That Baby: A Small Town, Friends-to-Lovers Romance (That Boy Series Book 3)

Phillip kisses me as he’s leaving for work.

“Happy anniversary to my sexy husband,” I say.

“Happy anniversary, Princess. Can you believe we’ve been married for three whole months?”

“I have to be honest, when we were going through marriage counseling, I thought marriage was going to be hard. Everyone says the first year is so hard.”

Phillip laughs. “Parts of our first three months have been hard.”

“Which parts?”

Phillip grins.

I roll my eyes at him. “Always thinking about sex.”

“I told you, we’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

“Phillip, I don’t want to fight with you.”

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No, I mean, in general, I don’t want to fight with you. And I would never make a scene and stomp out like Lori did. I respect you too much to do that in front of our friends. She really was bitchy to him. I didn’t like it.”

“I’m glad he didn’t go chasing after her this time. Lately, she seems to think that she can say anything and get away with it. It pissed me off how she acted like your morning sickness wasn’t real because hers was worse.”

“Do you think she’s mad at me because my pregnancy has been pretty easy?”

“It hasn’t been easy for you. You’ve been tired. You’ve felt sick. And you work all day and never complain. She doesn’t have a job. What the heck does she do all day?”

“Sometimes, I complain.”

“You’ve yet to be a bitch.”

“That’s because you bring me cupcakes.”

He kisses my nose. “I’m taking you out tonight.”

“What are we going to do?”

“Dinner and a movie?” he suggests.

“Oh, popcorn sounds so good.”

“Actually, scratch that. Movie first. If you’re still hungry after you’ve eaten the theater out of buttered popcorn and Milk Duds, then we’ll get dinner.”

“Sounds like the perfect night,” I tease.

He lays his hand across my stomach. “I want to start taking pictures of this.”

“Of me waking up?”

“No, of your stomach. So, we can see how you’re growing.”

“I saw a super-cute thing online where you write how many weeks along you are on a chalkboard and take a picture with it.”

“We should do that. You have the cutest little bump.” He gives me another kiss. “I love you.”

After Phillip leaves for work, I grab my phone off my nightstand and text his mom.

Me: Would it be okay if Lori and I spent the night on Saturday? We’re coming up for the shower and then going out after. We probably won’t get there until later.

Mrs. Mac: Of course! I’ll give you an extra key at the shower. What are your plans for Sunday?

Me: Going wedding dress shopping with Chelsea, and then I’m supposed to stop at the Diamonds’ before we leave town.

Mrs. Mac: I’ll make lunch for when you get back from shopping. And, yes, I heard about the surprise.

Me: Got any hints for me?

Mrs. Mac: My lips are sealed.

I throw my robe on, grab a breakfast bar, go into my home office, and check my emails. Nothing too pressing, which is good because I have to finish getting everything ready for the shower. I rented a great event space, one I found when we were looking for our wedding reception. I loved the historic location, the brick-floored courtyard, and the palladium windows overlooking a small garden.

And the staff has been great to work with on the catering. We’re having a popcorn bar, fruit kabobs, tea sandwiches, pastel macarons, and a stacked lemon cake. There will be a bar set up with decanters full of juices that you can mix with fresh berries or champagne. The table centerpieces are baby bottles filled with yellow flowers.

I decided against your typical sit-down-in-a-circle-and-play-games baby shower. We’ve done that enough lately. I want this shower to be more about mingling and fun. So, instead of games, I’m having activity stations.

I asked all the shower guests to bring a baby photo of themselves. When they arrive, they will hang it, clothesline-style, on a piece of twine from mini clothespins. Behind each photo will be a piece of pastel paper in different colors, so the game of guessing which shower guest is which baby will become part of the decor.

The second station is the advice area. I covered a paint can with fabric to match Lori’s nursery and then hand-drew a giraffe design, which I then printed on plain notecards. Everyone will write their best piece of baby or parenting advice on a card and put it in the can.

The third station is for decorating a baby onesie. I bought a whole bunch of snap-bottom T-shirts in different colors. Each guest can use paint, fabric markers, or iron-on decals to decorate one, and Lori will get to take them all home.

All the shower gifts are going on one table in the center of the room. This becomes the present station. Lori will be opening presents throughout the party and displaying them on another table for all the guests to see. Guests can sit in a small circle of chairs to watch her open gifts when they want, but they won’t be forced to sit the entire time.

Can I just take a brief moment to say thank God for Pinterest? It’s made doing things like this so much easier. Sometimes, when I can’t sleep, I pull up the app on my phone and pin stuff, like amazing food I hope to make someday, decor for our house, holiday decorating, cool architecture, DIY, crafts, travel spots, clothing boards, gardening, bucket lists, and party ideas. Considering my mom used to do this by cutting stuff out of magazines and gluing them into a notebook, this is pretty incredible.

I’ve been working on all the details since I got back from our honeymoon, and even though I’m irritated with the way Lori acted last night, I hope she loves it.

