Thirst (The Calvettis of New York 1)

I rush over to him.

“Nicholas.” His name comes out in a broken voice; my broken voice. “Who is it? Tell me everyone is all right.”

“Dexie.” He pulls me into his chest, his strong arms wrapping around me. “I got your text. You didn’t get mine?”

I step back and look up at his face. “My phone battery died.”

“Ah.” He nods, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “We’re good. We are all good.”

I bend over from the rush of relief I feel. “Is it Sophia?”

“She fainted.” He leans his hand on my shoulder. “She was having coffee with your friend. He literally caught her and brought her in.”

“With my friend?”

“Rocco Jones,” he answers casually as if it’s the norm for Sophia to have coffee with the man I love.

“Why were they having coffee together?” I run a hand over my forehead to push my hair back.

He shrugs a shoulder. “He called her when we were eating brunch. She took off after that to meet him.”

I glance around the waiting room, hoping to catch a glimpse of Rocco.

“Sophia’s in exam room five.” He gestures down a corridor. “She’ll want to see you.”

I drop my bags at his feet.

He picks them up and slings them over his shoulder. “I’ve got these. Go.”

I take off down the corridor, smoothing my hand over my T-shirt. I march into the exam room to see my best friend tucking a white blouse into a pair of red shorts.

“You’re okay?” I rush to her.

She takes me into her arms. “I’m good, Dexie. I’m so good.”

Something breaks inside of me and I sob in her arms. “I was so scared when I got your text.”

“The nurse told me to shut off my phone when I got here.” She points at her phone on the gurney. “I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to clarify what was going on.”

“What is going on?” Wiping tears from my face, I take a step back and look her over.

Her hands land on her stomach. “I’m pregnant.”

“You’re pregnant?” My mouth drops open.

I knew they were trying, but it’s been months since she’s talked about having another baby. I didn’t pry because I knew that if there were news, I’d be one of the first to find out.

“I was at Palla on Fifth with Rocco. He called me because he’s been trying to reach you.” She fans herself. “That man is a dreamboat, Dexie. He is so crazy about you.”

I stand in stunned silence, unsure what to say to that.

“He loves you,” she goes on, “I’m telling you he is so in love with you.”

“He loves me?”

“Enough to move to California with you. He told me that he wants to.” She tilts her head. “I think you should stay here and be the godmother to this baby.”

“You want me to be the baby’s godmother?” I look down at her flat stomach. I know it’s early, but the prospect of watching Sophia go through another pregnancy is exciting.