EMMA

"Are you serious?" I try to lift my jaw from Shannon's domineering cherry-stained desk, somehow still organized despite the large stacks of papers everywhere. "I just got a raise not that long ago."

Shannon peers at me over her glasses, a half smirk on her lips. "Are you turning down more money, Emma?"

Quickly, I shake my head, mind on the little human growing in my belly. I still haven't made my decision but if I decide to keep the baby, I'll need all the cash I can get. My heart beats faster as I recall the dream I had last night: a crying infant, reaching to me from his crib. A little boy who looked just like Beau.

I snap back to reality, refusing to get too sucked into my daydream. Part of me wishes I could enjoy it.

"No, I just - wow. I don't know what to say." My internship showed me how well Shannon treats her employees - how happy they were to work for her, but now being in the position full time, it's clear why. She's certainly a believer in upward mobility. I wonder about Adam's meeting - he went right back to work so he obviously wasn't fired. Maybe we're all getting raises. I make a note to ask him about his meeting at lunch this afternoon.

"I'm only kidding." Shannon chuckles, "Remember when I gave you the raise, I also said you deserved more. Well, you've continued to prove me right." She shrugs, clicking her mouse and bringing her computer screen to life. "You earned it."

"Thank you." I say eagerly, gratitude overwhelming me to the point of near tears. I really can't deal with the tears anymore. Blinking quickly, I smile at my boss brightly. "Really. I love this job and I'm so happy to be here."

"And I am very happy to have you with us." Shannon smiles again, the diplomas on the wall behind her adding to her impressive presence.

Guilt gnaws at me again. At some point, I'll have to go out on maternity leave. For the millionth time just today, I push thoughts of the pregnancy from my mind. Thanking Shannon another time, I make my way down the stairs form her office to the hall of the employee offices.

Knocking gently on Adam's door, a bit too excited to wait for lunch, I pop my head inside.

"Am I interrupting?" I've found him engrossed in a mountain of pages, pencil between his fingers while he simultaneously clutches a highlighter with the rest.

Adam looks up, his curls a bit longer than normal, his stubble more grown in. Despite the easy smile the brightens his whole expression and crinkles his eyes, he looks tired.

"Of course not." He extends a hand and invites me to sit across from his desk, pushing the manuscript he's annotating to the side.

Doing just that, I dive my hand in his M&M jar, feeling a sudden and intense craving for chocolate. Adam watches me, tapping his highlighter against his chin as he waits for me to make conversation.

"How'd your meeting go with Shannon?" I ask casually, smiling at a new photo on his wall. It's one of him with his mother, Judith, and Connor, from the dinner party we had in their apartment just some months back. I remember Gemma snapping it herself - ever the dramatic photographer, she made them take quite a few before claiming she got the perfect one.

"How did yours go just now?" Adam raises his brows at me playfully, cocking his head to the side.

"I asked you first," I note, popping another candy on my tongue childishly. If he didn't get a pay increase, it seems a bit rude to boast about mine.

"Why don't we say it at the same time?" Adam suggests, perhaps thinking the same.

Nodding my head in agreement, I wait for him to put down his final finger and blurt out "I got a raise" at the same time as he does.

Grinning impossibly wider, Adam reaches over the desk to give me a high-five.

"We're crushing it, huh?" He grabs his own handful of candies and props his feet up on his desk, leaning back in his chair as he drops the M&Ms into his mouth in one big toss.

"Definitely." I wish I wasn't so tired so that I could feel more excited. I get a sudden, painful urge to share the news with Beau, still the first one I think of when something big happens.

"We should celebrate." Adam points a finger at me enthusiastically. "Drinks? Tonight after work? We can go home to change and I'll come grab you?"

A rush of panic washes over me. "How about dinner?" I urge, knowing there's no way I can dodge alcohol all night if the whole point is getting drinks. "Somewhere fancy. Like you said, we're crushing it. We deserve it, right?"

Rubbing his jaw as if contemplating the idea, Adam nods in agreement finally, smile growing over his full lips. "I'll call around this afternoon - see who might have a table open. I'll update you."

Immediately relieved, I feel my heart rate slowing. "Sounds perfect."

Not quite, but it'll do.

I'm not even out the door before I hear Adam on the phone with a hostess.

"Yep, exactly. Just the two of us."

With one last look over my shoulder, I smile at my friend. Giving me a preoccupied wave, he moves the phone from his lips and mouths a silent, "I've got this." before ushering me out of his office.

***

"How's the soup?" I scrunch my nose at the strong scent of French onion wafting over the table towards me. Shifting in my seat, I notice the tightness of my black dress across my midsection and wince. Hopefully it's not too obvious to everybody else. Black is flattering, no?

"Delicious." Adam shakes his head, bringing his fingers to his lips to kiss them. "I can't believe you don't like soup."

