Out On a Limb(29)

“Thank you,” I say.

“I’ll give you two a minute,” she says, handing me a warm towel. “For the gunk.” She points to my stomach as she walks around the bed and leaves.

“That was amazing,” Bo says as I wipe off my stomach. “They’re a lot less human-looking than I was expecting, though.”

“Like a little jelly bean,” I say, smiling fondly.

“And it was moving a lot,” he says in disbelief. “Like, it’s free to just move about in there. It’s wild.”

“They seem to be making themself at home, yes.” I sit up, lowering my shirt. “Wow…” I say again, because wow.

“Yeah…” Bo says on a long breath, a crooked smile in full, bold agreement.

“A baby,” I say, flashing my eyes at him.

“A baby,” he repeats, shaking his head.

“Insane.”

Bo sighs, dragging a hand down his face. “Pretty fucking cool,” he says, then looks up at me. We share a small, giddy smile before I hop off the table and we make our way out toward the receptionist’s desk.

After the tech hands us an envelope with two identical ultrasound photos, we walk downstairs to the lobby in companionable silence. Arriving at the main floor, I notice the snow is coming down harder, illuminated only by the streetlamps outside.

“Yikes,” I say, looking out toward the no-doubt blistering cold, winding my scarf around my neck.

“Can I give you a ride?” Bo asks, buttoning up his coat. But then he stops and watches me intently for a moment. “Actually, I’m going to insist. I’m giving you a ride.”

I roll my eyes with affection. “Yes, that would be nice. Thank you.” Then I remember Sarah’s suggestion. “Actually… do you have plans tonight?”

He finishes doing up his coat, shoving both hands into his pockets. “No.” He raises a brow, lifting the corner of his mouth alongside it. “What were you thinking?”

“Want to come to Caleb and Sarah’s with me? We’re doing a game night.”

He nods enthusiastically. “Yeah, sure. I’d love that. My car is around the corner.” Bo opens the front door, and we step out into the storm. He leads me by a floating hand above my waist toward his car as the wind whistles around us. The passenger door is opened for me and closed behind me. Then I’m regaining my senses and attempting to warm my hands with my breath as he opens his door briefly before throwing himself inside.

His car is really nice. I don’t know a lot about cars, but with a monitor screen the size of a tablet in the centre console and leather-wrapped seats with buttons for seat warmers, I imagine it cost a pretty penny.

“Great ride,” I say like a total dunce.

His lip twitches as he pushes a button and the car erupts with beeps and lights and a subtle vroom of the engine. “Thanks.”

“You remember how to get to Sarah’s?”

“Think so. Pretty sure everything about that house is carved into my memory.” He pulls off the side street, windshield wipers working overtime.

At first, I think he means it because of how nice their home is, or something alluding to Sarah and Caleb’s obvious wealth. But then I realise the way in which he said it. As if the home was infamous. Referring, subtly, to the last time we were both at Sarah and Caleb’s. I feel my cheeks warm with a blush and thank the moon for not shining too brightly.

“I’m glad you asked me to come. Honestly, I haven’t been sure about how to do this, but I think spending some non-appointment time together would be good. To get to know each other. We’re sort of…” His voice trails off as he looks over his shoulder, changing lanes.

“Stuck together?” I offer.

“I was going to say something like working toward a mutual goal, but that sounded too unattached.”

“I called us colleagues the other day, and Sarah was aghast.”

“Aghast, huh?” he teases.

“Flabbergasted, if you will.”

“But there is no proper term for this,” he says in a way of agreement.

“Co-parents, I guess.”

“But parents feels like a title reserved for when a kid is physically present,” Bo says. “No offence.” He speaks to my belly.

“Let’s aim for friends?” I suggest.

“Friends that are having a baby together.”

“Yes. Friends with foetuses.”

“A totally new type of benefit.” He laughs. “But yes. Friends is good.”

“Great,” I concur.

“I’m going to friend the shit out of you, Freddie McNulty.”

“So aggressive,” I say, giggling.

“A trait of mine you should probably know. I’m wildly competitive. Even in a mutually beneficial task. So prepare to be friended. Hard.”

“You’ve already made it weird.” I sit straighter, crossing my arms. “And you should know, I’m also very competitive. Which, I’m sad to say, is why you’ll never win. I’m going to be your best friend so fast that your head will spin. As for you? You’ll be a mere acquaintance to me.”

“You’re on,” Bo fires back.

“And don’t call me Freddie,” I say, crossing my arms.