“It means bird.”
I look up at Ryder. “What?” I say, stunned.
“Ava. It means bird, that’s why I chose it.” My breath catches.
I really am going to cry this time.
“It’s perfect,” I whisper, rubbing my fingers against the piece of paper with the three simple letters.
Around me, I know Casey, Hannah, and Chloe are urging people out the door so they can clean up but I’m oblivious to it. I can’t stop staring at the name.
Ava. Bird. My little paper bird. That’s her name. I know it.
“So,” Casey says, dropping plates into a trash bag, “are you going to tell us about the guy?”
“What guy?” I ask, still focused on the name.
She huffs. “Ryder. It was obvious from the moment he walked in that you guys were close. He said he painted the nursery, and the way he talks about you … There’s definitely something going on with you two, so spill.”
I shrug and wrap my hand around the piece of paper that holds my daughter’s name.
“He’s the head of Group. He’s really helped me.” I shrug. “And yes, I suppose there’s something between us, but I’m not really sure what it is. I like him, and he likes me and we’re taking our time seeing where things go.”
Casey pauses what she’s doing, her hand hovering halfway to the trash bag. “Wow, I’m happy for you, Blaire.”
“Thanks.”
“So,” Hannah begins, “does he have three brothers?”
We all laugh.
“Yeah,” Chloe pipes in. “How is it fair that you get two great guys and we can’t even get one?”
“For starters—” I laugh “—you search for them in bars.”
Chloe clucks her tongue. “Good point.”
“You’ll find guys,” I say. “When you stop looking. Besides, I think Hannah’s already found her guy.”
“Who?” She looks mystified.
“Cyrus,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “I saw him sneaking out of your apartment on my way to a meeting one morning.”
Her mouth opens and closes like a fish. “I-I … Um … no … It’s not like that. It’s just sex.”
I raise my hands innocently. “Say what you want but I think you two are meant to be.”
Hannah looks horror-stricken. “Cyrus? There’s no way.” She shakes her head.
I don’t push her, but I know there’s more there than she even wants to admit to herself. Hannah’s always been more like me. Calmer. Shier. She’s not the kind of girl to jump in bed with a guy for the heck of it—and maybe that really is what happened the first time, but I honestly don’t think she’d continue to sleep with him if she didn’t like him.
Casey ties off the trash bag and drops it in the hall. “I’d say today was a success.” She nods to herself, looking around at all the baby things I got.
“Yeah,” I agree. “I can’t thank you guys enough for doing this.”
She smirks. “Is that your way of admitting you would’ve regretted not having a baby shower?”
I laugh. “Yes, but I still could’ve done without the games.”