Page 8 of The Best Friend Problem
Her roommate shrugged. “Who says your true love has to be a romantic partner? Why can’t it be your baby? Or your two awesome best buddies?”
Moisture gathered in her eyes, but she blinked back the tears. She had known her friends would be supportive, but she hadn’t expected to get this emotional over their enthusiasm. Too bad she couldn’t blame it on pregnancy hormones yet.
“Thanks, you guys. And I promise to start looking for a new place right away. Hopefully, I can find something before the baby gets here. Y’know, once I actually get pregnant and all.”
“What?”
At Mo’s stricken expression, she explained, “I’m sure you don’t want to be living with a baby who wakes you up all hours of the night screaming and crying.”
“And I’m sure you don’t know what I want, Prudence Carlson.” Removing the arm from around Pru’s shoulders, Mo crossed her arms over her chest. “I happen to love babies, and I’m a very heavy sleeper.”
She snuck a glance at Lilly. The polished woman, hair coiled in a perfect bun, clothes ironed with nary a wrinkle in sight, wearing three-inch heels at their kitchen table before nine in the morning, took a small sip of her coffee before adding her thoughts.
“It would be better if we moved you into my room, as the office is bigger. We might need to get a better curtain for the doors. Something thicker and more insulated. The sheer ones I have don’t hold heat very well, and I’ve read that babies need to be kept warm. Plus, if you two are in the front of the apartment, any noise shouldn’t bother us too much.”
Pru’s chair scraped on the hardwood floor as she rose slightly, slinging one arm around Mo and leaning over to embrace Lilly in a heartfelt hug.
“You two are seriously the best friends a girl could ask for. I love you both.”
“We are pretty awesome,” Mo agreed.
“And we love you, too, Pru.” Lilly pulled from the hug, not as comfortable with shows of affection. “You’re going to make a wonderful mother.”
Standing between the two women whose opinions she valued most in this world, her eyes glossed over again. “You really think so?”
“Without a doubt.”
Mo raised her coffee mug. “Of course you’ll be awesome. Who was the one, senior year, who made sure I drank a gallon of water after downing two Long Island Iced Teas and a Three Kings shot?”
Spring break senior year in Las Vegas. Oooooh, she had bad memories of that trip.
Mostly of the nasty shrimp in the hotel buffet, which had her stuck in the bathroom for a day and a half. Also, of her lovable but crazy roommate’s inability to turn down a dare.
“You really shouldn’t have bet with those guys from Fort Lauderdale.”
“Hey, I won, didn’t I?”
Yes, but she’d almost gotten alcohol poisoning in the process.
“Stupid frat boys didn’t know they were messing with a high elevation chick. We are not cheap drunks.”
“So, what does the IUI process entail?” Lilly asked, bringing the conversation back to the matter at hand.
Pru sat down and explained the visits to her doctor, the process of getting approval, the fertility medication the doctor had put her on, and the next steps.
“But first, I have to pick a donor.”
Mo rose from her seat, heading toward the coffee pot for her second cup. “A donor?”
“Sperm donor.” Pru waved her off when her friend offered the pot, while Lilly accepted. “I have a binder the office gave me with potentials. They’ve all been tested and cleared. And their profiles included background health, education, pictures—”
“Pictures?” Mo’s lips lifted in an eager smile.
“Not the kind you’re thinking of.”
Her friend’s smile fell. “Damn. That’s no fun.”
She chuckled. Leave it to Mo to think a doctor’s office would offer dick pics.
