A head count? Who was this, and what had she done with my best friend?

“What day is it?” I stalled for time, wondering how I could get out of going without hurting her feelings.

I loved Hailey, and if she’d asked me to do anything else, I’d have said yes in a heartbeat. However, spending time with Sean sounded like torture, especially now, when all I wanted to do was lie around on the couch when I had any time to spare. I sighed. Even though I dreaded it, I’d still go. I wasn’t about to miss my best friend’s party, no matter how much I hated her boyfriend.

“It’s on the twenty-third,” Hailey said. “And you have to come. It’s a white-elephant party, so you and Alex each need to bring a present.”

“I’ll be there,” I said, my voice low as I glanced around the open office again.

“Yay,” Hailey said. “I swear, I never see you now that you’re a married lady.”

“I see you in class twice a week,” I replied.

“Oh, you know what I mean,” she said. “You’ll be there?”

“We’ll be there,” I confirmed.

“Excellent!” She said with a whoop. “I’ll let you get back to work now.”

“Thanks,” I replied drily, hanging up. I silenced my phone quickly and tucked it away just in time as one of the partners walked up to my desk, asking for a client file.

The waistband of my skirt dug into my belly while I searched through a filing cabinet. I just needed to get through the day, and then I could change into some leggings. And then, of course, I had to call my aunt and uncle to give them the good news. My stomach rolled.

*  *  *

“We can do my family first, if you want,” Alex said that evening while unpacking a bag of takeout. “And then yours.”

“That works,” I replied, swallowing hard.

“Okay, good,” Alex said happily. He was practically bouncing with excitement and trying to hide it. I guess I wasn’t doing a very good job hiding my nervousness, either.

“Did you get to work on time today?” he asked as we ate, grimacing as I looked up at him.

“Yes,” I said, drawing out the word. “Barely. You know you don’t have to check my car every day, right? It’s a little excessive.”

“It’s not a big deal,” he replied, smiling. “Happy to do it.”

I looked at him in disbelief. I don’t think he understood what I was trying to say, so I tried again.

“It just takes up so much time, you know?” I said. “Waiting for you to be ready so we can walk out together. Especially on days when you’d normally leave later than me.”

“I don’t mind leaving early,” he said with a shrug. “And we get to leave together, which is kind of nice.”