Page 86 of One Moment Please
“Fine,” I groan, rolling my eyes before she launches herself into my arms, knocking over my tools as she does.
“Oops,” she croaks, looking around us.
I hold her sides and shoot her a glower. “If we lose that last dowel, I am going to have to fuck you again.”
“Promises, promises.” She waggles her brows playfully and stands, giving me some space to work. “We really do need to get this desk out of here. Maybe Miles can stop by some evening after work.”
I hear her begin to rummage in my desk, and I turn to glance at her just as she pulls an envelope out of the top drawer. Her brow furrows. “You have an unopened letter here, Josh.”
My face falls and my ears drum with my increased heartbeat. My voice is tight when I flatly tell her, “Just leave it.”
She turns it over in her hand, and says, “Who’s Mark Jacobson? It has a Baltimore address.”
“I said leave it.” I drop the tools and walk to where she stands. I grab the envelope and stuff it back into the drawer before slamming it shut.
She blinks to me in confusion. “Who was that letter from?”
“It’s seriously nothing, Lynsey,” I grumble, my jaw clenched as memories from the past creep up in my mind. “Old garbage I need to throw out. I told you I’d take care of this desk, and I will.”
She stares at me, her brown eyes blinking rapidly. “Why are you acting so cagey?”
I exhale heavily. “Because some shit just doesn’t need to involve you, okay?”
“Seriously?” she replies, shaking her head in disbelief.
“What?” I say harsher and louder than I meant to. Why does she have to make a fuss over a fucking unopened letter?
I cringe when she touches her belly protectively in response to my sharp tone. My gaze drifts to eyes that reveal more questions. But instead of fighting with me, she simply juts her chin and moves past me to exit the room, leaving behind nothing but silence.
The sun is still up as I step onto the party bus. This obnoxious monstrosity even has a stripper pole and a mirrored ceiling with glittery lights dancing all over the interior. It’s full of several friends of mine and Kate’s from college who Dean has bonded with over the past couple of years, a few of Dean’s stock market buddies, plus the Tire Depot crew, Miles, Sam, and Maggie.
Kate’s bright blue eyes find mine as she stands to point at me. “Look, everybody, the stripper’s here!”
Everyone erupts into laughter, and as if on cue, the song fromMagic Mikebooms through the speakers.
I shake my head and laugh, grabbing the shiny pole and doing a careful twirl while holding my belly. My black high-low maternity dress swirls around my legs, and I pray to the pie gods that the off-the-shoulder straps don’t slip because I’m not exactly wearing a bra right now.
You’d think getting dressed up with a basketball on your front half would be the hard part, but oddly enough, it’s my swollen tits that are giving me drama. None of my bras fit anymore, and I hate the idea of spending money on new ones, so I’ve been going without whenever I can.
I finish my twirl and point at my belly. “Two strippers for the price of one!” The bus erupts into laughter.
Josh glowers at me.
I bite my lip and shrug. “Too soon for stripper jokes about our kid?”
He nods and squeezes my sides. “I think it will always be too soon.”
He shoots me a wink that shows me he’s not really mad, and I’m grateful for it. Things have been a little tense since I found that letter in his desk, but tonight before we left, he touched my belly and told me I looked really pretty. It was so simple and sweet that I resigned myself to be grateful for what I have with him, even if it’s notallof him.
Josh holds my waist protectively as we move to the back of the bus to join Kate, Miles, Sam, and Maggie. I wrinkle my nose at the seat before sitting down in the open area next to Kate. “Man, I bet a blue light would reveal some serious jizz stains on this shaggin’ wagon.”
“Same goes for your uterus,” Kate replies, throwing her hands up in the air for a high five from Josh who begrudgingly gives her one.
I turn to Miles sitting on the other side of her. “How much has she had to drink?”
He shakes his head with a smile. “That’s her first drink.”
I roll my eyes and then glance around the bus for Dean. “Where’s the birthday boy?”
