“Just good? Or really good?”
As much as she wanted to downplay it right now, the happiness Gwen felt couldn’t be denied, and her smile stretched across her face. “Really good.”
Aubrey put down the iPad and clasped her hands together. “Oooh, we like really good. Tell me.”
“What’s to tell? He tried to cook on Friday, which was a complete fail, so we ordered Chinese food and stayed in.”
“And you stayed over.”
“Mmhm, I stayed over and then he came to my place on Saturday and I cooked, which I have to say was much better than his cooking.” Gwen sat on the corner of the bed. It wouldn’t hurt to tell Aubrey some of the details.
“Well, of course. You’re a great cook. I love your roasted chicken with rosemary potatoes.”
“That’s what I made. He loved it too.”
“And Sunday?
“Breakfast, a movie, and then he went home.”
“That’s it? Nothing since then?”
Gwen couldn’t hide her widening smile. Really, why should she?
“Stop! You’ve seen him every night?”
“Not every night,” Gwen hedged.
“Most every night?”
Gwen nodded. Aubrey beamed, but Gwen knew that Aubrey wouldn’t be nearly as happy if she had any idea who Gwen was talking about. She certainly wouldn’t be encouraging Gwen to see him.
“Monday and Tuesday,” Gwen whispered.
“That is every night.”
“We didn’t stay together on Sunday.”
“Puh-lease. The exception that proves the rule. This is going fast. You look so happy.” Aubrey rested a hand on her pregnant belly. “When do we get to meet him? You know you can’t hold me and Shelly off for long, and Nina will be back from Kansas soon. We have to see if this guy is okay for you. Give you our stamp of approval.”
Gwen’s stomach flipped. Uh-oh. No, Aubrey would not give her stamp of approval on this relationship. Nope. Instead, she’d be warning Gwen away and forcing Justin to have a serious conversation with Leo.
“Um, not just yet.” Gwen traced her fingertip along the embroidery of Aubrey’s duvet. “It’s…I mean, I just…”
“I get it. It’s new, and I understand. Everything seems so great and yet so fragile at the same time.”
Gwen looked up to meet Aubrey’s gaze. “Exactly.”
“And you don’t want to put any additional pressure on the relationship just yet,” Aubrey continued. “Almost as though all those outside influences could make the whole thing break, right?”
“It’s like you’re in my brain.” Gwen’s feeling of relief mingled with guilt. It felt lousy to be hiding things from a friend who understood her so well.
Aubrey nodded and put her palms together. “Fine, we’ll give you space.” Then a mischievous grin curved over her lips. “For a while.”
Gwen’s heart rate picked up speed.
“But if this thing lasts more than a month, come on, you’ve got to let us meet him.”
A month? She hoped this “thing” would last years, perhaps even a lifetime. Leo was…he was perfect. Exactly what she wanted in a man—charming, funny, handsome, successful. Plus, she’d spent the better part of two years working with and around him. She knew who Leo was on a professional level, and now she was learning about him on a personal level too. The evidence of Leo’s good qualities was drowning out the inner voice that clamored on and on about her fears: He was a commitment-phobe, a workaholic, a confirmed and dedicated bachelor, a man who eschewed having children, who didn’t want to settle down.
“I can do that,” Gwen conceded. “I mean, if it lasts.”
“If this guy is even half as taken with you as you are with him, then how could it not? I mean, the look in your eyes? I only see that when someone is madly in love. I know it’s early days, but you just…you’re glowing with joy.”
“You’re the one who’s supposed to be glowing.”
“Oh, I am glowing,” Aubrey said, stroking her hand over her belly. “The doctor said I can come to the launch party.” She picked up the iPad from the bed. “Everything with the baby looks good, and by the time that event happens it absolutely won’t matter if I go into labor.”
“That’s still a while off.”
“Tell me about it.” Aubrey released a sigh. “Everyone is being so nice, and I know I’m turning into a big complainer, but I can’t tell you how absolutely bored out of my mind I am.” She turned her attention toward the iPad. “I like these floral arrangements for the baby shower.” She pointed to a picture of cut roses tightly packed into a square vase. “Did you contact the venue?”