“Pick up, pick up, pick up.” I held my cell phone to my ear, praying Ainsley answered. I needed her. After spending most of the day with Anthony, I’d come up to my apartment to get ready for our “date.” Shit. I’d let him make me come against his refrigerator and then talk me into going out with him on a real date. Doc was right; clearly orgasms made me stupid agreeable. He wanted a real date. Like a fancy date with dinner and dancing or something. And I didn’t think I’d ever been on a date like that. I was the girl who had quick hookups in the back of clubs I’d performed at. Or I used to be. I’d never had a serious boyfriend or a real date. I was terrified.
It seemed like I was scared of everything lately. Anthony had arranged for a doctor friend that he assured me was the best to fly in and get ready for my delivery. Between the date and the impending delivery of my baby girl, I was a mess.
The phone continued to ring and I was sick to my stomach, like I was going to puke. “Come on. Pick up, Ains.”
She finally answered, sounding like she was out of breath. “Hey, Kells!”
“Oh my God, I’m so glad you answered. I’m freaking out. Freaking out, Ainsley. You have to help me. I don’t know—”
She cut me off. “Calm down, crazy lady, and explain to me slowly what’s happening. And of course I answered. I’ll always answer when you call. You know that. I was just chasing the kids around the yard.”
“God, I’m sorry to interrupt your family time. Do you want to call me back?”
She laughed. “Hell no, I want to know what the heck is going on!”
“I have a date,” I whispered like anyone but she could hear me.
“What? With who?”
“Geez Louise, don’t make me say it, Ains.”
“Holy shit, you have a date with Anthony don’t you?”
“Yes,” I murmured.
“You need to give me all the details now. When did this start? Why didn’t I get a call? Have y’all kissed? I’m so mad right now. I know nothing!”
I sighed. “And you called me crazy lady.”
“Spill it, Potter!”
“He says he loves me. He’s kissed me.” I skipped the dry humping part. I could only divulge so much in one day. I’d save that tasty morsel for another day. “He wants to take me on a date. He’s crazy. He wants me to move in.”
She whistled long and low. “Wow.”
“I know.”
“You must have put in on that man.”
I gasped. “Hell no, I didn’t. I’m almost nine months pregnant!”
“Pregnant chicks have sex, Kelly, and they also go on dates.”
Rolling my eyes, I answered, “I guess.”
“I can’t believe that little shit grew up to be a hot doctor who kisses my best friend.”
I giggled. I already felt better just talking to her. “But what am I going to wear tonight? What do I do? I’ve never even been on a real date, Ains. I’m faaareaking out!”
“It’s going to be fine, honey. You’ve been hanging with Anthony for weeks now. You’re just going to be hanging with him in public, dressed up, and maybe being a little romantic.”
Ainsley was my best friend. I could tell her anything, even my greatest fears. I had to tell someone. I couldn’t keep it bottled up any longer. I lay back on my bed, feeling a twinge in my back that made me gasp a bit. “What if we go out on a date and he realizes this is all a big mistake?”
“What?”
“What if he realizes I’m a big mistake? That he doesn’t love me. That I’m nine months pregnant with another man’s baby and I don’t have a job or a future. That I’m not good enough.”
“Oh, Kelly.” I hated the pity in her voice. “That is never going to happen. Because you aren’t just some chick who’s pregnant with another man’s baby. You’re smart and funny and beautiful, and right now you don’t know what you’re going to do with your future, but I have no doubt it’s going to be epic because you’re amazing and Anthony knows that just as well as I do. You’re more than good enough.”
I tried to tell myself she was right, but I didn’t think I’d ever felt so insecure in my life as I did in that moment. What did he see in me? I wished I could see myself in Doc’s eyes for just a moment, and then maybe I’d understand.
“Thanks, Ains.”
“Anytime, baby. So what are you going to wear? Oh, wear your hair down. It’s so beautiful down and around your face.”
I groaned. “I have no idea what in the hell I’m wearing. I don’t have anything that fits.”
“What about a little black dress? Surely you have a stretchy black dress. Every girl does.”
I looked down at my giant baby bump. Nope, scratch that. I was firmly out of the bump category and into the hump one. I was huge.
“I don’t think there’s enough stretch in the world, Ains. I’m pretty sure my little black dress would double as a tank top right now.”
She laughed. “Girl, he doesn’t care what you’re wearing. He just wants to be with you.”
The doorbell rang, and I sat up as quickly as I could. “I gotta go. The doorbell’s ringing.”
“Okay. Have fun tonight and don’t stress. You’re perfect.”
“Thanks! Bye.”
I looked through the peephole to find Lucy on the other side. Opening the door, I said, “Hey!” We hugged. “What are you doing here?” Not that I wasn’t happy to see her, but I had a date to get ready for, and I needed a lot of time to come up with a clean pair of sweatpants that didn’t look like I forced myself into them.
She held up a white shopping bag. “I brought you something to wear tonight.”
“What?” How did she know about tonight and what did she bring me?
“Anthony said he was taking you out tonight and that you were worried about what to wear. He gave me his credit card and I went shopping for you.”
I wanted to be annoyed that he’d once again taken care of me, but I couldn’t. I was so lucky. I couldn’t complain about a man who not only told me he was in love with me, but showed it, too. And I wasn’t talking material things. Anthony was thoughtful, and it showed in every one of his actions.
“What did you get me?” I smiled and tried to peek in the bag.
“Uh uh uh, no peeking.” She dashed toward my bedroom. “Come on, let’s get you all dolled up. He will be here before you know it.”
And for some reason, I wasn’t so scared anymore. I didn’t know if it was my conversation with Ainsley or Lucy to the rescue, but butterflies swarmed my belly. I was excited.