Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
On Saturday morning, he went into the office while I waited at my apartment for Mia to come over. She’d come back from her honeymoon earlier in the week and officially moved into Christian’s place, but she still had a ton of boxes at our apartment. We were going to take them over to Goodwill today after getting some lunch.
I practically sprinted to her when she walked in. It was probably the longest I’d gone without seeing her since we were kids.
“Honey, I’m home!” she yelled.
We embraced for the longest time, and when I pulled back, I shook my head. “Look at you. You’re so tan and relaxed. And you look so…married.” I smiled.
“I missed you. Kauai was amazing. But it would have been better if you were there, too. You would’ve loved the helicopter ride. Christian lost his lunch in a barf bag during the tour.”
I laughed. “I’m sure that would have gone over well with your new husband. I’m taking two pieces of luggage and Ireland with me.”
“We need to go back—a couples’ vacation. Maybe Maui next time.”
“That sounds great. Last weekend I asked Grant when the last time he went on vacation was, and he said eight years ago.”
“Really? Why?”
I shrugged. “He’s a workaholic, and he didn’t have anyone in his life to force the issue, I guess.”
Mia went into the refrigerator, pulled out the orange juice, and looked at the container. “Pulp? Is this mine from weeks ago and expired? You don’t like pulp.”
“Grant likes pulp.”
She smiled. “So I take it you two have been spending a lot of time together while I was gone, if you’re stocking the fridge for him.”
I sat down at the kitchen table. “Yeah. We have been. It’s been pretty great, actually.”
“The last time I saw you two together, at brunch the day after my wedding, I wasn’t sure I’d come back to a happy couple, him not wanting kids and all.”
Mia took two glasses out of the cabinet and filled them with juice before going to where we kept the liquor and grabbing a bottle of vodka. She poured a shot into each glass and stuck her finger in to stir before sliding one across the table to me. “You can suffer through pulp for me.”
I preferred no pulp, but I’d drink it if that was the only choice available. Though that wasn’t the issue. I slid the glass back toward her. “You drink both. I’ll drive.”
“Neither of us is driving. Christian dropped me off on his way to the gym. He’s going to come back when he’s done and load the boxes into his car.” She smiled. “He told me to enjoy my day with you, and he’d take care of the donations and go food shopping.”
I shook my head. “I have no idea how you fooled that nice man into marrying you. But you done good, lady.”
Since neither of us had to drive, why not indulge? I lifted the glass of orange juice and held it up to clink with my friend. “To good guys for a change.”
Mia downed half the glass and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “So give me all the dirt. How did things go after brunch? I take it you convinced him having children was not the end of the world?”
I frowned. “Actually, I didn’t. He hasn’t changed his position. I’m not sure he ever will. And, honestly, he has reasons for not wanting children that I understand…well, mostly.”
“So what happens if you two get serious? You just give up your dream of having a family?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I’m not ready to make the decision to stop seeing him. But I’m also not ready to make the decision to not have a family. So I’ve decided to put off the decision—hoping something will happen organically.”
Mia’s lips pressed together in a straight line. “I see only three things that could happen organically.” She held up her hand and counted them off, first with her pointer. “One, you split up and there is no decision to make.” She added her middle finger. “Two, he changes his mind.” She raised her ring finger. “Three, you accept not having children.” She shook her head. “You just said you don’t think he’ll ever change his mind. So that leaves splitting up or you accepting a very different life than you want. I don’t think banking on splitting up is a healthy way to be in a relationship, and the last choice is an awfully big concession. Are you sure you would want that life?”
My shoulders slumped. Mia was one hundred percent right, but avoidance was the only way to stay happy, and it had been a long time since I wanted someone in my life so badly.
I sighed. “I know burying my head in the sand is probably only going to make things worse in the future. But…I’m crazy about him, Mia. I don’t want to give him up.”