“Sure am, and Lord, am I hungry. This baby is already eating like Shea!” Elli said, rubbing her belly fondly. Audrey smiled down at Elli’s growing bump before looking up at the mommy-to-be. Elli looked amazing in a dark red skirt with a black-and-red blouse that flowed over her tummy perfectly. Of course, she wore red-and-black polka-dotted heels, and damn it, Audrey couldn’t help but think she wore them better than she did.
“You look amazing, Elli, honestly,” Audrey gushed while being green with envy. Elli was the perfect mother, a wonderful wife, and a business owner; add in her awesomeness, and she was everything Audrey wanted to be.
Lucky bitch.
“Aw thanks, Audrey. That means a lot; I’m feeling kinda blah lately.”
“Well, hopefully you’ll get out of that,” Audrey said, and Elli nodded.
“Yeah, I think it’s ’cause I miss my hubby. It’s hard when he’s gone,” she said sadly.
“That sucks, Elli. If you need anything, please let me know.”
Elli smiled widely at her before taking her hand in hers. “Thank you so much. I’m good. I got this … I think.”
Audrey giggled as Elli continued to smile. “Wanna join me for lunch?”
“I would love to,” Audrey answered.
With food in hand, the women entered a booth and sat across from each other. Elli smiled up at Audrey and said, “So, I talked to Fallon yesterday.”
“Oh God.” Audrey groaned jokingly.
Elli giggled as she waved her off. “Nothing bad, just she informed me that you’ve been hanging out with my star goalie.”
“Key word there, Elli, hanging, nothing more,” Audrey said dryly.
“I think it is more, and so does Fallon.”
“I don’t think y’all know what you’re talking about.”
Elli laughed, rolling her eyes as she took a bite out of her chicken-salad sandwich. It looked way better than Audrey’s salad and soup. Now Audrey wanted a sandwich. Damn it, she hated when she had food envy!
“I saw the way y’all were at Shelli’s birthday. I think it’s cute.”
Audrey shrugged her shoulders. “He’s easy to get along with.”
“Is that it?”
Audrey paused, and then looked up at Elli. She was bursting to tell someone and maybe Elli wasn’t the right person, but damn it, she asked!
“No,” Audrey gasped.
Elli looked up in surprise and then smiled. “Wow, I was only picking. I didn’t expect that at all.”
“I like him, like really like him. A lot. But, Elli, it’s just so hard. He so much younger than I am, and well, I’m scared he only wants sex. Plus, I’m supposed to be in love with this other guy, but to be honest with you, I haven’t thought about him except when he texts me. It’s insane, and I feel like a two-bit whore.”
Elli blinked twice, her sandwich halfway to her mouth. Placing it on her plate, she took in a deep breath. “Well, goodness me.”
“Right?!”
Elli smiled. “Audrey, the age thing is stupid. I wouldn’t even think twice about that.”
“But I’m almost twenty-nine; he just turned twenty-one!”
“So? At least he can drink legally.”
Audrey shrugged her shoulders. “I guess you’re right.”
“I am, and let me tell you, Tate is not looking to just sleep with you. What would give you that idea?”
“Elli, I think it took him four minutes to get me in bed.”
Elli took in a sharp breath. “You already slept with him?”
“Yeah, the night of Fallon’s bachelorette party.” Ignoring Elli’s shocked expression, Audrey went on, “I take back my previous statement; the more I talk to him the more I know it isn’t about sex anymore. It’s about us. He hasn’t been subdued about his feelings for me. He likes me, but I’m the one holding back and putting up walls.”
“Why?”
“Because I am,” Audrey answered sadly. “Because I’m confused and not sure what is right and wrong.”
“How so?”