I’m also looking forward to having three hours alone in the car with her. Maybe she’ll tell me what’s going on.

I decide to text her.

Me: Are you excited for the shower?

Lori: Yeah.

One-worded text = not good.

Lori: I forgot your birthday. Luckily, my husband didn’t. That’s quite the present.

Passive-aggressive. Shit.

Me: It is. Thanks to you both.

Lori: Obviously, I had nothing to do with it.

Me: Lori, what’s going on? Why are you not excited about this? Think ahead. You don’t love football that much. This is a way for you to go to the games, take the baby, socialize, and not have to sit out in the weather. It’s the best of both worlds. Like having your friends over for a party at your house, yet you get the excitement of the crowd.

Lori: Do you know how much it cost?

Me: Actually, I do. Danny’s dad is very conservative. He helped Danny with the decision.

Lori: He just wants the box, too.

Me: You just don’t get it, Lori. Doing this for his family and friends is like a dream come true for Danny. I really wish you were more supportive of him.

Lori: Of course you would take his side on this. You want the box, too. I don’t want people using him. I have his best interests at heart. That’s what pisses me off.

Me: How could I be using him when I didn’t know about it until he’d done it? You’re being ridiculous. And I’m saying that as your best friend.

Danny texts me.

Danny: Want to go get lunch in a little bit?

Me: Are you at home? I’m texting Lori. I thought she would apologize. For forgetting my birthday. For her outburst last night. Instead, she’s trying to defend herself.

Danny: That’s why I want to go to lunch. I need to get away from her before I say something I’m going to regret.

Me: What happened when you went home last night?

Danny: Are you at work?

Me: No, I’m working from home today. Although, technically, I’m not doing much work. I’m finishing up getting everything ready for the shower tomorrow.

Danny: I’m coming over.

Me: I’m in my office. Front door is unlocked.

A few minutes later, he strolls in my office. He looks like he didn’t sleep last night.

“Are you okay?”

He plops down on the floor and runs his hands through his hair. “I’m not sure I can live like this.”

My eyes get big. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, right now, I want a divorce. And, if it wasn’t for her being pregnant and due soon, I’d be getting one.” His voice is angry, but I can see the hurt in his eyes. Danny never quits or gives up at anything he does, so this is serious.

I stop what I’m doing and go sit on the floor next to him.

“Why are you still in your robe? It’s almost noon.”

“I’d wear my robe all day if I could.”

“Are you naked under there?”

“We’re all naked under our clothes, Danny,” I say with a laugh.

He laughs, leans his head on my shoulder, and smiles. “You always know how to make me laugh.”

“That’s because my answer has been the same ever since you started asking me that question ten years ago. Or whenever it was that you went through puberty. Danny, you and Lori have only been together for a couple of years. She’s not going to know all the stuff I know about. She has been acting differently lately though. Her not remembering my birthday just glares at me. It’s not that big of a deal. We forget sometimes, no biggie. But she’s the girl in our sorority who never forgot a birthday and gave everyone an adorable hand-made birthday card. It’s not like her.”

“It’s the preterm labor. She’s been pissed at me since then. Although it’s weird; she didn’t seem pissed when I got to the hospital. She was happy and relieved. It wasn’t until a few days after that she started acting crazy.”

“Danny, they put her on medicine to stop the contractions.”

“Yeah.”

“Does the medicine have side effects?”

“I don’t know. Jesus, I hope that’s all it is.”

I grab my computer and set it on my lap. “I know they gave her a shot of something that started with a T at the hospital. Is that what she’s taking now?”

“No, she’s on progest-something.”

“Progesterone?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“But that’s a hormone.”

“Yeah, that’s it. It’s a hormone.”

“Well, no wonder. Hang on; let me look this up to be sure.” I do a quick search and then turn the computer toward him.

He reads. “Side effects can include upset stomach, appetite changes, weight gain, fluid retention and swelling, fatigue, and PMS-like symptoms. Oh my God. Why didn’t the doctor tell me this? That’s what it’s like. She’s in constant PMS bitch-mode.”

He puts his hands on his face and rubs it.

“At least you know it’s temporary. Danny, you love her.”

“I do. Now, I feel bad.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s pregnant with my baby, and I’m telling you I want a divorce because she’s being either an irrational bitch or sobbing lunatic, and it turns out it’s probably not her fault. She’s taking the medicine to keep our baby inside her longer, so it can grow and be healthy. I’m an asshole.”

“Danny, you aren’t an asshole. You just didn’t understand. The doctor should have told you to expect this. Why don’t you go see if she wants to go out for lunch?”

“Yeah,” he says, getting up. “Thanks, Jay, for just listening.”

“You know Phillip and I are always here for you.”

“I tried talking to Phillip about it this morning. He said I should suck it up, be a man, and take care of my pregnant wife.”

I melt. “Ahh, he’s so sweet.”

“I told him we’d revisit that conversation when you’re a few weeks away from giving birth.” Danny laughs. “See ya.”