The Proposition(27)
“For the boys?”
She nodded.
“Of course not. I need to head on down to my meeting anyway.”
“So, see you Friday night?”
Aidan winked and then smacked her ass. “See you then.”
CHAPTER NINE
Two Weeks Later
Emma tried with every fiber of her being not to eye the red circled date on her desk calendar for the hundredth time. Her period was late--two days, two sleepless nights, seventeen hours, and fifty-two minutes late to be precise. Since she had always been like clock-work, her frayed nerves were working in overdrive. Sure, it was physically possible for the first time to have been a charm. But was it also possible her body was so ready to be a mother and Aidan was such a sex God they had experienced immediate success?
If the glaring circled date wasn’t enough to send her over the edge, there was always today’s heart encircled one. She wondered why she felt the need to mark it when there was no possible way she could ever forget its important. It had been seared and branded on her heart and soul.
Today was the two year anniversary of her mother’s death.
Just as anguished tears pricked her eyes, Casey popped her head in the door. “Come on, chick. I’m taking you to lunch.”
Emma smiled. She didn’t bother hiding the fact she had been crying. Casey knew the importance of the day as well. Last year, she had plied Emma with alcohol and chocolate and then spent the night, holding her in bed as she wept uncontrollably. “That’s sweet of you to offer, but really, I don’t mind just staying here.”
“And what kind of best friend would I be if I left you here alone on today of all days?”
“The kind who recognizes how I shut-down emotionally during times of duress and withdraw from my family and friends?” Emma asked hopefully.
Casey snorted. “Nope, it’s not happening. You need a bottomless margarita, some highly fattening food, and a dessert dripping in chocolate and calories. And I’m going to have the immense pleasure of supplying it.”
Emma knew it was pointless to argue with Casey. Besides, she really did want to get out of the office and try to get her mind off things for a while. So she rose out of her chair and smiled. “Fine then. If you’re paying, then I’m going to eat, drink, and be merry!”
“That’s my girl.”
As they started down on the elevator, Casey asked, “You don’t mind if Nate joins us, do you?”
“Of course not. I haven’t gotten to see him in forever.”
“You and me both. Ugh, I think I’m going to have to start running over to the hospital on my lunch break for a quickie.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “You’re terrible.”
When they arrived at the restaurant, Nate already had a booth waiting on them. He rose out of his seat to hug Emma. “How are you holding up, Emmie Lou?” he asked. She fought the urge to smile at hearing her granddaddy’s childhood nickname on Nate’s lips. It was one Travis loved to tease her with, and when Nate had overhead him, he thought it was hysterical and automatically adopted it.
Thankfully, Emma knew his question related to her mother’s anniversary, not her late period. “I’m hanging in there. Some days are better than others.”
He nodded and patted her back. As he resumed his seat, Casey nudged Emma to sit beside him. She knew Casey didn’t want her having to sit alone. “No, no, you guys hardly get to see each other,” Emma protested.
“It’s better this way. I can stare into Nate’s eyes sitting across from him.”
“Most of all, it will keep her from molesting me under the table,” Nate replied, with a wink.
Emma snickered and slid in beside him. Casey eased down across from them. After the waitress left with their drink orders, a sharp pain seized Emma’s abdomen, and she gripped her menu tighter.
Casey immediately picked up on her distress. “What’s the matter?”
She cut her eyes over at Nate and then back to Casey and shook her head. The last thing she wanted was to discuss womanly issues in front of him—intern or not. And even though he was more than just Casey’s fiancée—he was a good and trusted friend—it still bothered her. “Oh nothing.”
“Shit, you aren’t cramping, are you?”
Emma felt her cheeks warming as she tried to hide behind her menu. “I said it’s nothing.”
Casey rolled her eyes. “Oh for fuck’s sake, Em. Nate knows all about vaginas and ovaries, so quit acting embarrassed in front of him.”
“I’m not acting embarrassed…I am embarrassed!” Emma replied.
Ignoring Emma, Casey looked pointedly at Nate. “You know how Em’s been hitting it with Aidan to get pregnant?” He nodded. “Well, she’s two days late for her period now.”