Page 123 of Empty Net

“Are you freaking out?” I ask as I slide back into my chair, handing her a napkin.

“Yes!” She laughs, then blows her nose. “Yeah, definitely. Hutch is too, though he won’t admit it. You should have seen his face after I took the test and it was positive. I thought he was going to pass out, which was really rude, becauseIfelt like I was going to pass out. Who would have caught me?”

“Ugh. Men.”

She chuckles. “Right? I’m feeling better about it now. Only having mini panic attacks instead of big ones. Progress, right?”

“Majorly.”

She blows out a long breath, fanning her face. “Gosh, look at us. Two big life changes. I just…I never thought we’d be here.”

“You and me both,” I agree.

I’m in love and so is Auden. She’s pregnant, and I’m engaged.

Wait…am I still engaged? Am I marrying Fox now?

“What’s wrong? You look like you’re freaking out again.”

“No, no,” I say. “Well, maybe. I just don’t know what to tell Fox. I don’t know if this means we’re really engaged now or what. I… Shit. I guess I need to talk to him.”

“I think that’s a great idea. This is an…interesting situation you two are in, to say the least, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out. You know, since you’re inloveand all,” she teases, singinglove.

“Shut up.” I throw my spare napkin at her.

“Hey, hey! Be nice. I’m with child.”

“You only get to use that excuse for so long, you know.”

“Which is why I have no problem milking it to the fullest extent.” She grabs her donut again, taking a huge bite before sipping on her decaf coffee.

Huh. I guess that should have been my first clue. I’ve never known her to forgo caffeine. I was too stuck in my own head though, too busy worrying about Fox.

Fox.

I smile just thinking of him, already buzzing with the desire to talk to him. I want to call him now, but I think this is a better conversation to have in person.

“Now that we have our personal lives all figured out, do you think we can discuss our business lives?” Auden asks, rearranging the numerous plates on the table until she’s able to open her laptop.

“What business lives? I thought you left that behind for roots.”

“I did,” she says, click-clacking away on her keyboard, eyes darting all over the screen. “And I have roots now. It’s time to water them.”

“Okay…” I stretch the word out, unsure where she’s going with that.

She spins her laptop my way. “I give you water, AKA our next project.”

I look at the screen filled with inspiration photos she’s pulled from various websites. There are lots of upscale homes and architecture mixed with warm and cozy interiors. If I’m not mistaken, the photo on the right is one of her East Coast hotels.

“It all looks gorgeous, but I’m not following, Auden.”

She sighs, pulling the laptop back to her and clicking a button on the keyboard. A new slide pops up that readsMaddison Sinclair Designs – Your Home, Your Way. I peek at Auden over the top of the screen.

“What is this?”

“I told you, it’s our next project…if you’ll have me, that is.”

“Have you for what?”

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