Page 57 of My Husband Problem

Beckett only looks at Andi. “I’m just saying, if you want a kid…”

I feel the entire table brace for Beckett to say something about helping Andi get pregnant.

“You can definitely adopt me. Cheap,” he says. “Ilovecartoons, don’t really clean up after myself?—”

“Seriously,” Sutton offers.

“And can eat my weight in PB & J.”

Sutton nods. “Also…seriously.”

People let out breaths, and Andi actually smiles.

“I have a feeling you would spend a lot of time grounded,” she tells Beckett as she slides off her stool and stands.

I’m watching Beckett closely. There’s something that tells me there’s more underlying his playful nonchalance.

“Oh no, forced to spend all my time at home with you?” he says, never entirely losing that charming, hey-it’s-all-good smile. “That would be so horrible.”

Andi's smile gets a little bigger, and she reaches over and pats his cheek. “It’s sweet, and so misguided, that you think so.”

He covers her hand on his cheek with his. “Also, you lookreallyhot in black.” He pauses. “In all things, though.”

She rolls her eyes but is still smiling as she pulls her hand away and says, “I’m gonna get going,” to the table at large.

She heads for the door, and Sutton, Nora, and Astrid all exchange a look.

“Milkshakes, right?” Sutton asks.

Nora nods. “Definitely.”

They both slide off their stools, and Astrid starts to as well.

“No, you should stay,” Nora tells her. “We’ve got this.”

Astrid glances toward the door after Andi. “You sure?”

Nora nods, giving me a pointed look. “Definitely.”

I hear Astrid sigh and know that she doesnotthink I’m more important than Andi.

Just then, Bruce appears at the table and sets down three milkshakes.

Sutton looks at him, surprised. “How did you know?”

The big man lifts a shoulder. “I heard the news about the baby earlier, and Carson’s been here for a bit. When Andi walked in, I knew he wasn’t gonna be able to keep his big fucking mouth shut.”

Nora stretches up on tiptoe and kisses her grandfather’s cheek. “Thanks.”

Nora and Sutton gather the milkshakes and head for the door.

Astrid watches them go.

“Do you need to go with them?” I ask her. “I’m fine.”

She turns back to the table. “No, I’m sure they’re okay without me.”

I still like the fact that she has a friendship like that here and that she wants to be there for Andi.