it was Elijah’s decision to keep it a secret, not ours.
We drive over to Brooklyn to have dinner with them, and I warn Charlotte repeatedly not to mention anything to Adriana.
“Lex, have you any idea what it’s like keeping secrets from Adriana? I didn’t like it all those years ago, and I sure as hell don’t feel comfortable doing it now. I’m not sure our friendship will survive it again.”
Elijah opens the door, and much to my surprise, he looks well. I pat him on the back as Charlotte goes to hug him, maybe for a bit too long, and the last thing I want is for Adriana to be suspicious.
We walk into the kitchen where Adriana has laid out dinner for us. She’s cooked my favorite pot roast, just like Mom’s. I’m sure going to miss having her so close by.
She rambles on about the baby and surprises us with some news. “So, I’m a little further along than we expected. It turns out I’m five months already.”
“Totally explains the belly. See, I told you it isn’t all the donuts you are eating.” Charlotte chuckles.
“And we also found out the sex of the baby…”
Lex and I wait in anticipation.
“It’s a boy!” Adriana squeals
Charlotte jumps up and hugs her, then moves on to Elijah. I congratulate them both, but there’s something off about the stiffness in Elijah’s body when I hug him. I pull away and search his face, looking for something, but he simply smiles. Maybe I’m overreacting. Surely, if the treatment didn’t work, he’d have told me.
Dinner is delicious, and I thank Adriana. She’s quick to point out that there’s still dessert to come. We leave the ladies in the kitchen and head to the balcony to talk.
“So, the chemo worked? You look well.”
Elijah manages a smile. “All is good.”
“Did they catch it all?”
“Clean bill of health.”
Our conversation is interrupted when Adriana calls us in for dessert. She gives us a farewell speech and even cries. Why? I have no idea. She is flying out next week to see us.
We say our goodbyes, and finally, it’s time to start a new life on the West Coast.
***
“That better not be Eric again,” I complain as I roll over Charlotte and purposely throw her phone to the foot of our bed.
“That might have been important!”
“Doing yoga on the beach, when really I know you two are hanging out and waiting for Matthew McConaughey to stroll on past, is not important.”
She opens her mouth, but I place my palm over it. With my free hand, I slide her nightie up and move inside her. Her gasps are trapped as I cover her mouth, our morning ritual coming along nicely until that familiar scream rips through the baby monitor.
One word—cockblocker.
“One more minute… please,” I beg.
Charlotte pulls out the big guns, and in one hot minute, she does that thing to my earlobe causing me to explode in the midst of the chaos. She kisses my lips gently before pushing me off her to attend to Amelia.
“How you can come with her crying is beyond me.” Charlotte shakes her head.
“It’s called my-wife-is-too-damn-hot and my-dick-has-his-own-agenda.’”
She laughs before leaving the room. I grab her phone and read the text. Low and behold, it’s Eric. I reply to him.
Lex: Charlotte was doing yoga all over my cock. Sorry, rain check?
I let out a laugh and hit send. It takes him seconds to reply as I watch the bubble appear on the screen.
Eric: I don’t know whether to be grossed out or turned on. Damn you Edwards and your hogging wang! It’s been a selfish bastard recently. I need my BFF back!
Charlotte walks in carrying Amelia. I immediately grab her from Charlotte’s arms and am met with the biggest gummy smile. At four months, she has gotten chubbier and is starting to smile. Her eyes meet ours, and I know she recognizes us already, hence, why we moved her into her own room. Don’t get me wrong, I miss having her close by, but having a child’s eyes on you while you’re trying to pump your wife is a massive killjoy.
The moment we realized she stares at us from her cradle, we knew it was time for her to sleep in the nursery. It’s the room next to ours, so Charlotte stops fretting but insists we still need a baby monitor.
According to everyone, she looks just like me. Yeah, the eyes are a dead giveaway. Charlotte will throw in her at-least-we-know-she’s-yours banter. That joke lasts ten seconds