“You like it?” I ask, lifting my feet up so she can have a place to sit down.
“You can get that man to do anything, Lays,” she quips with a half-smile on her face. She sits down and pulls my feet into her lap.
“You’re one to talk,” I reply, because I’m just as sure Saint would build Jeanette a pink freaking house if she asked. As long as he got to be in her bed in that pink house every night, he’d do whatever she asked. Not that I could ever see Jeanette wanting much of anything pink.
“If I could get that man to do what I said, I sure as hell wouldn’t be where I’m at.”
“Where are you at?” I ask. I’m not sure what she means. She and Saint seem great, wonderful actually. I love having them here, and I’m not looking forward to their leaving anytime soon, but I’m sure it’s coming. My father has been out of the picture for a few weeks now, and everyone has just been enjoying being here. Any time there has been talk about going back home or getting back to work, the men quickly dismiss it. I know I’m not going back to the library, but I’m not sure what Jeanette is doing. She runs that place, and I’m not sure how they’re getting by without her. She said something about having a ton of vacation time stacked up, but that has to be coming to an end soon.
She starts rubbing my tiny baby bump and just ignores my question. When she makes eye contact with me it hits.
“Oh, my God!” I squeal, jumping up and hugging her.
“Calm down, Lays. I’m not even sure yet. I’m just kind of late and all.”
I can’t stop the stupid smile spreading across my face. It might just crack my face in half. I get to be knocked up with my best friend – that’s pretty freaking kickass.
“I thought you were on the pill.”
“It’s kind of hard to take the pill when your boyfriend hides the damn thing from you. And then when you ask him about it he’s all ‘come here, Mama’ and starts sexing you up,” Jeanette complains, mimicking Saint pretty damn perfectly. Her voice seems agitated but her face sure doesn’t look it.
“Stop smiling like a goof!” she snaps at me, but I just shake my head and keep smiling until she finally cracks one. “Don’t tell Saint yet. I know he’s been pushing this, and I want to be sure. It would break my giant of a man’s heart if he thought I was and then found out I wasn’t.”
“Mm-kay,” I say, still rocking my giant-ass smile. They’re so perfect for each other. They fit so well together. Saint’s smiles and jokes work so well with the firmness he asserts with her. I don’t think there is anyone who can fit with her like he does. I just hope she really gets that and really lets him get close. She’s still keeping secrets and with a baby possibly coming she needs to straighten everything out so she can be just as free as Carter and I are now. She might not be running from anyone, but something is keeping her guarded.
I’m about to say something to her when the bathroom door inside the gym opens and Carter walks out, freshly showered after his workout. I’ll just have to talk to her about it later.
“Cherry, I’m hungry,” he says as he makes his way over to me from across the gym, like I have a freaking sandwich in my pocket or something.
“Then go get something to eat, you caveman,” I tell him impatiently.
“Babe, if I wanted something I could make myself I would, but I want your pu—”
“Carter!” I yell at him, feeling myself blush. I know Jeanette and I talk about her sex life. Well, she talks and I nod my head, but I’m still a little bashful about openly talking about mine. I really haven’t had one for long to talk about before.
As he reaches his hands out to help me up from the sofa, I spot something on his ring finger. Carter has been pushing for us to get married, but we haven’t done it yet so I’m more than a little surprised that he has a ring on his finger.
“Why do you have that?” I ask, nodding at it. Before he can respond Jeanette pops up and grabs his hand to look for herself.
“You got hitched without me, you little whore! I wanted to throw you a bachelorette party with strippers and all that crap!”
“Over my fucking dead body is she having a bachelorette party with strippers. I’ll drop your asses off at a pottery-making class for a night or something and wait outside but that’s about it.”
“You can’t be serious right now? You’re not the boss of us!” Jeanette blusters at Carter. This is nothing new. Jeanette and Carter can go at it. It’s actually kind of funny to watch. Saint and I just usually sit back and watch the show.
“Fine, maybe a knitting class or some shit. I like the color blue. Cherry can knit me something.”
“Are you fucking serious right now?”
The look on their faces is hysterical, and it takes everything I have not to laugh.
“Fine. I know Cherry loves pink so she can make me something pink. It doesn’t have to be blue. I bet I would look good in pink, wouldn’t I, baby?” he asks, glancing over at me.
“What you look good in is that ring, but I want to know why you have it on. I don’t remember walking down a wedding aisle, but you’re one crafty man so I wouldn’t put it past you that we’re somehow married already.”
Carter blushes at my words. Actually blushes. I’m not sure I’ve ever really seen that happen. He glances over at Jeanette who has her hands on her hips, still ready to fight about this bachelorette party that’s never going to happen.
“I just didn’t think it was fair,” he finally says to me, half-pouting. Yes, Carter is actually pouting.