I tossed and turned in bed all night with Brad's offer floating around in my head. He’d seemed really adamant about it like he had no doubt about it in his mind.

I assumed that it was because he hadn't experienced firsthand what it was like to not get along with your close friend while living with them. If my friendship with him took the same route that it did with Rachel, it would almost be too much for me to handle. I wasn't one to thrive under drama. I had no time in my life for misunderstandings and stupid adjustments that could easily be avoided. It's why I was so desperate to move out and live on my own. Even if it meant living in that haunted-looking place. At least I would have my independence, and if anything, I would install a bunch of new locks so Max and I would be perfectly safe.

But it wasn't just the safety aspect that had me worried. The floors were so dirty that it gave me a peek into what the management would be like. They clearly didn't go through the pain of ensuring that the apartment was clean before I showed up to see it. So what was to say that they would be on their feet if anything came up that needed their attention after I moved in?

I shook my head as I wrapped a scarf around my neck, feeling a bit of an urge to pull on it and strangle myself. I was under an immense amount of stress and knew that I would have to look for a therapist if I didn't figure it all out. And soon.

It was Saturday and I hoped that my lunch with the girls would help me put some things into perspective, maybe even ease my tension a bit.

"Ready?" Rachel asked as she pushed open my door. "Oh, and nice scarf."

I gave her a dry smile and began packing Max's things into the huge bag that I was now accustomed to carrying on my shoulder.

"Hey." She patted my back. "You'll be fine. Everything will work itself out and you know you're welcome to stay here for as long as you want. I know that you're not too crazy about that garbage dump of an apartment.”

I nodded and buckled Max into his stroller. "Yeah. I'm not moving into that apartment anymore. That's not what I've been struggling with."

Rachel pushed the stroller out the door while I frantically looked for the pacifier.

She pointed at the bed. "There."

I shook my head. "Great. Now I'm blind too."

Rachel ignored me. Perhaps she was now accustomed to hearing me make depressing statements.

"What else is it that you're struggling with?" she asked as the fresh air hit our faces and we walked toward the restaurant where we were meeting Danielle and Kelly.

"Brad," I said. "He offered for me to move in with him."

Rachel stopped in her tracks and her eyes went as wide as saucers.

"No way."

I held up my hand. "As a temporary solution. Only until his assistant is able to hunt me a decent apartment at a fair price."

"You already know my opinion on this," Rachel said, waving at Dani. “But let's discuss this over some steak.”

We used to meet every Saturday for lunch while Dani and I were expecting, but of course, it all changed when we gave birth. Kelly and Dani would cab it to this restaurant that was closer to where Rachel and I lived.

It was only fair because the two lived way more comfortable lives than Rachel and me. In short, they could afford that comfortable ride all the way from Upper Manhattan.

"Where's Kelly?" I asked Dani when I pulled away from our hug.

"Kelly left for her honeymoon yesterday," Rachel replied for her. "You knew that, Heather."

I placed my elbows on the table and whined about how crazy busy and tired I've been lately. “Been so forgetful.”

Danielle's son, Jeff, who was only a month older than Max, smiled at me.

I smiled back, offering my hand for him to hold.

"He looks just like Zander," I said, and Dani gave me a death stare.

"No. He looks like me, right, Jeff?"

She gave her son a kiss on the cheek then looked back at me. "So, what's going on with you? You said you were tired?"

I tilted my head to the side and tightened my lips.

"Okay." Dani arched her brows. "I'm sorry. Yes, it's obvious why you're tired."

"She's just been so snappy recently," Rachel chimed in, finding the perfect opportunity to let out her not-so-pent-up anger toward me.

"Trust me, motherhood does that to you," Dani told her. "You'll know once you get to where we are."

Rachel twisted her lips and stiffened. "Please. I'm good."

Her expression then changed in an instant. "I mean, these little guys are so cute, but I don't think motherhood is for me."

I cleared my throat.

"Exactly what I used to tell myself back in the day, remember?"

Rachel spread her arms. "Okay, you guys. Stop ganging up against me. Mind if we change the subject now? God, I miss Kelly already."

