Chapter Seventeen
Hannah
I walk into a room full of women, two of them pregnant and I only know a couple of them.One of them is basically my sister-in-law and the other is my boss and declining to come to my boss’ baby shower when she’s letting me live in a cottage on her property nearly rent-free, would not have been the best idea.So here I am, gift in hand, ready to celebrate my boss and her soon to be twins.
“I’m so glad you came,” Tessa says, greeting me at the door with a smile and her cute little round belly.
“I think I should probably be planning one of these for you soon,” I reply, resting my hand on Tessa’s stomach.
“Yep, something Dylan has been looking forward to, by the way, so better make it a co-ed thing,” Tessa tells me and it’s hard not to laugh at the idea of my brother at a baby shower.He’s been so adorably involved since Tessa found out she was pregnant, something I don’t think any of us saw coming.But I have to admit, it’s been awesome to see the change in him.
“Oh, that will be fun.Do you want to have it here?”I ask Tessa, looking around at the beautifully decorated space within the restaurant at Somerville’s.I can’t believe they’re closing it down for renovations soon, but that does mean Leo and I will get a break from working at both restaurants constantly.Although, the catering business is taking off and Leo and I have been running that now too.
“I was thinking we could have it in one of the buildings I designed for P, T and Bee,” Tessa says and while I haven’t been here long, I do know she’s done a ton of work here.It would be awesome to have her baby shower in one of the buildings she’s had the honor to work on.
“I’ll talk with Penny about getting it set up,” I say, walking over to put my gift on the table.“And then I’ll start working on the menu, since I know nothing about baby showers and everything about food.”
“And I can help with the decorating part since I know a bit about that,” Tessa teases.
“I can’t believe the restaurant is closing.It feels like it’s so successful that they’d want to keep it open,” I say, changing the subject.
“Yeah, it’s super successful, but they need more space, and you’ll love this next part, a bigger kitchen.I think Lauren is planning to keep it open for outdoor dining on a limited menu.Sandwiches and salads and things like that until the reno is done.”
“That will keep me busy, plus the catering for weddings and showers and whatever.”
“Has Leo been keeping you busy?”Tessa now asks, a smirk on her face, a playful tone to her words as she sidles up beside me, linking her arm through mine.
I’m quiet for a few seconds, wanting to tell her how amazing things have been, but also wanting to keep things hush-hush for both mine and Leo’s sake.He’s still my boss and I’m still a new employee, and I really don’t need this gossip getting out this soon.
“Your silence says so much, Hannah,” Tessa taunts, elbowing me in the side.“I promise you Lauren and Jack won’t care.Look at Dylan and me, and Tommy and Penny, and even the owners are married.”
“I hear you, and it’s not so much that I’m worried.I mean I am worried about them finding out, but I’m also worried that if it doesn’t work out, we’ll be working together after sleeping together.Can you say awkward?”
“So you are sleeping with him,” Tessa says, basically announcing it to the room.She clamps a hand over her mouth, giggling a little.
“Oh my god, Tessa.Keep it down.But yes, we are sleeping together, if you must know and it’s been fucking unreal.”
“Have you shared one of Dylan’s toys with him?”she asks, this time quietly, wrinkling up her nose.“Wish he wouldn’t have kept that a secret from me for as long as he did,” she adds and as much as I hate picturing my brother having sex, she’s right about his toy being pretty great.
“I haven’t but we did…” I start to say, but trail off when Lauren walks over, not needing everyone to know the intimate details of mine and Leo’s very healthy sex life.
“Hannah, thank you so much for coming.I’m so sorry I haven’t been around much, but it sounds like you’re doing a fabulous job according to Jack and Leo,” Lauren says, hugging me.“And how’s the cottage?Everything working out for you?”
This woman is currently thirty plus weeks pregnant with twins and is asking how I’m doing.Asking how my essentially free house is working out for me.Like I have any room to complain at all.
“I should be asking you how you’re doing,” I reply, waving my hand at her very large belly.“How many weeks now?”
“Thirty -four, and they don’t seem too eager to evacuate anytime soon,” Lauren says.“They’re stubborn like their dad.Something tells me I’m going to be one of those women who’s pregnant with twins and makes it to forty weeks.”
“Poor Tessa is probably in for the same thing since she’s growing a baby that’s half my brother’s,” I joke.“But the house is great, Lauren and I’m loving living so close to work.”
“Hopefully Leo’s treating you well,” she says, and Tessa lets out a cross between a scoff and laugh that makes me want to smack her.“He’s single, you know, but I’m not the match-maker, Jack is.”
“So I’ve heard and yes, he’s been great to work for,” I reply, trying to play it coy and hoping Tessa’s little vocal tic doesn’t give me away.
“And he’s got a hot body,” Penny adds in, coming up behind us, clearly listening in.“Not that I’m looking because I’m married, but…” She shrugs, making us laugh.
“Hot body for sure and no one is judging anyone for looking,” Tessa teases, winking at me.She’s totally going to be the one to blow my cover.“I’m pretty sure we’d all like to see him shirtless.”
