Amanda jumped up and started clapping. Heather rolled her eyes, and Ellie walked over and reached out her hand to help me up. As Amanda and Heather walked out the door first, Ellie held me back.
“Are you okay, Ari? You feeling okay, sweets?”
I let out a sigh and felt the tears building in my eyes.
“Were you scared, Ells?”
“To get married? Yeah, Ari, I was scared to death. ”
“This is all I’ve ever wanted, Ellie. I’ve only ever wanted to be with him to wake up next to him every morning, and to go to sleep next to him every night. I want to have babies, have fights, make up, and kiss in the rain with him. He is the only one I want to do those things with. So why am I so damn scared? I mean, I’m having his baby in six months. This should be nothing!”
Ellie smiled that smile only she can give me, and I was calmed within seconds.
“Baby, you’re getting married in two days to the love of your life, and you’re carrying his baby. Smile, baby girl. You’re going to be the most beautiful bride ever. You won’t even need makeup because that pregnancy glow fits you perfectly. ”
I slammed my body into Ellie and hugged the shit out of her. “I love you, Ellie Mathews. I love you so much. ”
“I love you, too, Ari. Come on, let’s go have some fun. By the way, I sent Gunner a text a little bit ago. They’re staying at the lake house and playing poker. He promised that there will be no women, so don’t worry. They’ll probably behave better than us. ”
***
We headed out to dinner first, and I never laughed so hard in my life. It was so nice to be with my three very best friends.
“Oh god, I love Maudie’s so damn much. I could eat here every day. ” Amanda said as she leaned back and put her hands on her stomach.
I smiled at her because she truly looked happy. As much as she had bitched about her monster-in-law she was so incredibly happy with Brad.
I thought back to the night of her wedding. It was the first time Jeff and I had made love. The memories flooded my brain, causing me to drift away from everyone.
Setting my hands on my stomach, I closed my eyes. I was getting married in two days, and I was fifteen weeks pregnant. Although I was barely showing a bump, my wedding dress had to be altered just a little.
I looked up at Ellie, and she smiled at me. My heart was breaking for her because I knew how much she wanted to have a baby. She was such a damn good friend because she never showed how sad she was.
Just then, I felt a flutter in my stomach. Butterflies? There it went again. Could it be?
“Holy fuck!” I shouted out.
Ellie stood up quickly spilling her water all over Heather. Heather jumped and hit the table, her tea spilt everywhere. Amanda pushed back her chair, as she laughed her ass off, and I just sat there.
“Fuck a duck, Ari, what the hell is wrong with you?” Ellie said. She was trying to wipe water off of her while staying out of the way of the poor waitress cleaning up the rest of the spilled water and tea.
“I think I just felt the baby!” I said. I just sat there with my hands on my stomach.
“What?” All three of my friends, and our waitress shouted out at once.
“But you’re only fifteen weeks pregnant. I thought that didn’t happen until after sixteen weeks. ” The ever-accurate Heather pointed out.
I just stared at her.
Ellie came running over and got down on her knees.
“Oh my god…oh my god…oh my god. Move your hand, I want to feel my niece…or nephew!”
Amanda started laughing. Brad’s mother was an OB, and Amanda had started working for her part time, helping out on days she didn’t have classes.
“Ell
s, I hate to tell you this, but you’re not going to be able to feel the baby yet. Only Ari can at this early stage. ”