"She'll be back within a month," Dani said. "So you'll see her when we plan our next lunch. But for this one, you're stuck with us moms."

"Only for lunch, though," I said. "No stumbling upon random toys in the kitchen anymore.”

Rachel shook her head. "You're just making me feel bad now."

"Feel bad about what?" Dani asked.

"I'm moving out," I said in one quick breath.

"And get this," Rachel chimed in. "Brad asked her to move in with him."

Dani's face looked exactly like Rachel's did when I told her.

She brought a hand to her chest. "Aw, Brad is awesome."

I sipped my lemonade and refused to lift my eyes off the menu. I knew all too well what the remaining conversation was going to revolve around.

"Do it." Dani tapped my shoulder to get my attention. "How did this even come about though? Why are you moving out?”

I heard as Rachel gave Dani the backstory of how we sucked at living with each other and that she was upset about the whole thing.

"Don't lie," I snapped. "It's okay to admit that you're happy I'm leaving."

I might have pushed her buttons, but diplomacy just wasn't my thing. Or maybe I was still a bit irritated with Rachel over everything that had happened in the last couple of weeks.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I didn't mean to snap."

Rachel shrugged and looked away.

"Oh, you guys are literally like a couple." Dani laughed, lightening the mood. "Back to where we were though. I think you should consider Brad's offer. The guy seems to really care about you."

I cocked an eyebrow. "That to me doesn't sound like a compelling argument for moving in with him. My parents care about me too, but you don't see me calling them for help."

Dani sighed. "Okay, then. As outrageous as your comparison was, I'm willing to entertain it. So I’m going to give you an actual reason for you to consider it."

"Which is?" I waited.

She spread her arms and grinned. “For one, he’s hot.“

Rachel raised her arm in excitement. "Oh, and I've got another one."

I looked at her and took a sip of my glass of water. "I'm listening."

"He's hot."

Dani laughed when I rolled my eyes. “Now what's your reason for not accepting his offer?"

I darted my eyes at her and chuckled. "It's the same as yours. He's hot."

They both laughed, but I could sense that a lecture was on its way.

"Sometimes, I feel like you're allergic to hot guys," Rachel said.

Dani nodded and added, "I agree. Besides, you've moved on now."

I remember the time when all three of my friends used to walk on eggshells when talking about Max's father, Wayne. But he soon became an open topic of discussion once I convinced them that I was over him. But even though I was over him romantically, a big part of me was still stuck in the past. Rachel was right. Kind of. I was allergic to all men, not just the hot ones.

"How many housekeepers does Brad have?" Rachel asked, and I wasn't sure why.

"No idea. Three or so, probably?"

"Can you imagine the kind of help you'll receive while you live with him?" Dani winked at me then went back to holding Jeff's bottle of milk.

"True," I said.

Rachel grabbed my arm and looked me in the eye.

"For real, Heather. Can you imagine never having to do your own dishes, never having to clean up after Max because there would be three people willing to help you with all of that?"

I grimaced. "For one, you sound like I would permanently be moving into his condo. Second, it makes me guilty to think like that. The last thing I want to do is take advantage—"

"Please." Rachel waved her arm at me. "It's hard being a mom as it is. And being a single mom? Jesus Christ. I have no idea how you keep it together. There's no shame in embracing a little bit of help."

Rachel fake-pouted while slowly nodding. "Especially if it's coming from a hot guy."

On the surface, I'd ignored her comment, but I couldn't help imagining what it would be like to share a living space with Brad. I would get to wake up to him roaming around shirtless in the kitchen, then watching him run his hand through his ruffled dark-brown hair. All of this before he emerges from his bedroom dressed in his million-dollar suit and looking like he's ready to conquer the world.

Honestly, these were actual compelling reasons for me to accept his offer and I couldn’t produce anything to refute them. That to me wasn't a good sign, and I would never admit to my friends that Brad's presence alone made me wet between my legs.

"Well, he does care about Max," I said, smiling at my son.

Dani clapped her hands as her smile went broad.

"Does that mean it's settled?"

I shrugged. "I think so," is what I said, but the answer to her question was Yes.