Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 132464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
“Are you kidding? I wanna come to everything. I wish you’d told me sooner—I would have hopped the next flight home from Greece to hold your hand.”
“That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you,” I say. “So, are you gonna tell Jonas?”
Sarah shakes her head. “I think Josh should be the one to tell Jonas he’s gonna be an uncle.”
“Yeah, probably.”
“Just make sure Josh spills the beans really soon, okay? I don’t like keeping secrets from Jonas.”
I nod.
Sarah buries her nose in my pregnancy book again, but after a moment, lifts her head, smiling. “Hey, you wanna hear something crazy? I think with the time difference, Josh proposed to you before Jonas proposed to me.” She laughs. “Who would have predicted that?”
“Yeah, but Josh’s proposal doesn’t really count—he was just fulfilling an obligation. It wasn’t even in the same universe as what Jonas did for you. That’s like comparing a hamster to a racehorse.”
Sarah’s smile vanishes. “Aw, I’m sorry, Kat.”
I rub my face. “I keep thinking maybe I should have said yes—that maybe when I said no I was being selfish and not looking out for the bean.”
“What? No frickin’ way. You did the right thing—one hundred percent.”
“You think?”
“Absolutely. Regardless of marriage, Josh is gonna step up and take care of his kid—there’s no doubt about that.”
“True.”
“And it’s not like you need to get married to get onto Josh’s medical insurance or something—Josh can well afford to make sure you have the best medical care.”
“Also true. In fact, he’s already told me he’ll pay for all my expenses, medical and otherwise.”
“Of course, he will. Which means there were no practical decisions to make in response to Josh’s proposal—only emotional ones. And in that case, you did exactly the right thing: you followed your heart. Because, Kat, we both know you’d never be happy being married out of obligation. You’re a diehard romantic, through and through—and you need the fairytale.”
“Me?”
Sarah scoffs. “Yes, you. You’ve watched The Bodyguard and Pretty Woman like ten times each, for Pete’s sake.”
“Twenty.”
Sarah motions like I just proved her case.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” I rub my forehead and sigh. “The funny thing is I totally would have said yes if Josh’s proposal had been even the slightest bit from his heart—just the teeniest, tiniest bit.”
“I gotta be honest, Kat, from what you’ve told me, I don’t really understand what was so horrible about it. I mean, you said he acted like he was doing you a huge favor, but maybe you just misinterpreted him? I’m sure he was just freaking out.”
I pause, choosing my words. “Remember Mr. Darcy’s first proposal in Pride and Prejudice? When he was like, ‘Oh, you’re so beneath me, Miss Elizabeth and I really shouldn’t do this because you’re from a disgraceful family and wanting to marry you goes against all reason and logic and will besmirch my good name—but, hey, will you marry me?’”
Sarah chuckles. “Yes, I remember it well because you’ve made me watch that movie, like, three times with you.”
“Well, it was just like that. ‘Oh, Kat. I have no desire to marry you whatsoever and I’m doing you a huge favor and I don’t want our child at all and you’re so lucky I’m asking you because I’m so rich and amazing, but, hey, will you marry me?’” I wave my hands in the air. “It totally sucked donkey balls.”
Sarah nods. “Sounds pretty shitty.”
“And not only that, he had the audacity to ask me if the baby is his.” My cheeks turn hot at the memory.
Sarah shrugs. “Okay, you just lost me. Why was that such a dastardly thing to ask?”
I’m appalled. “Sarah, he was basically calling me a slut.”
“Uh, no, he was asking if the baby is his. Not quite the same thing as calling you a slut.”
“Josh is the only guy I’ve been with and he knows it,” I say, full of indignation.
“Oh, well, then, you’re absolutely right: Josh should never have double-checked the baby he was about to support for the rest of his life, financially and otherwise, is definitely his.” Sarah shoots me a scolding look. “Cut him a little slack, honey—I’m sure Josh was just totally blindsided. Plus, you’d be the first to admit you’re no virgin. I don’t blame Josh for at least asking the question, Kat. I really don’t.”
I open my mouth to refute her, but then I shut it. God, I hate it when it turns out I’ve been wrong about something. “Why are you always so damned nice, Sarah?” I ask. “It’s really annoying.”
“I’m not that nice.”
“Please don’t say that. Because if you’re not really, really nice, then that means I’m really, really bitchy.”
Sarah laughs. “Okay, I’m really, really nice.”
The door opens and my doctor, a slender woman with brown skin and salt and pepper hair, enters the room.
“Hi, Doctor Gupta,” I say, shaking her hand. “This is my best friend, Sarah—soon to be Auntie Sarah.”