The Girlfriend's Secret

by Kyle Autumn

  We were at our first Thirsty Thursday since our friends had had their babies, all out as a big group. Spouses, babies—all of us. We’ve done it like that ever since, but this one naturally brought up the baby conversation. When it was directed toward Zo and me, she froze. So I answered for us. But my, “I don’t think so,” response wasn’t at all okay with her. Apparently, she’s always wanted kids, more than she’s ever let on. But, being that I can’t give her one, she wasn’t sure how that was going to work out. And she hadn’t brought it up because she didn’t know. Plus, she worried it’d freak me out so early into our relationship. Instead, it all came to a head at dinner with our friends.

  I’ve always known I wanted to be with her. And I understand how reproduction works. So I guess I assumed we probably wouldn’t have kids. I wasn’t opposed to that cat or dog she wanted, but I’d taken kids off the table a long time ago. Until I saw and heard how much she wanted them. She ended up running out of the restaurant, frustrated with how I’d reacted. When I finally got her to calm down—with reminders of how well her ulcer was healing and that she shouldn’t get worked up over something we could calmly discuss—we talked it through. I explained my side and happily agreed to somehow have a baby with her, no matter what it took, if it was that important to her. All I want is her happiness, and any child would be so lucky to have her as their mother. And I think I have just the thing to prove how I feel about it to her too. But I’m saving that for later.

  The most difficult part of the last six months has been not having any relationship with her parents. Unfortunately, everything went exactly how she’d feared it would. They haven’t spoken to us since everything happened in the hospital that day. But we both know her parents well enough to think they wouldn’t possibly miss this day. Her mom would regret it more than she’d gain by not being here. I guess we’ll see soon.

  When it’s time, I stand up near the officiant and wait for my bride. We decided to do it this way so the wedding would seem more traditional to her parents. They may not be here, but it sounded important to Zo anyway. Shiree snaps some photos before she heads back to the house to get Zo. She and Lyra will walk her down the aisle, and I can’t wait.

  But, when Shiree and Lyra come back outside without Zo, I start to panic. Did she change her mind? Is she having a panic attack? Do I need to call 911? Just as I start to bolt toward the house, Lyra stops me.

  “Everything’s fine,” she says, a hand in the air. “Stay there.” Then she smiles at me, which does its job and relaxes my worries.

  But what made the plan change? Why aren’t they bringing my bride out? Where is she, and what’s going on?

  The answers come when the back door opens and she steps out through it, her dad on one arm and her mom on the other.

  ***

  Zo

  ***Five minutes earlier***

  Lyra ties my dress up in the back. I’m not sure I can breathe anymore, but it’s not from how tight the bodice is. It’s way more about the fact that my parents are actually going to miss my wedding. But it’s also about the fact that it doesn’t matter. I’m going through with it whether they’re here or not. Patti and I belong together even if they don’t approve. Our friends are here to support us, and I couldn’t ask for more than that. Well, I could, but I won’t.

  “All done! My goodness, Zo. You’re absolutely gorgeous,” Lyra says over my shoulder, into the mirror. She sets a hand on my bare shoulder, tears shining in her eyes. “Sorry. This pregnancy already has me overemotional.” She wipes under one eye. “I’ll go freshen up before we walk you down the aisle.” With a smile, she darts out of my room and heads to the bathroom.

  When the door shuts behind her, I gaze into the mirror and smooth my hands down the front of my dress. If I think too hard, I’ll need to freshen up the makeup Patti worked so hard to do for me. And we can’t have that. I wouldn’t know the first thing on how to do that. So I shut my eyes, take a deep, cleansing breath, hold it in, and then release it through my nose.

  Someone knocks on the door, and when I look into the mirror as it opens, I expect to see Lyra, maybe even Shiree. Neither of them appears in the reflection before me though. Instead, my father is staring back at me. He’s dressed in a black suit, his tie perfectly knotted around his neck. And, if I thought it was hard to breathe before, I’m completely out of air now.

