Modern Girl's Guide to Friends With Benefits (33 page)

"I don't have an opinion," Megan said, flopping back onto the sofa and staring up at the ceiling. "They're both white. All these wedding choices are stupid."

"Yes, we all know you don't like weddings. We didn't even get past picking out invitations when planning your wedding," Julia laughed. "But this is my wedding, and I care."

"Getting married at the courthouse was probably the smartest thing I've ever done." Megan gestured around the table. "There are too many pointless things you have to decide. Does it really matter?"

"I know no one cares what plate I pick," Julia said, gathering the photos and stuffing them back into the binder. "But this is a big step for me, and it's important to Simon. You're my matron of honor and his sister, so I want your opinion. There's not much left, and then I promise we'll move on to the wine selection."

Megan grumbled under her breath about all the stupid wedding crap and went back to waving and smiling at Izzy. The baby reached out for her and Beth looked up from the wedding notebook.

"Do you want to hold her?" she asked.

"I don't think so," Megan said as though Beth had offered her a live bomb.

"I'll take her," Kim said. She picked up the little girl and cradled her in her arms, making silly faces. "She is so sweet. Every time I come back for our monthly team meetings, I swear she's twice as big."

"She's got those Carver genes," Beth said. "She was in the ninety-eighth percentile on her three-month checkup."

"This is my favorite age," Kim said. The baby in her lap reached out and made a grasping motion in Megan's direction. "I loved looking after my brothers when they were this age."

"You don't need me for this. I'm going to go into the kitchen and open those wine bottles so they can breathe," Megan said, getting up quickly. She had to run out of the room before her friends saw the tears.

Seriously, what the fuck?
Megan loved Izzy. But the sight of the baby was flipping her out.

All she could think about was that stupid pregnancy test. What if they couldn't? She was already thirty. Wasn't there some statistic about dropping fertility for women in their thirties? Or was that forties? What if they'd already missed their chance?

Julia came in and grabbed one of the bottles. Luckily, Megan had finally gotten herself under control.

"Don't feel bad. No one else is interested in picking out china. So let's end the day by doing a wine tasting." She used air quotes on the last words.

"I think I might pass. Something we ate today didn't agree with me."

Julia frowned and pressed a hand against her forehead. "Are you dying? Be honest with me. I don't think I've ever heard you turn down wine."

Megan stepped back and frowned, not at all amused. She wanted to confide in Julia about her fears. But the back door opened and Peter strolled in.

Peter caught Meg around her waist and pulled her in to kiss her. It was his favorite part of coming home. "How's my best girl?"

"She's refusing wine," Julia said. "I was about to call the ambulance."

Peter looked down at Megan and tried to hide his surprise. Could she be? This soon? They just started trying.

"Don't get too excited," Meg said, patting his shoulder and grabbing the other bottle. "I'm fine. I think the cod cakes were bad. You should stick with the salmon. Now if you two are done playing nursemaid."

"What was that about?" Julia asked.

"She's between books," he said, trying to make light of Meg's sour mood. But he knew that look. It was the same she'd given him last month after the test came back negative. "You know how she gets."

Peter checked the freezer to make sure they were well stocked with ice cream. Once the wedding planning party broke up, he'd cheer her up.

"Hey, Peter," Kim said. "Where have you been? I missed you at the office yesterday."

She was bouncing Izzy on her knee and Meg was watching them intently. He needed to ask Matt if Beth was this crazy when they were trying for Izzy.

"I'm doing some training. And this afternoon, I had a little errand for my beautiful wife." He turned to Meg. "I talked to Connor and he gave me some tips for the plumbing. Whenever you're ready, I'll show you."

"Oh, kinky," Beth said with a wink.

"The bathroom plumbing, you pervert," Meg said, shaking her head. "But then again, I can see how that might confuse you. We all know about the public bathroom fetish you and Matt have."

"Everyone?" Beth asked, paling.

"Honey, you guys aren't exactly sneaky," Julia said while packing up the rest of the wedding stuff.

"Like you're one to talk," Beth quipped back. "Didn't you have to replace the sofa and the carpet at the lake house because of the curry stains?"

Julia turned bright red and finished packing the bag without further comment. Peter noticed that Kim was awfully quiet. "You should hang out with Kim more," he said to Meg, nodding over to her. "She seems to be the saintly one of the bunch."

Meg and Kim exchanged a look and burst out laughing.

"What's that about?" he asked, looking between the women.

"If it happens outside of work, I don't owe you an explanation," Kim said.

Before Peter could press the issue, Izzy took that moment to puke all over Kim.

"I'm sorry," Beth said, racing to get Izzy. "Let me get you a towel." With the little girl on her hip, Beth hurried back to the bathroom.

Kim crinkled her nose and frowned. "Babies are cute, but I'm glad I don't have one."

"Oh, God, Megan!" Beth said as she came around the corner, waving something in her hand. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Tell you what?" Peter asked.

"Because there's nothing to tell." Meg sagged back into the sofa and buried her head in her hands. "Yes, we're trying to get pregnant. Trying being the key word. I'm not, and I'm not in the mood to talk about it."

Beth tilted her head to the side. "You did read the directions, right?"

"You pee on a stick. It's not rocket science."

Beth tossed the test at her. "You have to wait at least five minutes. It's positive."

Peter didn't think anything would be able to top the day she said she'd marry him. But when Meg looked up from that pregnancy test with tears brimming in her whiskey-colored eyes, he knew this was just the beginning of a million perfect days.

Have You Joined The Inner Circle?

Gina's Inner Circle readers get all the good stuff. With freebies, extended content, and exclusive emails, The Inner Circle is the best place to be. Join the fun at:
http://ginadrayer.com/subscribe/

If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review on
AMAZON
or
GOODREADS
.

Whether you want to leave a simple two-sentence review, or a detailed analysis of the characters, every review is appreciated. Reviews help other readers discover new books and determine whether or not it's something they want to read!

THANK YOU!

Don't Miss These Other Titles

Modern Girl's Guide Series

MGG: Vacation Flings
- Beth and Matt's Story
Also on
Audible
.

A Chance meeting, a fake relationship, a two-week transatlantic cruise, and tequila.

What could go wrong?

MGG: One-Night Stands
- Julia and Simon's Story

She never expected to see her one-night stand ever again.

But thing got complicated when Julia's fling turned out to be her friend's brother.