Page 85 of My Ex's Best Friend

I won't lie, I'm annoyed, and also a bit hurt, but I understand that the art world doesn’t run on a schedule.

Me: It’s fine, Jake, you don't have to explain.

Jake: No, no. We're going out to dinner tonight.

And a few seconds later, my phone beeps again.

Jake: Wear that tight black dress you wore to the winery. I love that one.

I smile to myself. Unluckily for him, I won't be able to fit into that for much longer. Or maybe he already knows that.

***

When Jake comes home, he finds me slumped beside the toilet seat.

He comes rushing in with a bottle of water. "I would have been here sooner if I knew."

"I wish I knew," I groan. "I mean, I knew about morning sickness. But I didn't know this could also happen."

"It's okay," Jake says. "The doctor says it will ease into your second trimester."

"That's not for another few weeks," I point out with a groan while he dabs my forehead with a towel. I can already see my future.

"I can't go out tonight, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, you don't have to be sorry." Jake leans in to kiss my cheek.

I sigh. “I just wanted tonight to be perfect since you’re going away.”

He bends down to my level, caressing my cheek as he does. “I’m only scheduled to be gone for four days. And I’ll try to be back before that. You won’t even notice I’m gone.”

“That’s not possible,” I say. “I’ll miss you every second of every day.”

“When I’m gone, though, I want you to stay with a friend. Can you do that?”

“I think I want to stay alone,” I say.

He frowns. “Are you sure? I don’t feel confident leaving you here all by yourself, especially with how sick you get in the morning. And evening too, apparently.”

“I’m used to it. I did most of the retching and throwing up before you got here. Maybe I can set up a bed here. It would be a nice change of scenery.”

Jake laughs at that.

“But seriously, I’ll be fine,” I say. “I have lived alone for more than half of my life. I think I’ll be fine for a couple of days.”

***

I miss Jake.

It's the weekend, and I've nothing better to do. Ellie and Tammy are coming to town next week.

They still don't know what's up between Jake and me. I mentally prepare myself for the truth I've to inevitably tell them.

Since it's the weekend, I busy myself doing the laundry. And once that's done, I take out the trash.

I haven't thrown up the entire day today so that feels like a huge relief. I’ve texted Jake a couple of times. So far, he hasn’t responded or called back, so I assume he’s stuck in a meeting.

I’m worried, though, since it’s been almost a day since I’ve heard from him.

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