  “Dad?” I say when I’ve spun around to face him.

  “Hey, Zoeybell. Looks like we haven’t missed anything?”

  I run into his arms and squeeze him around his middle. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I whisper against his chest. Then I shoot my gaze up to his. “Wait. Is…”

  When I trail off, he kisses my forehead. Then he releases me and holds his arm out in a gesture for me to go see for myself. Once I’m out of my room, I dash down the hall—the best I can in this dress, anyway—and then skid to a stop when I reach my living room. There, in her Sunday best on a Saturday afternoon, stoically stands my mother.

  Slowly, I walk up to her, holding my dress up so it doesn’t get ruined. My mother’s face softens as I approach her, and she goes from crossed arms to tears in her eyes before I’m right in front of her.

  “Oh, Zo,” she sighs. “I can’t say I approve, but a mother can’t miss her daughter’s wedding.”

  I’ve waited for this moment. Probably for all of my life. Every little girl dreams of her wedding. I don’t think any little girl dreams of it happening like this, but this is the hand I’ve been dealt. This is the culmination of all of my choices. And I thought I’d be more upset that she still doesn’t approve of my life. I’m not though. She’s here, and that’s good enough for now.

  So I hug her. Tight. “Thank you for being here.”

  Hesitantly, she returns my embrace, but she says nothing else. Which is okay. I kiss her cheek and then let her go, holding my elbow out for her. She takes a few moments to decide, but ultimately, she loops her arm through mine, even going so far as to squeeze mine to her. Then I turn toward my father and offer him my other arm, which he takes, tears in his eyes.

  “You look beautiful, Zoeybell.” He smiles down at me.

  “Thank you.” I grin back at him and then look at my mom. “I’m so glad you’re both here.”

