Suzy, Ella, and Claire stood there looking at her. Suzy looked disgusted, Claire looked amused, and Ella looked as she always did, supportive. “Ugh, I know that look. She’s either thinking about the last time she got lucky or she just got lucky in her office. Just for the record, Claire, as an owner of this company, now objects to any sexual activity in her building, right, Claire?”
Claire looked at Suzy and laughed. “Um. . . . Sure, yes, whatever she says.”
Beth stuck out her tongue at Suzy and grabbed her purse to join them. They all chatted about their mornings until they were in Suzy’s SUV. Suzy turned in her seat and looked over at her sister sitting in the rear seat. “Let’s go ahead and address the elephant in the room. I told Claire you have a bun in the oven. You know I suck at keeping secrets from her. Now all of us know and you don’t have to sit through lunch wondering.”
She could feel her cheeks flushing as Claire gave her a sympathetic look. Ella, bless her heart, quickly changed the subject. The conversation was light and easy and Beth was just starting to relax after placing her lunch order when Suzy decided to move in for the kill. “So, what’s the status on the whole marriage, white-picket-fence thing that Nick’s trying to sell you?”
You really had to give Claire credit. She didn’t even look surprised by her best friend’s abrupt question. Ella was looking like she wanted to crawl under the table. She still hadn’t gotten used to Suzy’s direct way of getting straight to the point. “Nothing’s really changed; he still wants to marry me, but I told him it’s not gonna happen. Boy, if you think he was pissed off over that, you should have seen his expression when I told him I was still going on my date tonight with Seth. Now, that was a Kodak moment if I’ve ever seen one.”
“Whoa, wait a second. Who’s Seth?” Suzy demanded.
Beth immediately cringed. Way to go, Big Mouth. Now you’ve moved Suzy up to DEFCON, level 5. Lie or tell the truth? Crap, he’s probably already told Gray, so you might as well come clean. “Um, just a guy from the dating service.” Have you lost your mind? No one else knows about the dating service! Three sets of eyes were riveted on her and she fought the urge to slap her hand across her mouth in horror.
“Shit, I need a drink. Someone might have to drive us back to work because I don’t think I can handle any more of this story sober,” Suzy said, groaning. Beth thought she was kidding until she flagged a waiter down and ordered a grande margarita. She held her hand up to keep everyone silent until the large drink was sitting in front of her. After a dramatic gulp, she said, “All right, let’s hear it.”
Nervously stirring her drink with a straw, Beth said, “I . . . I, um, joined a dating service a while back. It’s no big deal. I just wanted to meet some new people.”
Looking stunned, Suzy asked, “You joined a dating service while you were sleeping with Nick?”
“Oh, no, it was right before. Since Nick and I aren’t really in a relationship, I’ve still been dating casually.” Oh, God, they are all staring at me. Why did Ella look so shocked? She knew about the dating service. Beth had even tried to talk Ella into joining with her.
“Sis, I’m not a cheerleader for Nick or anything, but how can you still be dating when you are involved with him? Doesn’t he notice how often you are busy?”
“It’s usually only once or twice a week. He just assumes I’m with Ella. I’m not lying to him; he just doesn’t ask,” she defended herself.
With a smile, Claire said, “Well, in his defense, he is Nick Merimon. As much as I love my husband and as sexy as he is, I can still appreciate the fact that Nick is hot, hot! It probably never occurred to him to think that you were seeing anyone else. I’m betting this is the first time . . . ever. Just out of curiosity, why are you automatically counting him out? You obviously have feelings for him or you wouldn’t be practically living together. Why won’t you give him a chance? He’s said he wants to marry you and raise this baby with you.”
Beth’s shoulders suddenly slumped as she whispered what she already knew. “Because he’ll leave. I can’t let myself get attached to him. I know I am not the type of woman that someone like Nick will end up with.”
“Has he said something to you?” Suzy demanded. “I’ll kick his ass. Who does he think he is running my sister down? You’re way too good for him!”
Suzy was getting to her feet, her face enraged, but Beth managed to pull her back down. “No, no it’s not that. Nick has never said anything negative to me.” Looking down, she added, “He seems to love my body . . . a lot. I just know it won’t last, though. I’ve always known that we were short-term.”