“To just take a risk,” Dylan seconds.
Risks. Chances. Shots.
As I consider the men surrounding me, I have to ask myself if they’re taking bigger chances than I am.
Honestly, it’s not that hard to answer.
And later, it’s not that hard to figure out what I need to do to put myself on the line.
Thirty-Eight
Nicole
My phone rings late on a Tuesday evening.
Late for me, I should say.
It’s nearly nine, and I’m tired because, well, I’m baking another person in my oven. I turn down the volume on the basketball game and grab the phone from the table. “Let us in,” Penny demands when I answer.
“You’re here?”
“Yes, buzz us in now or we’ll throw garter belts and stockings at your window.”
“Such hooligans.” A minute later, I open the door, and Penny and Delaney march into my place. Ruby barks a happy hello.
“Well, hello there,” Delaney says to me and then my dog.
“Hello there to you, too. What brings you here at this hour?”
“It’s not that late, and we love you.” Penny shuts the door behind them and coos at Ruby, who then offers a full flank for proper petting. Naturally, Penny obliges for a minute.
My friends head to my couch and take their spots. I park myself between them as Ruby sprawls on the carpet, watching us with avid interest.
Penny reaches into a canvas bag she has with her. She takes out a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. “We’re getting you buzzed first.”
“On ice cream?”
“Of course,” Delaney says. “It’s like a pregnant woman’s vodka, right?”
“I’ve no idea where that logic comes from, but I’m not turning down chocolate therapy.” I pop open the pint then stretch my arm toward the kitchen and grunt. “Can’t. Reach. Spoons. From. Here.”
Delaney rolls her brown eyes. “You only have three and a half more months to use that excuse to get us to do things for you.”
“Four months,” I mutter, thinking that Ryder probably knows precisely how many days are left.
“Besides, I brought spoons.” Delaney grabs three metal spoons from the bag, along with a huge dog bone.
I give her a look. “I know I’ve been hungry, but I’m not that hungry.”
Ruby leaps from the floor, rearranges herself into a proper sit, and stares unabashedly at the bone.
“Can I give it to her?” Delaney asks.
“You better.”
“Good girl.” Delaney offers the treat to Ruby, who returns to her bed, the bone in her jaw, and proceeds to bestow all the love in the universe on it.
I dig into the ice cream. After three bites of chocolate, I arch a brow. “Why are you here, again? Besides your boundless love of me.”
“Funny you should ask,” Penny says as she dives in for a spoonful. “We decided there’s something you need to add to your agenda tomorrow.”
“At my doctor’s appointment?”
They nod in unison, and Delaney goes next. “While you’re there, you should tell Ryder you love him.”
I nearly spit out my ice cream. “You can’t be serious?”
“Honey, you’re miserable without him,” Penny says sweetly.
I balance the pint on top of my curved belly. “Hey, look at that. No hands.”
“Nicole.” The admonishment comes from Penny.
“No, seriously.” I point with both hands to this amazing feat I’ve pulled off. “Have you ever seen a pregnant woman balance ice cream on her belly?”
Penny rolls her eyes. “I bet there are tons of YouTube videos of women balancing ice cream on their big bellies.”
I harrumph.
Delaney stares at me pointedly. “You are absolutely miserable.”
“Define miserable.”
Delaney gestures to my belly. “Balancing ice cream pints for amusement because you miss the man you were too scared to say you loved is the definition of miserable.”
I scoff.
“You do love him,” Delaney adds.
“Duh.”
“How much do you love him?” Penny asks.
I glance at my dog, chowing down on her bone. “Like a dog loves a bone.”
She smiles and claps with glee. “I love dog analogies.”
“I do, too, especially because you can’t fast-talk your way out of this,” Delaney says with a smirk. She drops a hand to my knee. “And what does a dog do with a bone?”
My eyes stray to Ruby. Her paws grip the bone fiercely. Her jaw is wrapped tight around it. I glare at them and grumble. “You two set me up for that.”
They cackle evilly.
“A dog doesn’t let go,” I answer.
Delaney squeezes my knee. “Don’t you let go, either.”