I say goodbye and end the call, possibly more confused after speaking to Addy. Yet maybe, it isn’t confusion but denial.
I can’t fall in love with Austin.
It will ruin everything.
When I wake up the following day, it all becomes clear. I need to distance myself from Austin, stop any feelings from growing into something uncontrollable.
The answer is to flee Manhattan, at least temporarily.
I call an emergency meeting with Eric. There is so much which needs to be done before the baby comes anyway, and there’s not much time before I need clearance to fly. So, it makes sense to throw myself into work and travel as much as I can.
But, I’m a fugitive running from my own mistakes.
So, I send Austin a text out of courtesy to let him know I’ll be traveling for work. I half expect a lecture on pregnancy and flying, but instead, I get a ‘take care’.
The response comes with mixed feelings, but none of it matters—we both need a time out, and distance is the perfect solution.
“Eric, I really don’t have time for lunch. I know it’s Saturday, but I need to go to the office to finish up some paperwork.”
In the middle of the sidewalk, Eric stops me with his hand.
“Will you just not think about work for two seconds?”
Placing my hands on my hips, I’m tired from the short walk and outfit he insisted I wear today. Something about paparazzi scouring the streets this morning, so I need to look my best. He even picked out a Dolce & Gabbana strapless floral-print dress with a simple pair of blush-colored heels to match.
“Consider it lunch, and work. There, satisfied?”
We walk for another block until Eric stops at a familiar building. When he opens the door for me, I enter and wait for him to give further instructions. He tells me we’re having l
unch on the rooftop. When we enter the elevator, it becomes familiar—Bar Luna.
“Is this Lochie’s bar?”
Eric nods, then the door pings open.
“Surprise!”
There is a big arch with the words ‘baby shower’ spelled out. My eyes immediately gravitate toward Mom standing beside it, and while still in shock, I see Adriana, Nikki, Kate, Alexa, and all my girl cousins besides Jessa.
I turn to face Eric, now understanding why he insisted I dress the way I did for what was supposed to be a business lunch.
“A baby shower?” I ask, unable to hold back my smile.
Mom comes up to me, extending her hands with a grin. “Every mother deserves a shower.”
Nikki, Adriana, and Kate are carrying glasses of champagne. They all hug me, though all three of them look like they’ve had a few, their eyes glassing over and unwarranted giggles coming out of nowhere.
“This is amazing,” I say in awe, admiring the beautifully decorated tables with white linen table cloths and flower arrangements in the middle. As I gaze around the space, the theme is white and mint green, my two favorite colors. I’m assuming it’s also because it’s gender-neutral. Finally, I turn to face Mom and Eric. “You guys did amazing.”
“Oh, it wasn’t us, honey,” Mom quickly intercepts.
“Then who?”
“Me,” the voice says behind me.
I quickly turn around to see Millie with her head tilted slightly to the side. She’s wearing a twist peekaboo yellow dress which compliments her olive skin. Since I saw her last, she’s cut her hair so it’s sitting just above her shoulders.
“You planned this?”