I watch as the three little balls bounce on my screen as she replies. But when the reply comes, it’s just a heart.
At least she saw it and knows I’m here.
“She bought the kid a car?” Jules asks with a stunned and disgusted look in her blue eyes as she sips her lemon drop martini. “Just out of the blue, without talking to Hunter first?”
“That’s right.” I shake my head and set a charcuterie platter on the kitchen island.
I love that there’s so much chatter, so much life happening in this house. When I daydreamed about buying it, I always pictured it as the perfect place to host parties.
Of course, it’s not my house, but it’s awesome, nonetheless.
Maggie and Lexi are mixing the lemon drops. Nat, Jules, and Meg are sitting with me at the island, while Anastasia, Amelia, and Izzy tour the house.
“I bet he was damn pissed,” Jules says.
“Oh, very. He made her take it back.”
“Good,” Natalie chimes in. “It was inappropriate. I’d be mad, too. Do you really think she’s just here because she’s jealous of you?”
“I do,” Maggie says as she reaches for some salami and a cracker. “You should have seen the look in her eyes when she saw Maeve at the pub. If looks could kill, Maeve would be cremated and in the ground.”
“It’s so weird,” Jules says and pops an olive into her mouth. “They were never super serious, according to what Nate told me. And then she left the baby with Hunter. Why get jealous now?”
“Because this is his first public relationship,” Meg Montgomery says as she refills her martini glass. “And it has to hit right in the pride that he introduced Maeve to the world at the ESPYs, and said such nice things in his speech. He’s happy. He’s doing great. He has a sexy girlfriend, a good relationship, and an awesome daughter. Things that she didn’t even know she wanted until Hunter got them first.”
“Does she want a sexy girlfriend?” I ask with a grin. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
“You know what I mean,” Meg says with a laugh.
“Oh, so you’re saying she’s vindictive,” Nat says with a nod, thinking it over. “I see that. It’s pretty crappy and makes her a bad human being, but I see it.”
“Let’s talk about Hunter,” Amelia, Anastasia’s sister, says as they all join us for food and cocktails. “Specifically, the sex.”
“Oh, good idea.” Jules sips her drink and grins. “It’s crazy good, isn’t it? I mean, not that I know from experience. Nate would kill me, and I don’t have a death wish. Hunter just moves like he’d be stellar in bed.”
I bite my lip and feel my cheeks flush. The women all bust up laughing.
“Orgasms,” Natalie says, holding up her glass in a toast. “The best thing there is.”
“I think I’ll text Nate and let him know that I’m gonna need some orgasms later,” Jules says.
“Do you think Nate doesn’t know?” Natalie quips.
“Where is Nate?” I ask. “I thought you guys were all staying on the island tonight.”
“We are,” Amelia says. “All the guys came. They’re hanging out at the pub. Then we’ll all meet up for kid-free sexy time later.”
“Nice.” I grin at her and glance over at Izzy, who looks amazing, but a little tired. “And how’s our new mama? You look great, Iz.”
“Thanks. I’m exhausted. Baby is up crying all the time. I feel like a horrible mother because I can’t get her to settle down. I’ve tried everything. She’ll only sleep for Keegan.”
“That sucks,” Jules says and pats Izzy’s back. “Colic is the worst. She’ll grow out of it. Have you named her?”
“No. Keegan and I are usually on the same page when it comes to just about everything, but we can’t agree on this. I told him we have until the end of the month to figure it out. Her name can’t be Baby forever.”
“I heard you delivered really fast,” Meg says. “I’m fascinated. Tell me everything.”
“My doctor suspects I was laboring all week, and that last day, my body was like, yep. We’re doing this. But because it just felt similar to how I felt all week, I didn’t think it was different. Boy, was I wrong. I had her less than thirty minutes after my water broke.”
“I’d take that,” Anastasia says. “I was in labor forever.”
“We’re old,” I announce. “We’re talking about childbirth on our girls’ night.”
“Let’s go back to orgasms,” Natalie suggests.
I turn when the front door suddenly opens. “Rachel?”
She comes staggering inside. She’s pale, her lips are bright pink, and not from gloss or lipstick.
“Rachel, what’s wrong? Did your mom drop you off?”
“Walked.” She rubs her head. “I don’t feel so good.”
Meg steps in and examines Rachel’s eyes. “Dilated. Her pulse is a bit fast. I don’t have my blood pressure cuff with me. Sweetie, did you ingest something? Have you been drinking?”