A Convenient Arrangement(47)
Gwen’s gaze whipped toward Aubrey. “You’re having a girl?”
“Oh my God”—Aubrey clapped her hands to her mouth—“I can’t believe I said that out loud. Justin doesn’t even know.”
“I can’t believe you know!” Gwen covered her own mouth with her fingers, her eyes widening in shock. “And you didn’t tell him?”
Aubrey’s eyebrows pressed together and she shook her head. Guilt threaded through her eyes. “It was awful. I went in for an ultrasound and Justin was meant to come, but he had to fly to London last minute. And I’m lying there, all alone, and the doctor says to me, ‘Do you want to know the sex?’ And of course I wanted to know, but we’d agreed not to find out. But then I saw her, you know, all wiggly on the screen and I just—” Aubrey’s gaze fluttered down to her belly. “I said, ‘Can you tell me?’ And the doctor smiled and I caved like a house of cards in a wind tunnel. I said yes and she told me. I couldn’t help it.” She looked up at Gwen. “I feel so embarrassed. Justin doesn’t want to know and if he finds out that I know, then he’ll make me tell him. Which will ruin the entire surprise.”
“So you’re lying.” Gwen smiled at her friend to soften her words.
“Not lying, just keeping a secret.”
“Difference?”
“One is mean and the other is for a person’s benefit. Like killing someone versus a surprise party.”
“That’s an interesting analogy.” Gwen hoisted her purse strap onto her shoulder. “But I’ll let you go with it. Are you ever going to tell Justin that you knew before him?”
“Maybe when she graduates high school?” Aubrey smiled hopefully.
“A girl? Oh my. That means pink and ribbons and bows and ballet shoes.” Gwen beamed as she envisioned a frilly future for her friend’s baby. Aubrey blushed. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you. See you Saturday. And don’t forget—you have an open invite to bring your guy over for dinner on Sunday.”
“I won’t forget.” As if she could. She and Leo had already planned on coming to Sunday lunch together, although she still wasn’t sure she could go through with it. She gave Aubrey a peck and headed for the door. “You’ll see me on Saturday and Sunday.”
“And the guy?” Aubrey called after her.
“We’ll see,” Gwen called back. And so would everyone else.
*
“You ready for a gaggle of giggling women to descend on your place tomorrow?” Leo asked. The cold air bit into his face. Justin had suggested an outdoor evening run, and it had seemed like a good idea. Now he wondered why. The gym was good, the equipment worked well, and yet, when his brother had appeared in his office an hour before with the idea, Leo had agreed.
“Ha! More like, are you ready. Between Gwen and Aubrey and Nina and Shelly and Mrs. Bello, I’m surrounded most days. Besides its a couples’ shower. Plenty of men. Don’t worry—you won’t feel too outnumbered.”
Leo picked up the pace, pushing himself and his brother to sprint around the corner, into the final mile back toward their office building.
“Speaking of couples,” Justin panted, “you bringing this woman you’ve been dating?’
Leo’s heart jolted in his chest. “Dating?”
“The one you cooked dinner for? I’m guessing she’s the same one you’ve been dodging work to see.”
“I’m not dodging work,” Leo grumbled. He was putting in his time as he always did. Granted, he had to work much harder to focus because thoughts of Gwen infiltrated his mind every other minute. “Besides it’s new, we’re—”
“Don’t say you’re not serious.”
Leo cut his gaze over toward his brother. Justin’s face held a smug older-brother look Leo could see even through the growing twilight gloom.
“I’ve watched the parade of women you’ve blown through, and this one is different. Don’t even try to say that she’s not.”
Leo nodded. Justin was correct. Gwen was different. Different type. Different feelings. Different expectations, and perhaps even a different outcome.
“Bring her.”
“Can’t. She’s kind of—” How to put it? “She’s more private than the women I’ve dated in the past.”
“Not a bad thing. At least she’s not using you to up her public image.”
No. Gwen wasn’t using him for that. In fact, she seemed to think word getting about them dating could be more of a social liability than an asset. The brothers pulled up short in front of the offices. Leo walked in tight circles, trying to catch his breath.