Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
No one saw me enter the room, so I leaned against the wall and stayed silent.
“Don’t you have to be at the toy store?” Evelyn asked.
Brystol stared at her. “It’s seven in the morning, and we don’t even open until ten. Are you keeping tabs on me, Eve?”
“No, of course not, but it looks like you just woke up.”
Laughing, Brystol said, “Because I did.”
Denny looked over and saw me. He got a huge smile on his face—and then, as if he remembered something, a look of panic suddenly appeared.
“Evelyn, Brystol is fine, let’s head out.”
As Denny tried to block Evelyn’s view of me, I realized he didn’t want her to see me at Brystol’s house for some reason, so I turned and tried to leave the room…when I heard my name.
“Gavin? What are you doing here?”
Closing my eyes, I silently cursed.
Slowly, I turned and smiled. “Hey, Denny, Evelyn.”
Evelyn looked from me to Brystol, back to me, and finally to Brystol again. “Oh my God.”
“Evelyn,” Denny warned.
“Are you sleeping with him?” Evelyn asked her best friend.
Brystol’s mouth dropped open before she quickly snapped it shut. Then she folded her arms over her chest. “Why does it sound like you’re accusing me of something?”
Denny let out what sounded like a tired sigh.
“You’re pregnant with our baby!” Evelyn nearly shouted.
I quickly crossed over to Brystol. “Evelyn, I think you need to check yourself.”
“Gavin’s right, sweetheart, you’re tired and emotional.”
Evelyn pushed Denny’s hand away when he tried to grab hers. “You’re damn right I am, because I’ve been worried about her, and here she’s been having sex all night long with a guy she supposedly hates!”
“What?” Brystol and I said at the same time.
“You already know we moved on from that, Eve, I told you. You also know how I’ve always felt about Gavin.”
She closed her eyes briefly before saying, “And I’m happy you’re getting along so well with your high-school crush. But sleeping with him while you’re pregnant with my baby is a hard no.”
“Shit,” Denny said, as he sat down on the sofa and buried his head in his hands. He looked exhausted as well.
I looked at Brystol, who appeared to be counting to herself. She drew in a long breath and let it go.
“Nowhere in the contract I signed does it say I cannot be in a relationship with someone. Nothing I am doing with Gavin is causing, or will cause, any harm to your child. You cannot expect me to go through nine months completely alone and on my own.”
Evelyn looked unapologetic. “Of course I don’t. But you have us.”
When she pointed at herself and Denny, Brystol let out a bark of laughter. “You’re kidding, right? Please tell me you’re kidding, Evelyn. I’m…” Brystol’s words faded when it became clear Evelyn was dead serious.
“I just think it’s wrong. You’re pregnant with my baby, and you’re sleeping with someone.”
“So if I had been married, you wouldn’t have asked me?”
Evelyn frowned, not responding.
Denny stood. “I think it just caught Evelyn off guard. But we are very happy for you and Gavin. You mentioned a date last night, so I’m assuming you guys are dating?”
Brystol reached for my hand, and I gently squeezed it. “We are, and I’m not going to apologize for having a personal life. I agreed to carry a baby for you, but I didn’t agree to not living my own life.”
Evelyn seemed to snap out of the crazy she was currently in…somewhat. She nodded, looking away. “You’re right, and…I’m sorry. Denny’s right too. I’m just…I’m tired and not myself.”
Brystol didn’t say anything.
When the silence grew too long for Evelyn to take, she added, “I really am happy for you guys, and I’m glad to see you both finally woke up and…well…” She paused a moment, thinking. “I’m just happy for you both.”
“Thank you,” I said, squeezing Brystol’s hand again.
She nodded and said, “Thanks. Now, if that’s it, I need to change and go for a run. It’s my last chance to get one in before the turkey trot tomorrow.”
“What do you mean, run the turkey trot?” Evelyn asked.
Frowning, Brystol replied, “The Turkey Trot run. I participate yearly.”
I held my breath as Evelyn’s face turned red.
“Oh shit,” I whispered, and I swore I heard Denny say the same thing.
“You can’t run the turkey trot, Brystol!” Evelyn barked, her hands going to her waist.
Brystol slowly shook her head. “I’m sorry, what?”
“No, I am putting my foot down! You cannot run the marathon.”
I watched as Brystol’s facial expression changed from shock to anger to something I couldn’t pinpoint. She looked down at the floor for a long moment, then back at Evelyn.
“I knew this was going to be tough, being a surrogate. The counselor I had to see before the procedure told me that you might be clingy, or overly worried, or upset because you weren’t able to experience the things I would while carrying the baby. I told myself all of those things would be okay and work themselves out. That you’d have your moments…but you’re my best friend, and there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, that I wouldn’t endure for you. After all, I was carrying your baby before even having a child of my own. But of all the feelings I thought I’d experience, I never thought I’d feel the way I do now.”