packing, and my mind took it one step too far, picturing Eli asking me to stay here in New York—and proclaiming his love for me.
Yeah, right.
My shoulders slumped as I finished filling the box and reached for the tape and Sharpie, labeling it appropriately and closing it up. “At least I know a good moving company since I just went through this.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s a bright side,” Zena said, her voice coming out blank.
I looked over at her, taken aback by the emotions in her face. “Are you okay?”
She blinked a few times, her eyes glistening with tears. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. It’s just…this makes it so real that you’re actually moving and I’m so happy for you with the new job opportunity and getting out of the city, like you want to. But girl—” She choked up a little. “I’m going to miss you so much—and I’m not even going to be a part of the baby’s life with you being in Los Angeles.”
“Oh, Zena!” I cried, rushing toward her and embracing her. “I’ll miss you too! And we’ll for sure get together whenever we can, and I’ll facetime you all the time.” I squeezed my arms around her, fighting off my own emotions as I breathed in the scent of her perfume. “This isn’t the end of our friendship.”
“I know, I know,” she sniffled, pulling away from me. “It’ll suck at the office without you, though.”
“Yeah, but maybe Eli will go back to his normal self once I’m gone.” The suggestion was the best I could do, even if I had no idea what Eli’s normal self really consisted of. Ever since the day I’d spilled coffee all over his suit, apparently the man had changed.
Clearly for the worse.
“I swear, I think he’s just lovesick,” Zena leveled with me, and I braced for her spiel. “I don’t know how you don’t see the way he looks at you—or the way that he’s been so quiet ever since you said the two of you couldn’t hook up anymore. I seriously think the guy has it bad for you.”
“Yeah, but here’s the thing.” I let out a sharp breath. “If he feels that way, then he should say something about it, not expect me to come to the conclusion on my own. I’m so tired of being with men who don’t own up to their feelings. Like yeah, my brother is a total nerd, but Katie never has to wonder how he feels about her. He’s been crazy about her since day one, and I have so much respect for that.”
