“You got a bun in the oven, too?” she asked.
I’d just taken a sip of water and started choking.
Jeanie cackled as she thumped me on the back. “Not quite ready for motherhood yet?”
“Not quite,” I rasped.
“I’ll get these right out to you,” she said as she strode away.
Wren pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.
“It’s not funny. That could get around town in two seconds, and Caden would lose his mind.”
The humor slipped from Wren’s face. “He doesn’t want kids?”
I toyed with the edge of my napkin. “I don’t know if he does or not. This is all pretty new.”
Wren nodded, but a hint of worry had made it into her expression. “And Jordan’s worried you’re going to get hurt.”
I leaned back against the seat. “Everyone having an opinion about my love life is starting to drive me batty.”
“It’s because people care about you.”
“It’s more than that.”
Wren frowned. “What do you mean?”
I tore off a corner of my napkin, shredding it into tiny pieces. “Ever since I was diagnosed with Type 1, people have this need to protect me from everything. I know it comes from a good place, but it makes me feel like they think I’m weak.”
“That’s the last thing I think you are,” Wren said quietly.
I didn’t say anything.
She sobered. “But I’ve made you feel that way.”
I shrugged. “Sometimes. I feel like people question every decision I make.”
“I’m sorry, G. I think when we almost lose someone, when we know they’re at continued risk, we want to do everything we can to protect them. But I didn’t consider what that might feel like to you.”
“I’m not trying to make you feel bad—”
Wren held up a hand to stop me. “No. I need to know this stuff because I can’t change anything if I don’t know it’s happening. I know how trapped I felt when Holt wanted to basically call out the National Guard to protect me. I don’t want you to feel that way.”
Just hearing Wren say that she got it, that she didn’t want to make me feel weak, helped. “Thank you.”
She reached across the table and took my hand, squeezing it. “I trust you. You have a great sense about people. All you have to do with Caden is follow your heart.”
My eyes started to burn. “You jerky little B. If you make me cry in a public place, it’ll totally ruin my rep.”
Wren burst out laughing. “No tears. But I do want all the sexy details…”
I grinned. “That I can give you.”
We dissolved into all the epic girl talk I needed—the kind where I felt her excitement for me. There might have been a few squeals that brought eyes to us, but I couldn’t find it in me to care.
We paid our bill and headed out of Dockside and into the sunshine.
Wren hooked her arm through mine. “I’m happy for you, G. I’ve never seen you like this about a guy.”
