“I thought you were taking time off?” Sue says and brings me back to the present.

I didn’t even hear her come in. I glance at the clock in the upper right of my computer screen. It’s already five o’clock and time for our dinner date. The girls are taking turns keeping me occupied. It’s almost like they’re babysitting me and if it was anyone else, I’d hate it.

But I can never turn down a date with Suzette.

“You of all people should know that working is all I’m good for.” My voice comes out flat although I meant for it to be funny. God, I’m tired. I’m always tired now even though I’m finally starting to sleep like the dead.

I guess the first trimester of pregnancy will do that to you.

“Oh honey, have you not looked at your shoe collection recently?” she asks, quirking a brow. “You’re good for so much more than work.”

I stand up slowly, letting my body stretch as I do and smile at her. “Ha-ha,” I say sarcastically, but the smile on my lips is genuine.

“So, what place tonight?” she asks as she turns on a lamp in the corner of the office and settles into the one comfy chair in the room … which isn’t even the desk chair.

“Order in, takeout, getting pretty and hitting the town?” she suggests then takes her scarf off slowly and looks around the office.

“Why the hell haven’t you decorated this room?” she asks me before I can answer the first question. I scratch the back of my head as I look around. I have a bookshelf in the back, but all the books are still in boxes on the floor.

“Just not a priority,” I tell her honestly. “I look at the screen more than anything anyway.”

“It’s like your décor inspiration was a depressing cubicle.”

I snort at her response, but it makes me laugh so hard.

“Maddie should focus on redecorating in here before planning a baby shower.”

I think the remark wasn’t meant to be taken seriously, but I actually love the idea.

“I should tell her. I’d like that.”

Sue shrugs, twisting the scarf around her hand as she crosses her legs. “I’m sure she’d love to.”

“Well, actually. I totally forgot to tell you, but I may move in with Jules for a little while.”

Sue leans forward with her mouth a bit more open than it should be before she says, “You sure you want to have to hear them when they fuck? I feel like that’s the number one concern here.”

I roll my eyes at her. “It was Mason’s suggestion, so I’m sure he … ” Ugh. The thought of them doing it in the room next to me is a thought I’d rather not picture.

“I get it,” Sue says, sensing exactly what was on my mind. “You shouldn’t be alone anyway. Not when you have so many people who love you.”

I shut down my laptop and just give her a tight smile.

She adds, “’Cause you’re not alone, and there’s no reason you should feel it right now.”

“Damn it Sue, stop it,” I tell her and shake off the emotions as they creep up on me. “I’m fine.”

“I know you are!” she says, pushing herself up from the seat. “And that’s why we’re going to go out and go somewhere fabulous.”

My phone dings on the desk, indicating a text as I start to tell Sue that I don’t really want to go out.

I let out a yawn as I cautiously look at the message. I’ve had four texts today already. Each from a gossip column editor wanting a statement on my reaction to the recent events. Evan’s been spotted with Samantha again and the rumor mill is churning with tales of scandal.

They can go fuck themselves. I believe that was my response for each of the columnists. Probably not the best quote I’ve ever given.

“You okay?” Sue asks and I nod when I see it’s just from Henry.

He keeps messaging me, which makes the fact that Evan hasn’t bothered to call me back that much harder to take.

“Just Evan’s dad. Wanting to drop by with some lemons.”

“Lemons?” she questions.

“He said they helped Marie when she was pregnant and nauseated.”

“But you aren’t … ” Sue trails off with a hint of confusion.

“I know!” I answer jokingly as I text Henry, Thank you, but I’m fine. I question if I should ask him how Evan is. Where he is. Or anything at all.

Before I can, he answers that he wants to meet up for lunch soon.

“You know, he’s real sweet,” I tell Sue, feeling guilty and torn on what to do.

“So where’d his son get his charm from then?” Sue asks sarcastically and then mouths that she’s sorry when she sees I’m not amused.

“I’ll just tell him I will, but I can always bail,” I say out loud as if I need her approval.

“Yeah, that’s a good way to handle it,” she says and then looks me up and down. “You should probably put real clothes on.”

“How fancy?” I ask her, setting the phone down as I realize I’m still in sweats and a baggy t-shirt.

“Let’s go fancy fancy.” I hope she can see how the thought of getting prettied up makes me perk up. I could really use a night out, feeling beautiful and carefree. A nice distraction.

“Fancy-pantsing it up tonight?” I ask her, already feeling better than I did before she got here.

“You know it.”