  I swear that the smallest hint of an upward curve lifts her lips. That gives me hope even if I shouldn’t let it take flight. So I run with it, ushering us out the back door and down the aisle, toward my bride, my friends, and the rest of my life.

  ~~~

  After the ceremony is over and the photos have been taken, Patti, Shiree, Lyra, Chaz, Blake, and I eat a good meal in the backyard, around a large table we rented for the occasion. My parents left after pictures, which didn’t make me as sad as I’d thought it would. Though it was nice to have them here for our big day, I’m glad the crowd has thinned to people who truly love and support us in everything we do.

  “So,” Blake says, putting an arm around his wife’s shoulder. “Who’s changing their last name?”

  Lyra swats at him. “Oh my god! You can’t just ask them that!”

  He shrugs and sticks his bottom lip out. “Why not?” Then he points to us. “Do you guys care? Did that offend you?”

  Laughing, we both shake our heads. But Patti’s the one who fields the question.

  “Actually,” she replies once she’s done giggling at our friends’ antics, “we’ve decided to leave the names. Zed here doesn’t want to hammer the final nail in her mother’s coffin, so we’re leaving that alone for the time being.”

  “And then what?” Chaz questions.

  Shiree swats at her husband now. “Charles Masters. That’s none of our business.”

  “Oh please.” He gets up to hold one of the twins when they start to cry. “Don’t pretend like you didn’t want to know.”

  Shiree and Lyra turn shades of red as they sputter out nonsense about how it’s not polite to ask and waiting until information is voluntarily made available.

  “Ye
ah, right.” Blake sits back in his chair, grinning. “That’s not how you women work. You’re not fooling anyone.”

  “How’s life as the CEO?” I ask loudly to deflect that conversation. Though I worry a lot less these days, I still have my moments.

  “Great,” he says. “Every now and then, I get this guy’s advice.” He points to Chaz. “But things are looking good.”

  “It’s funny,” Chaz responds, his son in his arms. “They wanted a family man, ended up with you, and still got a family man. It’s crazy how things work.” He winks at Blake.

  Who balls his napkin up and throws it at Chaz. “Speak for yourself. Look at you, Mr. Husband and Father Of Twins.”

  Chaz’s smile is proud as he kisses his wife’s cheek and sits back down. “Damn straight.”

  “Do you have to swear around the babies?” Shiree asks, but she hardly looks that upset about it.

  “Apparently, it’s the night of pretending you’re a saint.” Then he winks at his wife, which earns a significantly different reaction than his wink to Blake did.

  Patti rests against the back of her chair and takes my hand. She brings it to her lips and kisses it. “Hey,” she quietly says to me while the rest of the table bickers and rocks babies. “I have a wedding gift for you.”

  I gasp, my free hand flying to my mouth. “You do? You didn’t have to do that! I didn’t—”

  She laughs lightly. “Stop. Really, it’s for both of us, so no freaking out. Okay?”

  Dropping my hand to my lap, I nod. Once she’s gestured her head back toward the house, she gets up, and I trail behind her. The table goes quiet, but then their voices grow loud again with conversation that sounds forced and made up. Clearly, they’re allowing the newlyweds some privacy. But that’s not what this is, right? She isn’t seriously giving me sex for a wedding present. Though that could be considered something for both of us…

  No. That’s definitely not it. When I round the corner to enter the guest room, my heart can’t decide if it wants to sprint to a finish line or stop altogether. Ultimately, it keeps going. This woman gives it life again and again, and it looks like this house might have new life in it soon.

  With a hand to my mouth, I slowly say, “This is why you kept me out of here all week? It wasn’t because of your dress?”

  She shakes her head. Then she wraps her arms around me from behind. “Nope. I want you to have everything you want. And this is something I can give you. Somehow, someway, you’ll be a mother. We both will.”

  “Really?” I ask before spinning around in her arms.

  She wipes under my right eye. “Absolutely. I saw how you were with the twins. And you’ve been great with Xavier too. As much as I want to be selfish and keep your love all to myself, it’s clear to see you are meant to do so much more.” Her soft lips land on my mouth. “So we better get busy and practice making a baby.”

  I burst into laughter. “Um, babe, I don’t think that’s how it works.”

  “Eh.” She shrugs. “It’s worth a shot, right?”

  My grin is so wide that my cheeks hurt. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. “Everything with you,” I promise her, touching my nose to hers, “is worth a shot.”

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  Sneak Peek of The Barista’s Wager

  Book 4 in the Thirsty Thursday series

  Chapter 1

  Kimber

  Monday mornings are my favorite. I know, I know. That sounds crazy. But hear me out. Working at a coffee shop makes Monday mornings awesome. It’s the busiest morning of the week, so I see nearly all of my regulars. And my regulars are totally awesome people. For the most part. We get a few who definitely aren’t morning people by any stretch of the phrase, but in general, everyone’s cool. I mean, who isn’t cool to the person pouring your morning cup of caffeine, right?