"Most soups." I correct him, picking at my Caesar salad. I'd been hoping for more croutons. I'm more interested in the main course anyways - a stuffed chicken breast that had my mouth watering as soon as I read the description.

I peer around the restaurant, noting the couples holding hands over the pressed linen tablecloths. Tall glasses of champagne and wine twinkle under the crystal chandeliers dangling from the ceiling on almost every table. My eyes fall on Adam's red wine and my stomach twists as I sip my sparkling water.

"Taking a break from wine," I told him, hoping it was casual enough that he wouldn't ask questions. Because he's Adam and he knows when to let things go, he didn't.

"Here we go," Adam claps his hands together as our waitress returns, carrying a large silver platter over her shoulder.

Adam's eyes go wide like a child's as she places a dish of lamb chops in front of him, a heaping serving of potatoes and veggies perfectly placed around the meat. I inhale deeply as my own dinner is set before me, the sweet smell of the sauce making my stomach growl.

"Can I get you anything else?" The waitress asks.

"I think we're good. Thank you," I mutter, resisting the urge to dive right in. Mouthwatering steam taunts my nose. Adam agrees and once she leaves, we dig in.

"Oh my God," Adam groans, putting his hand over his mouth as he chews.

Wordlessly, I nod and continue eating, deliberately taking my time to cut each bite - trying my best to maintain some semblance of table manners. Once my stomach is no longer rumbling so loudly, I begin to slow my pace and stare at Adam over the table.

"So, Best Man, how are you feeling about the wedding?" I sip my water to clear my palette.

Adam sighs, a smile still present on his face. "Tiring. More than I thought it'd be. Connor is so nervous - he wants to make everything perfect for Gemma."

I feel myself liking Connor even more. I really should thank Adam for suggesting that they get together.

"A lot of the time I'm just there to remind him it'll all be fine." Adam shrugs, taking a drink of his wine. I feel my brows pull together as Adam turns it around on me. "And you, Maid of Honor? How are those duties treating you?"

"Keeping me busy, that's for sure." I say lightly, twisting my napkin around in my lap. I need to be better for Gemma. "I never realized how much goes into a wedding, I guess."

"Right?" Adam tosses his hands up in exasperation. "I thought I knew what kind of tux I'd want when I got married. After watching Connor make all those decisions?" He shakes his head, "I really thought they all looked the same."

"I feel your pain." I chuckle, "I spent an entire afternoon with Gemma just exploring the many shades of the color green."

Resting his gaze on mine, Adam offers a half smile. "Fine, you definitely got the more demanding half of the lovely couple."

"I love her though - I love them." I sigh, suddenly feeling very full. "The wedding will be great."

"With us in charge?" Adam smirks proudly. "It'll be better than great. We make a damn good team, Emma."

Feeling a sudden blush in my cheeks, I quickly look away, confused by the little flutter in my belly.

Adam is chatty all through desert and the car ride home, filling some of my more awkward pauses with cheerful conversation. He talks about his mom and dad, their overbearing love eventually all but adopting Connor into their family while his parents worked long hours at their diner.

It's easy to listen, to laugh at the right times and to ask questions. I don't worry that I'll say the wrong thing and make him angry or closed off.

He's only quiet as he's walking me to my front door, like he insisted on. I feel sort of silly - this is Adam, but for some reason I'm not sure what to say either.

We make it to the door and I turn, nervously fiddling with my keys. Breeze sends hair into my eyes, tickling the tip of my nose.

"Did you want to come in? Have water or something?"

I'm not sure what I want him to say. Which is stupid - he's my friend. He can come in.

I tug my cardigan tighter around my body, the evening breeze cool against my skin. It's dim, the only light from my porch light that I left on before we left. The neighborhood is quiet - it's nice.

"I've got an early morning. I'm gonna get going,"
Adam wipes the back of his neck awkwardly. "I had a great time tonight, Emma."

"Me too." I say honestly. He inches closer and I don't really move, unsure what I want to do.

His breath is warm on my lips when my phone rings, shrill against the peaceful evening air. Adam jerks upright, a blush rising against his dark skin.

"Um," I stammer, sort of confused by my disappointment mixed in with my simultaneous relief. "Uh, I have to answer this." I take a step back, stumbling into my front door, heart jumping at Beau's name on my screen.

"Alright," Adam says softly, a sweet smile on his face. "Have a good night,"

"Thanks for tonight," I wave from the steps. "I had a lot of fun."

I watch as Adam makes it back to his car and answer Beau's call, feeling breathless, mind muddled.

"Hey, Beau. What's up?"

Thank you for your patience - this is so much later than promised❤️
It's been a tough couple of weeks time management wise but I promise to post more soon!
Beau pov next - I know you guys are waiting just like me!!