NICOLE OPEN UP

“Sorry, I just mean, you’ve got pretty good people instincts. Even when you dated assholes before, you always held some part of yourself back.” She looks at me intently. “This time you didn’t. So I’m asking, what if you weren’t wrong? What if he doesn’t know you’re pregnant?”

“Oh, so he just fired me for some other imaginary cause,” I snort. “How is that any better?”

She sighs. “I guess it’s not.” She slumps down into the couch. “I just wanted a happy ending for you, for once. You deserve it.”

I don’t say anything. I think if I do, I’ll start crying again. I’m too worn out for that.

“At least you got the money,” Ellie offers, half-heartedly. “There’s more than enough to start your company and cover the costs of having a kid. And when you eventually run out, you can sue his billionaire ass for child support.”

I give a broken laugh.

“I’m serious,” Ellie says. “You’ve always wanted a kid. And you’ve always wanted to run your own business. Now you have the money to do both.”

“I know.” My