  Even though they’re busy and rushed, Monday mornings tend to start a little later, which makes me happy. And today starts off no differently than every other Monday. Once I’ve opened the shop, started the coffee, set the ready pastries out in the case, and popped new pastries into the oven with the help of our chef, Eileen, I wait for the chaos with a smile on my face.

  Here is when this Monday deviates from all others in the past though. Patti Caraway, a former fling and a woman I haven’t seen in over a year, walks into The Steam Room technically before we’re even open. Bright and early on a Monday morning. Which is something I’ve never seen and never thought I’d see.

  “Hey, lady! I didn’t expect to see you today,” I tell her. “Want the usual?”

  “Please!” she says enthusiastically, clasping her hands in front of her.

  I get to work pouring her a cup—black with a dash of cocoa. While I’m stirring, she stops approaching when she’s three feet away from the counter.

  “Wait. You remember how I like my coffee?” She puts a hand on her hip. “After all this time?”

  With my index finger, I tap my temple. Then I cap her to-go cup. “Once it’s up here, it never leaves.” That’s punctuated with a wink.

  “Kimber! You’re a peach!” she exclaims—just like she used to when she came in regularly.

  “What can I say?” I shrug and set her coffee on the counter. “It’s a gift.”

  She hands her debit card over. “Have you ever considered opening up your own shop? You’d be really fucking good at it.”

  I punch the total in and ring the sale up. While I’m grabbing a lemon poppy seed muffin, I say, “Nah. I wouldn’t want to compete with this place. And it’s a lot of work to start from the ground up.” Once the muffin is in a paper bag so she can take it with her, I hand it over. “For Zo.” And I give her another wink.

  “Seriously?” she asks, taking the bag. “You are way too nice this early in the morning.”

  “It’s no problem.” Smiling genuinely, I ask, “How is she? I think I heard something about adoption, right?”

  “Yes!” She slaps a hand on the counter and palms her coffee cup to raise it in the air. “Which is why I need this. Today’s the day we finally get to meet our daughter!”

  “Oh, how exciting!” I go around the counter to give my friend a hug. “I’m so happy for you!” When I pull away, I shake my head a little. “Though I have to say that I never saw you married with kids. But hey. Life surprises us, right?”

  Patti laughs. “I know! Already a year married. And we’re having a baby today.” Then she brings her coffee cup to her lips and takes a shaky sip. “Holy shit. We’re having a baby today.”

  I rest a hand on her shoulder. “And you’re going to be great mothers.”

  “Zo definitely will,” she replies, staring at the wall. “But this might be my last hot cup of coffee.” She takes another sip.

  Maybe this would scare other people, but this is yet another reason why I love working in this coffee shop. My customers trust me. They tell me nearly everything, and I’m able to help them through hard times and celebrate good ones. Being there for people brings me joy. And, even though Patti and I have a romantic history, that’s all in the past. I still care about her as a person and want the best for her. Which is her wife, who’s the absolute love of her life, and her upcoming daughter.

  “I think I might know a place that can help in that department.” I toss a smile over my shoulder as I head back around the counter.

  She takes a deep breath, holds it, and then slowly releases it through her mouth. Then her face relaxes. “Wow. That really does work. I was onto something every time I told Zo to do that.”

  “See?” I say. “It’s going to be fine.”

  After a rushed-out exhale, she swallows more coffee. “Enough about me. What about you? Seeing anyone?”

  I wave a dismissive hand before crossing my arms over my chest. “Eh. Nothing worth mentioning.” Th
en I shrug one shoulder.

  “Aww, really?” She frowns. “I never would have thought I’d be the one settled down out of the two of us.”

  A light laugh escapes my lips. Though it’s mostly for show. “I know, right?” Then a smile curves my lips, but it’s a little sad. “I’ve dated a little. A guy here, a girl there. But nothing’s really stuck. And I’m so busy with this place.” I gesture a hand around the building.

  Both of us look toward the front of the coffee shop when the door opens and the bell on top jingles. When I don’t recognize the man in the suit entering through the door, I glance at my watch to make sure we’re actually open this time. It isn’t like I’d turn a customer away, but it’s a good thing to remember.

  However, when Patti turns back to face me, her eyes are wide and her smile’s just as big. “Maybe you’ll make some time soon,” she says mischievously. She winks and then holds the bag and her coffee up in the air. “Thanks. We’ll catch up soon, okay?” After one last huge grin, she spins around, nods at the man approaching the counter, and heads out the door.

  Inwardly, I roll my eyes at her, but I’m smiling too. She’s probably still “honeymoon” happy, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be hopeful of good things to come. Even if it’s not of the romantic kind. It’s a good Monday, but I wasn’t kidding when I said I’m busy with this place. And the morning rush starts now.

  ***

  Jordan

  For fuck’s sake. Why is my phone ringing so goddamn early? When I grab it off my bedside table, my dad’s name is lighting the screen up. I don’t know why he thinks he needs to call me right now, but I guarantee he doesn’t.

  “Hello?” I say when I answer, sleep making my voice gravelly.