Lindy eased herself into a seat. “It’s getting harder and harder to move around,” she said. “Do I look like a hippo? That’s how I feel.”
“Not at all,” I lied. “You’re very agile.”
Lindy laughed. “Thank you. Can you explain to me how you ended up with a Woodsmen as a roommate? Do those guys usually need help with the rent?”
“It was more to help me. I had to get out of my house because my former roommate got engaged and moved in her fiancé. Living at César’s has been a godsend.”
“Is he nice?” She wrinkled her nose. “I heard he was a player, and I don’t mean on the field. My BFF is dating the Woodmen quarterback and I get the scoop about the guys from her,” Lindy explained.
“I haven’t seen that side of him yet, but I can imagine.” Of course, with his looks and body, he had to be a major player. Why wouldn’t he be?
“Not that one thing takes away from the other, I guess,” she conceded. “He can get around and still be a great roommate. He could be a nice player.”
“I’d love to know more about him, if your friend has any details,” I said, and she immediately picked up her phone and texted. I took a sip of tea and nearly spat it out. Rancid. “So, I was wondering about your baby! How has your pregnancy gone?”
Great, it sounded like. She filled me in on all the things she had been doing, including starting a new business and screwing her husband day and night. “That’s slowed down a little,” she confided. “Probably just once a night, now. Or twice.”
“Uh huh.” I hoped I wasn’t turning as green as the tea from jealousy. “Like, what have your biggest challenges been?”
“Well…” She thought. “I was so tired at first, and I’m tired again now. And I was really, really worried about what kind of parent I’m going to be. I’m still worried about that.”
I nodded eagerly. “Yes, that’s so terrifying! I mean, I guess anyone would be worried.”
“Yeah, but I have amazing role models in my own parents. They weren’t perfect or anything, but they were such a strong unit. They’ve been married forever and I have this total trust in them.” Lindy smiled. “I know I can always turn to them for advice or just inspiration. Do I sound like a TV movie?” Her smiled dropped away. “Oh, my God! Are you crying?” She handed me a napkin and knocked over my tea. “I’ve been clumsier lately, too. Shit, I’m so sorry! Why are you crying?”
“I don’t care about the tea,” I told her. “I hated it. I’m not really crying. It’s so wonderful that you have a family like that to support you and your baby. It would be so great if everyone had that when she really, really needed it.” I sobbed into the napkin until it was a sodden ball.
“Uh, Camdyn? Are you also pregnant?” Lindy asked cautiously.
I put my face in my hands. “Yes! Don’t tell anyone, please!”
“Oh, sweetie!” She hugged me very awkwardly, bumping me and the table with her tummy. “Oof, this is why sex is more difficult nowadays. Are you going to have the baby?”
I nodded. She passed me another napkin.
“What is your boyfriend doing in all this?” she asked, and gave up trying to hug me. She rubbed my back instead.
“No boyfriend.” I took a deep breath and fought for control. “Sorry. When I saw you, I thought I could ask you some questions, because my friends are years away from this step in their lives. They’re not people I can turn to for help with pregnancy and babies. Some of them still live with their parents, and I’m going to be one!” More tears.
“And your own mom and dad…” Lindy trailed off and looked at me, questioning. I just shook my head. “No parents, no boyfriend, friends are useless. You’re going to need some help, Camdyn. Some people you can rely on.”
“I have one person here,” I told her, my mind on César. “I think I do. But I don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?”
I shrugged. Who really knew anything, about anyone? “I might be moving to Florida, too,” I added.
She shook her head. “Moving? Do you want another huge change in your life?”
I shrugged again, thinking of Ellie. I hadn’t even looked for a job there, not yet, but she needed me.
“I have a great idea!” Lindy told me. “You should come to my house for dinner. I’ll invite my friend Katie and her boyfriend and we’ll start setting up a network for you.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I can’t imagine if I was doing this by myself.”
“Well, I’m not totally alone,” I felt I needed to say. “César is an amazing roommate.”
“You should bring him, then. Why not? I wouldn’t mind getting another look at him. I look, but I’d never touch,” she told me quickly.
“Thank you,” I said. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“Say you’ll come! This will be really fun.” She looked at her phone. “Oh, Katie texted about César…”
Women. Apparently, he had been with so many, many women. Lindy started reading off names from her phone, and they went on, and on. Some of them I even knew. I got really hot as I sat there and I took off my coat, then my sweater, and nearly had to remove my shirt, too.
According to the texts, César was the party-a-minute guy, the social director on the lido deck, the boss of the fun squad. This woman’s thumbs must have hurt, she had so much to say about him. “That’s enough,” I finally said, holding up my hands for Lindy to stop. “Wow, he has been busy.”
“Like I said, player.” She looked
