"So, does Seb have anything special planned for Valentine's Day tomorrow?"

I rolled my eyes as the elevator doors opened in my apartment complex and I stepped out. "Considering the team's flying out early to play a game in Tampa tomorrow and I'm pulling the evening shift at Apollo's, I'm going to say no." Though it didn't really bother me. I wasn't particularly drawn to the hoopla surrounding the made up holiday. "Besides, even if we were both miraculously free, I feel like I have too much on my plate to take a night off. Especially now that everything's coming together with the boutique."

After their first look around the space, the contractors had deemed the structural renovations doable within a tight schedule, and had worked around the clock for the last week getting things done. The large back office had been relocated and reduced in size to make room for a closed off storage area, a set of individual change rooms had been constructed in the back corner of the boutique, and a basic checkout counter had been built outside of the office space. They'd also been sure to check the electrical was up to date and install a central air unit, so while I knew there was still a long way to go, I felt good about where I was at.

"Which is exactly why you deserve a break," Mackenzie pointed out. "You can't spend every hour of the day working."

"I can try," I said, balancing my phone between my shoulder and my ear as I combed through my purse to find my keys.

Before either of us could say more, I heard Peter's voice pestering my sister in the background. "Ask her how those Knights tickets are coming along."

I laughed. "Tell him I'll ask Seb about getting a pair the next time I see him."

"Sorry about that," she said after relaying my response to her overeager husband, "but back to you working too much—"

Opening the door to my apartment, Mackenzie's words were immediately drowned out as I stared, wide-eyed, at the display on the kitchen table. A vase of fresh flowers was settled between two place settings, my favorite bottle of wine stood front and center with a shiny red ribbon wrapped around its neck, and a freshly baked, homemade pizza sat waiting to be eaten. It was incredibly thoughtful and romantic; the only puzzling thing being that it was Aimee, not Seb, sitting and waiting for me.

"Mackenzie... I'm going to have to call you back." Hanging up after I'd assured her nothing was wrong, I slipped my phone into my purse and dropped it at the door. "Am I intruding on something between you and Jack?" I asked, eyeing Aimee curiously as I crossed the room.

The nerves radiating off her as she shook her head were evident.

"Then what's the special occasion?"

"I thought we could celebrate Galentine's Day," she offered, her hands fidgeting as she stood. "You know, since you've been the best gal a girl could ask for lately, juggling being my maid of honor with everything else you have going on."

"Okay," I said, trailing off. "Not that I'm complaining, but I get the feeling you're leaving something out."

A strange combination of excitement and dread flashed across her features, and I knew my senses were bang on.

"Can we eat first? Then I promise I'll explain."

Agreeing and not wanting to push, I sat down across from her and divided the pizza in two, neither of us having any qualms about pigging out in the other's company. Between bites, we caught up on surface level things, ignoring the words left unsaid as we discussed next steps with my boutique and upcoming plans for her wedding, but the underlying tension and anticipation for what was to come was impossible to ignore. It floated around us—invisible, yet stifling.

Once the pizza disappeared however, there was no holding back my jitters, wondering what news Aimee had that she felt the need to butter me up before dropping it. I had an inkling, but I managed to hold back my curiosity until she sighed and motioned me towards the living room. Pouring myself a glass of wine—thinking I'd likely need it—I followed her to the sofa, relaxing in one corner as she took the other.

"Okay." She breathed out. "This might be a bit sudden, and I'm so, so sorry for springing it on you, but I didn't want to mention it until I made my decision."

"Aimee, whatever it is—"

"I'm moving out."

Her words were rushed, like doing so would rip the bandage off faster, but all it succeeded in doing was causing my eyes to widen with surprise. Not because this was out of the blue—I expected it to happen sooner or later—but because she left me no time to process it before continuing.

"And I know that leaves you in a lurch with rent, but I promise I'll pay my share until the lease is up this summer. I don't want you having to worry about money or finding another roommate in the midst of opening your boutique."

"You don't need to do that."

"Yes, I really do," she insisted. "Jack's condo is already paid off, and even though I'll be pitching in for a few of the bills, I know he'll try to pay for most of it, so I can afford a few months of rent. Don't worry."

"Well then, thank you." The corner of my lips curved into a small smile. "I appreciate it, but just so you know, you don't have to be sorry about moving out."

"No?" she asked warily.

"Did you expect me to think you'd stay here forever?" I asked, a slight teasing tone to my words in hopes of calming her worries. "You're engaged, you're getting married in a few months, I'm honestly surprised you're not already living with Jack to be honest."

Tension began to seep from her shoulders. "It never really made sense before," she said. "With him being away all the time for games, I felt mostly okay with just staying with him when I could, but now..."

"You want to be with him whenever you can be," I finished for her, and she nodded. "And that's okay, really. I'm happy for you."

It'd be a change alright, not having her around as often, but it was something I could adjust to.

"Good," she started, seemingly happy until her gaze dropped to her lap and she bit her lip, "because that's not all."

And suddenly I was on edge. Her moving out was something I'd slowly been preparing for since Jack had slipped a ring on her finger, but something else? My mind began running through a thousand different possibilities, only to come to an abrupt halt when one of her hands came to rest on her stomach.

She swallowed hard, her eyes lifting to meet mine as she said, "I'm pregnant."

My sharp inhale was followed only by silence—my eyes flickering between her face and her still-flat tummy, wondering if she was kidding. But by the way she waited anxiously, waiting for my response, it was clear she wasn't.

"You're serious?" I whispered in awe.

Her lips wobbled as tears of happiness lined her eyes. "Yeah," she replied. "Just over a month along."

It took another moment for the news to truly click, and when it did, I quickly set my wine glass down before throwing my arms around her with excitement. "Oh my god, congratulations!" Her laughter filled my ears as I pulled back, identical tears in my own eyes. "This is so exciting. When did you find out?"

"About a week ago," she said with a full-blown grin. "It's still early days, so only you, my parents, and Jack know, and I definitely wasn't planning it, but I don't know, it just feels right."

"I'm betting Jack flipped when you told him."

She laughed. "Oh, he did, but in a good way. He was speechless and didn't really believe it at first, but then he got so excited." Her features softened as she rubbed her stomach again. "I'm excited."

"And you should be," I said softly. "You're going to be a great mom, Aimee."

"I hope so."

Though despite the happiness I portrayed on the outside, there was a second voice gnawing at the back of my head I couldn't quite shake. One which compared the glaringly obvious fact that, while the two of us were the same age, Aimee seemed to be the one with her life worked out. She had a great career, a guy willing to say 'I do', and a baby on the way. I, on the other hand, felt as though my life was still in the messy beginning stages. And with even more fragments of my life now shifting, paving the way for a new addition, I couldn't help but feel uncertain.

There was change on the horizon, that much I knew, but with the conflicted way by heart beat, I wasn't sure I was ready for it.