“You too, Adam.”
He pushes back his chair, stands, and returns to his table. The four of them leave moments later.
I try not to look at the beautiful woman by Adam’s side.
Every time I’ve seen him, he’s been with a different woman. Are they so replaceable to him? Just like I was. It hits me just how much he’s changed, how much I don’t know about him anymore.
He really isn’t Adam anymore.
He’s Rake.
When Cara and I finish eating, I go to pay the bill, only to find out it’s already been settled.
Is that his way of saying sorry?
I don’t know.
I don’t want to think about him at all.
SIX
ANYONE who says men don’t gossip is lying.
After getting phone calls from both Anna and Lana, demanding to know why they had to find out from Rake that I have a daughter, I told them I’d meet them tonight to catch up. Not over alcohol, but dinner instead. I told them I’d cook, so they could come over to my house.
I decided to make sushi, because I remembered Anna loved it, and some homemade spring rolls and a few other bites. Cara and I often cook together, trying new recipes. She loves to help bake cakes and other sweets, so we both made a red velvet cake with cream cheese icing for dessert. After finishing up in the kitchen, I take a quick shower and get dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt that’s tight around my boobs and a little loose around my stomach. I give Cara a bath and put her in her favorite pink pajamas.
“Your hair is getting so long,” I tell her as I gently brush it.
“I know,” she beams. “I like it. It’s like yours, almost.”
I smile at that. “It is. Maybe it will get even longer than mine.”
A knock at the door has me standing up and putting the brush down. “That will be them. Perfect timing.”
I walk to the front door with Cara next to me. Unlocking the door, I open it to see the beautiful faces of Anna and Lana, one of them carrying a bottle of wine, the other a wrapped gift.
“Hello,” I say, smiling and opening the door wider. They step inside, each giving me a warm hug and a hello before turning their attention to Cara.
“Aren’t you beautiful? I’m Anna, and this is for you,” Anna says, giving Cara the gift. Cara, with wide eyes, thanks them, then turns to me for approval.
“You can open it if you like,” I tell her, trying to hide a smile. “You guys didn’t have to do that.”
“We wanted to,” Lana says, holding up the bottle of wine. “We bought red wine too.”
“I can see that.” I laugh. “Come on, let’s go sit down. Do you want something to eat now? Or do you want to wait until later?”
“What did you make?” Anna asks curiously, checking out the inside of my house.
“I made your favorite,” I tell her, smiling and nodding my head toward the kitchen.
Her perfectly arched eyebrows lift. “No way. You made sushi?”
I grin but don’t say anything, so she runs into the kitchen to find out for herself. I hear her cheering, which makes me laugh and Lana shake her head in amusement.
“Look, Mom! A new doll! She’s so pretty!” Cara calls out from the floor, surrounded by a pile of ripped wrapping paper. “Thank you, I love her!”
“You’re welcome, Cara,” Lana says, sitting down on the couch. “She’s gorgeous, Bailey, looks just like you. Rake said as much.”
“He did?” I ask, getting caught off guard at her bringing him up so soon.
“Yeah,” Anna says, walking into the living room with a plateful of sushi. “He couldn’t stop raving about her. And holy shit, this sushi is amazing.” She pauses and cringes. “I mean, holy crap.”
“Make yourself at home Anna,” Lana says, sarcasm lacing her tone.
I laugh. “My home is your home, as always.”
Anna sits down and picks up a piece from her plate. “This place is great, Bailey.”
I look around at my white walls and cream furniture. “Thank you. How have you guys been? Adam said you were giving him a hard time.”
Anna smirks, a devilish look taking over her expression. “He can’t choose who we’re friends with. You’re not just some random chick; you’re an old friend, and he’s just going to have to get used to the fact that you’re going to be a permanent fixture in our lives now.”
“You guys . . .” I say softly, a rush of emotions hitting me.
“Oh, don’t get all mushy on me,” Anna says, smiling. “Lana, I think we need some wine.”
I stand up. “I’ll get some glasses.”
I head into the kitchen and return with three wineglasses, a corkscrew, and a juice box for Cara. I turn the radio on for some background music, then return to my seat.
Lana pours the wine. “To not letting men win!”
We clink glasses, then each take a gulp.
* * *
After Cara falls asleep and I carry her to bed, the interrogation begins.
“Why didn’t you tell us you had a daughter?”
“Who is the father?”
“How long were you with him for?”
“Is there any chance she’s Rake’s?”
I hold my hands up. “Calm down, both of you. I didn’t tell you because I knew I’d have to answer a million questions about who her father is, and to be honest I wasn’t ready for Rake to find out.”