“We are,” she answered, looking almost bored, “but beauty comes in all shapes and sizes—Lil and I aren’t ones to pass up a gorgeous opportunity if it comes strolling right into our life. Take Nick, for example. The man is damn fine. So fine that the fact that he’s a man has been rendered virtually irrelevant. Now if he showed any interest in—”
I cut her off swiftly, holding up a silencing hand. Stacy Heathrow was hands-down one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen. I knew for a fact that I would sleep a whole lot easier if Nick wasn’t aware that offer was on the table.
“Let’s just...get back to the story,” I prompted. “So, you were getting a slice of pizza—”
“I was getting a slice of pizza, and who should I meet at the little cart but Raphael. Now, as it turned out, it was his first time eating carbs in years as well, and so naturally, one thing led to another—”
“Wait a minute.” I whipped around again, trying to keep it all straight. “You’re telling me that because you and some random stranger are both viscerally frightened of bread—you had sex with him and suddenly you’re pregnant?”
I hated to say it, but stranger things had happened in this city.
“No,” she shook her head as if I was being very slow, “I called up my girlfriend first, so we could all have a threesome. But then, yes. And it turns out I’m pregnant.”
My eyes widened, but I shook it off as best I could. If anyone could make a baby from a slice of pizza, it was Stacy Heathrow. And as neurotic as the fashionista might be, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that she would make an incredible mom.
“Well, I’m glad you came all the way down here to tell me.” I frowned as the words played back in my head. “Stacey...why did you come all the way down here to tell me?”
She clapped her hands together briskly, pleased that we’d finally reached her point.
“Well—Lily had to jet off to Barcelona for a conference or some nonsense, and I’m having my first ultrasound today. I need someone to go with me.”
My heart melted, as my eyes misted over.
“And you wanted me?” I was profoundly touched. “You wanted me for moral support—”
“No, genius—I wanted you to hold my eight thousand dollar handbag while they lather me up, so I don’t have to set it down on linoleum.” She shuddered at the very thought. “Plus, seeing as you and the billionaire are still playing house, you’re the only person I know right now who’s technically unemployed.”
I blinked in disbelief, as she pushed to her feet with a smile.
“So come on—the appointment’s in twenty minutes.” She flashed me devilish wink on the way out. “Unless you want me to help you and Nick finish what you started...”
Chapter 21
EXACTLY TWENTY MINUTES later, I was sitting in the waiting room of the most sought after OB/GYN in all of Manhattan. Stacy’s precious handbag was in one hand, and a magazine was in the other. I had at least four hours to kill before I had to start getting ready for the party, so I flipped through it at a leisurely pace—reading through the testimonials of other women who had suddenly found themselves on a path to motherhood they never imagined.
“What’s wrong?” Stacy asked. “Do the magazines make you uncomfortable?”
I sighed. “Maybe.”
“Why? Because you’ll never have that with Nick? I mean because he can’t settle down long enough to have a baby.”
“He doesn’t have to settle down to have a baby. It only takes one roll in the hay.”
“I know.” She pointed to her stomach. “Tell me about it. Now what’s wrong?”
“I’m late.”
“Late for what? I’m more important than any event you have planned, Abby!”
I peered at her. “My period is late.”
“Oh no!”
“Oh yes. I’ve been so busy, I haven’t been paying attention.”
“When was the last time you had your period?”
I blushed a little, but we were the only two women in the room.