bChapter /bb590 /b

    “bPlease/bb! /bI’m bperfectly /bfine… I’ll settle down when I find a man that can tame me in all baspects/bb” /bshe winks

    bat /bbme/bb. /b

    I chuckle. At least she’s self–aware. With her personality, Lilly needs someone who can match bher/b. Someone she can’t walk all over. She needs a dominant male; otherwise, she’ll continue dating bmen /bbwho /brun bfor /bthe hills simply because they think ‘She’s too much‘ for them.

    “bSo /bare we in agreement?” she asks with expectant eyes.

    I stay quiet. Arguing with Lilly is useless. Once she’s decided on something, there’s no derailing bher /bbtrain/b.

    “Anyway,” she says brightly, noticing my silence, “we’re here.”

    I look out the window. She’s right. We’ve pulled up to one of our favorite restaurants. bNot /bfancy, but the food is amazing and the portions are great.

    “Thank you,” I murmur.

    I hadn’t told her what kind of day I’d had, but she knew anyway. She always knows. That’s the thing about Lillyb; /bshe just gets me.

    “I figured you could use somefort food,” she says, unbuckling her seat belt.

    This is one of our favorites because it’s where we get ourfort food and I could really use some. “Come on,” she adds, stepping out. “I need to get food into you and my nephew.”

    I pause, startled. “Wait. You also think it’s a boyb?/bb” /b

    She grins. “I know it’s weird, but it just feels right.”

    “Oh

    my God.” I screech happily. “I’ve been thinking of the baby as a boy too! My doctor said it could be a sign.”

    I hug her so tightly she winces, but I can’t help myself. Afterward, we link hands like we’re teenagers again, giddy over a shared secret.

    Given how sensitive my stomach has beentelyb, /bbI /bkeep it safe and only order a bowl bof /bfruit and a ss of water, while Lilly practically orders half the menu.

    “Didn’t byou /bbeat /blunch?” I gape at her.

    b“/bI’m eating for threeb,/b” she says seriously.

    “Shouldn’t that be my lineb?/bb” /bI teaseb. /b“I’m the one who’s pregnant.”

    “Well, since you’re not eating enough, I’m eating for both of us–and my nephew.”

    b+15 /bbBONUS /b

    She says it with such ridiculous conviction that I can’t help butugh. That’s Lilly. She could sell bme /bthe bmost /binsane idea and somehow make meugh while doing it.

    b“/bbYou /bknow I love youb, /bright?” I blurt, tears filling my eyes for no reason at all.

    She freezes mid–bite. “What’s happeningb?/bb” /b

    “I don’t know,” I choke out. b“/bI just feel so emotional because you’re the bestest friend a girl could bever /bhave, and I wanted you to know I love you.”

    Before youe at me, I’ve been using the word ‘Bestest‘ since I heard Nicki Minaj rap bit /bin ba /bsong bcalled /bBedRock. It weirdly made sense.

    “Aww, Babei,/ii” /ishe says, her own eyes watering. “I love you too.”

    “Why are you crying?” I ask, my voice catching.

    “Because you’re crying,” she sniffles, fanning her face.

    We both burst outughing through our tears, probably looking ridiculous to everyone else, but I don’t

    care.

    I thank God every day for bringing Lilly into my life. I don’t know what I’d do without her.

    I hadn’t wanted toe out tonight, but Lilly always knows what I need, even when I don’t. And right now, being here with her is exactly what I need to forget the chaos my life has be.

    b2/3 /b