No. I shake my head. You couldn’t start the manual to life at babyhood. I mean, babies can’t read. All a baby can do is eat and scream and sleep.

And I’m desperate to have one.

Maybe chapter one starts with how to survive turning eighteen. Yes, that would be a good starting point.

It could be given to you on your eighteenth birthday. Would it matter that you’d already committed a whole lot of mistakes by then?

The second chapter would be about dating etiquette. And if everyone read the book, they would know what to do.

Of course, I’m not really dating Daniel. It’s not like we met on an online dating service or at a club and wanted to get to know each other.

Quite the opposite. I don’t think he’s really looking for a relationship, and deep down, I’m not either.

But as we both are acutely aware, the biological clock is ticking—more for me than for Daniel. I mean, men can have babies at any old age.

I’m pretty sure I read about a guy who was something like eighty and had fathered triplets. Crazy, I know.

My eyes go back to the text.

What did you have in mind?

I re-read the message and then delete it. No, it’s too…I don’t know, too something.

Where will you take me to this time?

I squint. It reads a little better.

I sigh.

Should I Google my response? Would I find the answer?

Without further thought or hesitation, I decide to press send. I’ve agonized over this little text for long enough. And it’s not like I’m trying to come off any certain way because we’re going to be together in any real sense of the word, right?

This is just a getting-to-know-you experiment to make sure we want to take this baby bargain all the way.

Instantly, his reply comes back.

It’s a surprise xx

There are multiple emoji faces accompanying his words.

I chuckle. He’s speaking my language now.

In that case, I’ll check my schedule.

Of course, I don’t actually have to check my schedule. I mean, I’ve got nothing planned. It’s not like I’ve got admirers beating down my door or engagements for the next six months.

On the contrary, my calendar looks rather sad and sorry with no special plans marked on it.

As I’m about to let Daniel know I’ve checked and I’m free, another message comes in.

What? So soon already?

When I open it, I realize it’s from Jenna.

Hey, babe, don’t forget Jayden’s big birthday party this weekend xox.

Damn. I nearly had forgotten. Well, truth be told, if she hadn’t just sent me a reminder, I would have agreed to go away with Daniel.

So much for those plans. I’ve got to go the family event.

Back to Daniel’s message thread.

I would really love to see you this weekend, but sorry—no can do. I’ve got something planned already.

No sooner have I pressed send than the little device rings.

I look around. No one’s looking in my direction.

“Hello?” I keep my voice down so as not draw any attention to myself.

“I can’t believe you’re not free this weekend.” Daniel’s voice is not his usual bright one. In fact, it’s a little flat.

I feel flattered and about as disappointed as Daniel sounds. But there’s nothing I’m able to do about it. Family comes first.

What’s more, my life wouldn’t be worth living if I don’t go to Jayden’s birthday. Not only would my parents give me a really hard time, I don’t think Jenna would ever speak to me again. The rest of my family would be no better.

Best to just accept my fate for this weekend. Hopefully, there will be other ones to spend with Daniel.

“What’s so important you can’t come away with me?” Daniel asks. “You’re not going out with someone else, are you?”

I shake my head until I remember I’m on the phone.

“No,” I quickly reassure Daniel. I can’t believe he would even think that of me. Does he think I’m fucking shopping around for baby juice or something? “Of course not.”

“What is it, then? You going to the hairdresser? Girls’ night out? What?”

Wow, I can’t believe he’s so upset. It makes me smile, in spite of myself.

“It’s my cousin Jenna. It’s her son, Jayden’s, birthday party. The whole family will be there. I’m expected to go. I’m really sorry.”

And I mean it. I am sorry I won’t get to see him this weekend. Whatever his surprise is, I’m sure I would have loved it.

Now he’s silent.

“You still there?” I ask, wondering if he just hung up on me.

“You know,” I hear him say slowly, and I stop daydreaming. I was wrong. He hasn’t hung up on me. “It’s such a shame we won’t see each other. I was really looking forward to spending more time with you. I totally respect that family comes first, though.” He pauses. “But you know I’m free this weekend…”

Is that some bait he’s throwing out? Should I take it?

Is he seriously suggesting I ask him to come to a family gathering, like meet my mom and dad?

Oh, my god. Now things are moving really fast. His statement can mean only one thing, right?

But if I bring him, then what? My thoughts tumble over each other. In my mind, I can already see my cousins drooling over him, my mother planning the wedding, and Dad kidnapping him to check him out properly.

I mean, the minute anyone other than Jenna gets wind of me allegedly dating, there’ll be cartwheels, champagne corks popping, and talk of the dreaded W and B words.

Is Daniel really ready to meet my family? I mean, we’ve not even agreed if this is going to work and how it’s going to work.

What if, after meeting my family, he decides not to go ahead?

It’s a silly thought, but I can’t shake it. I mean, of course I love my family, I really do. But that doesn’t mean others will feel the same way.

The way Dad can sometimes go on and on about a game.

And Mom, well, she’s just Mom, and she’ll offer him all kinds of food. And if he says no, she’ll try something else because, you know if you’re not eating, there must be something wrong. The choices as far as she’s concerned are either you’re sick or you don’t like her food.

Stop it, Rose. I need to stop this train of thought and make a damn decision already.

“Well…” I start and stop again. Wait and think about this, my inner voice screams, but I ignore it. “If you think you’re up for it, why don’t you come?”

There, I’ve said it. I hold my breath as I wait for his response.

He’ll probably say no anyway. I mean, anyone in their right mind wouldn’t come to a family gathering when he barely knows the girl.

It’s not like we’re actually dating. And this kind of thing implies very much that we are.

What if this scares him off? What if he wasn’t implying that he wanted me to invite him?

The seconds tick by. My ear is pressed hard against my phone as I try to hear what he’s going to say.

It feels like he’s taking forever to reply. I’m beginning to wonder again if he hung up the damn phone.

I suppose I really can’t blame him. I mean, the thought of meeting anyone’s family is pretty scary, but meeting mine is particularly frightening. Everyone’s so intense, and there’ll be all this baby talk.

Never mind. Maybe the next weekend, I’ll be able to be whisked away by helicopter and be taken to a romantic deserted island. I can picture the bleached fine sand, the aqua-blue ocean, a palm tree swaying in the breeze, and the most luxurious beach house you could ever imagine.

“I’d love to,” replies Daniel, and I can feel my breath rush from my lungs as a warm glow spreads through me, starting in my belly.

Wow. Okay, wow. So yeah, maybe it’s a good thing.

I mean, if we’re planning to like, have a baby together, maybe he wants to know more about my family.

I push the thought aside. No, we haven’t decided anything. It’s too early; we’re still in the getting-to-know-each-other phase.

But I can’t ignore the little glimmer of excitement that takes hold when I think about going to this special event with Daniel.

Maybe it’s the next step. Maybe we’re making progress. Maybe this baby bargain is going to happen after all.