“How will I ever pay you back?” I moan, putting my face in my hands. My life is such a mess.
“We’re family. You mean the world to me, and I can’t wait to be Uncle Jeff to your little bump.” He pulls my hands from my face and pulls me in for a hug. He gives the absolute best hugs, and yes, my eyes fill up with tears at his words. “Now, no crying. Grab your coat and let’s go. I won’t take no for an answer.” He pushes me away and I go to my room to retrieve my coat.
Papa’s is busy, but it’s no surprise with it being Friday night. Jeff is leading me through the crowded place and every table is full. I wonder if we’re going to sit at the special kitchen table. We make our way to the back, and when I move to the side to avoid a customer getting up from his seat, I see two people I truly want to avoid. They’re waving to us, and Jeff pulls me with him to their table. Later, we’ll have a heated discussion, but I put on a smile and both Liam and Colin take turns hugging me and telling me they’re happy to see me.
I know Drew won’t be joining us, as the Internet says he’s in Australia on a job. Yes, I may have been stalking him recently. Jeff avoids my eyes and I think of ways I can get him back for his deception, making me believe this was a spur-of-the-moment decision.
“We’ve missed you two.” Liam’s eyes sweep both of us, but linger longer on Jeff.
“The loft isn’t the same without you, Dora. When are you coming back? Jeff says you’re temporarily with him because of the bad weather and he worries about you driving to school in it,” Colin says, and I restrain from eye-rolling at such a lame explanation.
“I know it’s more convenient, and now that Jeff has a two-bedroom, it’s handy. You guys have been traveling a lot, so I would’ve been alone anyway.” There’s a huge elephant in the room. Nobody is talking about Drew and me, and maybe they don’t know? But surely he would have told them. They’ve been best friends forever.
“Oh, it’sa my favorite people in the wholea wide world. How did you sneaka in here?” Papa’s loud voice makes me jump a little.
Tears well up in my eyes as he leans down and kisses my cheek and hugs me. Then it’s Mama’s turn, and our table erupts in laughter as they tell us about the crazy customers they’ve had in lately. We order, and when the food arrives it smells delicious as always.
My mouth waters, but as soon as I take a bite of perfectly made lasagna, my stomach rolls and I reach for the bottle of antacids in my bag. I bend down like I’ve lost my napkin and throw two in my mouth. I chew them quickly and then sit up to find three sets of eyes fixed on me.
“Napkin fell,” I say, and they continue eating.
It’s hard to pretend to eat. I finally give up and ask for a doggie bag, which makes Papa’s eyebrows rise. I’ve never needed a to-go bag in all the years I’ve been coming here. He looks at me suspiciously, but says nothing.
“So, how’s Drew?” Trust Jeff to drop the bomb. Nobody has mentioned him, and we might have gone all evening without saying his name. Now I have two bones to pick with him, and it won’t be pleasant. Just the mention of his name makes me tear up a little.
“He’s been working hard, and he’s really unhappy. We haven’t ever seen him this unhappy.” Liam states without looking in my direction.
“Yeah, he’s really down, and he won’t let us in. He’s flying in from Milan tonight.” Colin does look at me. In fact, his eyes are glued to mine.
“Sorry to hear that. Did he mention why?”
Jeff, I swear—shut your mouth. But secretly I’m waiting for the answer, my nerves strung tightly.
“We all know the reason. All he said was he has no idea what he did wrong. Everything was going well, and poof, you were gone.” I wish Colin would look at someone else.
“Well, we should probably head out. Jeff and I have an early class tomorrow.”
I get up quickly, and whoa, dizzy much? Jeff grabs my arm and steadies me so I don’t fall over. I say my quick goodbyes, and then push my way out of the restaurant, not waiting to see if Jeff is following. I’ll walk back to the apartment if I have to, but Jeff catches up with me at the front door and holds it open. We say nothing to each other as we make our way to the car. The silence between us continues until we’re in his living room. Jeff pushes me gently onto the couch and then plops down beside me.
“Sounds like Drew isn’t very happy.” Jeff puts his arm around me so I can’t flee.
“Maybe Angela dumped him,” I quip, and my heart skips a beat thinking it might be true.
“Or maybe, like Liam and Colin suggested, it’s you he’s missing.” Jeff’s arm tightens around me. He’s good. He knows that if he wasn’t holding me, I’d flee to my room. “You’re going to sit here, and we’re going to discuss this. No excuses, not even if you throw up everywhere. It won’t deter me. Drew is miserable, and it’s because of you. Liam says he’s been like a zombie, and they’re worried about him. You need to talk to him and explain why you left like you did. You need to call him. He comes back tonight. You don’t have to tell him about the baby, but I think you need to talk, and tell him the truth. Think about it. Think hard. I think you’re wrong about him—hell, I know you are. He’s suffered for more than four months, and it’s time to tell him you love him and you want to be with him.”
Jeff releases me, gets up and without another word, he goes into his room and shuts the door. That’s it. He tells me I love Drew and that’s it.
Do I love Drew? That would explain why my heart felt shattered when I left him. Not to mention all the buckets of tears I’ve shed. Am I too late? Drew comes home tonight. Do I have the courage to call him? What if he doesn’t love me? What about our baby?
Oh hell, it’s our baby. Not mine, but ours. Could we make it work? He’s famous and jets all over the world, and I’m a nobody with a psychic mother and a crazy family. I wonder if he’s home yet. I just have to call him to find out. But what do I say?
Well, here goes nothing.
I pluck my phone out of my back pocket and hit one on my phone. Yeah, I have him on speed dial under number one. Liam is number four. Yeah, I know I’m buying into his superstition.
My stomach clenches. I feel sick. What if he sees an unknown number calling and doesn’t answer? It’s still ringing, and then I hear him say, “Hello.”
“Hi, it’s me Dora. Drew, I need to talk to you…if you want to, that is.”
He’s silent and I almost hang up. I fear he’ll say no and my heart will never, ever mend.
“Yes, I think we do.” I feel relief. His deep husky voice makes me shiver.
“When are you free? Maybe we could do lunch on Saturday?” I hope he says sooner. It’s only Tuesday, and I don’t think I can wait that long.
“I’m coming over now,” he says firmly, and I want to do a happy dance, but I know my legs won’t support me. They’re like watery Jell-O. “Dora, are you there? Is that all right?”
“Yes. Do you need directions?”
“No, I’ve known where you’ve been since … well, we’ll discuss that once I get there.”
“Be careful. See you soon.” I don’t know what else to say.
“I will.”
And then click, he’s gone. I stare at my phone. I can’t believe that just happened. He wants to see me. I’ve got to go do my hair and freshen up and change clothes. I scramble, as fast as my pregnant self will allow, to my room to get ready.