"This family life is stealing you from me." Jennifer whines as we meet up for lunch. She gives me a big hug and kisses on both cheeks. "We barely see each other!"
"I know, Jen. I'm sorry." I say, sitting down opposite her. "But what can I say, I'm really enjoying my life the way it is right now. I'm happy."
"It shows." Jen smiles, picking up the menu before she puts it down again. "I know what I'm going to have." She always orders the same here.
"What's new with you?" I ask, unsure if I'm even hungry. I'm just going to have something to drink.
"Nothing! My life's so boring these days." She sighs, resting her chin on her clenched fist. "You were the glue that kept our group together. All of a sudden, everyone's so busy now."
"Are you still seeing Tom?"
"Occasionally." Jennifer shrugs. "It's not going to turn out to be the greatest love story of all time. All he wants is sex." She groans, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, well, guys our age are like that usually." I chuckle lightly and face our waiter. He greets us with a grin, we're regulars at this place.
"So, I should find a grandfather for myself like you did?" Jen teases, when we're left alone.
"Jesus! Lindsey is not that old." I roll my eyes. "He's the most wonderful man I've ever met in my life."
"Is he that good in bed or something? I mean, he must be experienced." She laughs loudly, some other customers look our way.
"If you must know, he is very experienced." I smirk, sitting back in my chair.
"Seriously though, do you see yourself having a life with him? Like getting married and having children?" Jennifer asks, all kidding aside.
"I do." I nod my head and answer firmly.
"But you haven't done all the things in life you've dreamed of doing, Stevie. You're still so young!"
"And? I can do it all with him." I shrug my shoulders, looking away. "I know you won't understand, but it's real what he and I have. Since I met him, I don't care about going out and partying anymore, I don't care to look at other guys either. I love him."
"Out of all my girlfriends, I never thought you'd be the fisrt to settle down and so fast." She shakes her head.
"I know." I agree, I never believed I would either. "Actually..."
"Yeah?" Jen raises her eyebrow. "Go on."
The waiter returns and we thank him. Jennifer urges me to talk, but I'm not sure I should. I mean, I don't even know if there's anything to tell. But she is my best friend and we know everything about each other...
"I'm- I'm late."
"For what?" She frowns. "Oh. OH!"
"Yeah." I chuckle at her reaction. "Lindsey's coming in about an hour and we're going to the doctor's."
"Wait, Stevie. Are you serious? Is this even what you want at this point in your life?"
"I do." I say without hesitation. "And if by this point in my life you mean me being happy with a man I love, then I absolutely do."
"I thought you were on the pill." Jen says, sticking a fork into her salad.
"I was." Nodding my head I reply. "But Lindsey's son, Harry, has been spending time at our place and I realized how much I want to be a mother. So, I talked to Lindsey and..." I trail off, shrugging my shoulders.
"You've changed a lot." Jen sips from a glass of water. "Not in the bad way. I'm actually happy for you that at twenty one, you know what you want to do with your life."
"Before I met Lindsey, I tried to figure out what I should be doing, I couldn't decide if I wanted to study, what kind of job I'd like to have, but then it became clear. I love taking care of him and I would love to be able to take care of our baby."
"You're going to make me cry." Jen chuckles tearfully. "My best friend's all grown up!"
We chat for another half an hour or so, until I see Lindsey coming towards me from a distance. He greets Jennifer with a hello, then bends over to give me a kiss. We know what's happening next and we're both nervous, but we don't voice it. I get up and give a hug to Jen, we say goodbye, she makes me swear I'll let her know and then Lindsey and I walk away hand in hand.
We get to Lindsey's car and before he starts the engine, he laces his fingers through mine, looking at me. "Are you ready?"
Taking a deep breath, I nod my head. "I'm ready."
