Hazel’s head tilted to the side, and her mouth puckered. “Maybe because we’ve been here before? Sit.” Daniela pointed at the sofa. “We need to talk.”
“I’ll grab a garbage bag and clean up a bit.” Hazel’s nose screwed up when she glanced at the mess then hurried into the kitchen. A moment later, she came back with bags.
“Tell us what happened,” Blair said, piling up pizza boxes and handing them to Hazel.
“Nothing happened.” Chloe slumped back on the sofa and crossed her arms over her chest.
Daniela pinned her with a stare that saidyou better tell me now or you’re in big trouble. “We’re not leaving here until we find out.”
“That’s right!” Blair said, “We’ll even sleep here if necessary.” She paused and seemed to be reevaluating her proclamation. “I hope your room is cleaner than this.”
The sooner she told them, the sooner they’d leave her alone, and then she could get back to her pity party. She brought her friends up to speed about Ethan’s matchmaking attempt and everything to do with Theo, including his infidelity. When she was done, she buried her face in her hands and cried, letting Hazel comfort her.
When Chloe got herself back under control and blew her nose, Hazel leaned back on the sofa. “So, he broke up with you because he couldn’t promise to give you children, not because he doesn’t love you?”
“He said hecaredfor me,” Chloe corrected, taking another tissue. “That’s not love.”
“Did you ever think maybe he didn’t tell you how he really feels because he was trying to let you live a life you’ve always dreamed of—having a family?” Hazel raised an eyebrow.
“I flat out asked him if he loved me, and he didn’t say a word.”
“Why would he? He was probably too scared,” Blair said. “Remember that Margaret Atwood quote, ‘Women are afraid of being murdered; men are afraid of rejection.’”
“That’s not how it goes,” Daniela hissed.
Blair waved it away. “Close enough.” She turned back to Chloe. “Look at it from his perspective. His ex-wife didn’t want to stick around and try when she found out he was infertile. Maybe he thought you’d do the same. All you’ve talked about is wanting to start a family as soon as possible. This wouldn’t be an easy issue for him to deal with.”
Chloe propped her elbow on the armrest of the chair and dropped her head in her hand. “No, it wouldn’t be easy, but we could have gotten through it. I would think if he loved me, he would’ve told me.” She blew her nose and dropped the tissue into the already-overflowing bin next to her. “I’m so pathetic. I’ve finally fallen in love, but it’s with the wrong man.”
“Why is he the wrong man?” Blair frowned.
Chloe pulled a face at Blair. “Because… because… firstly, he doesn’t love me, and secondly, he can’t have kids.”
“Why does that matter? There’s adoption, surrogacy, artificial insemination. Hell, I bet his brother would be willing to provide sperm if you’re that keen on Theo’s genetics,” Daniela said, ticking off the options on her fingers.
“Besides, the doctors have said he had a small chance, not that itcouldn’thappen,” Hazel reminded her.
“Yes, well, it might take years to conceive or maybe not at all.”
“So, what you’re saying is, your love for Theo has conditions.” Blair rubbed her chin.
Chloe shook her head. “What? No, I want—”
“Want kids, blah, blah, blah. We’ve heard it a thousand times,” Blair waved a hand around in the air.
“If you want kids so badly, why haven’t you considered any options other than the ‘insert penis in vagina and ejaculate’ one?” Hazel asked, a hurt expression on her face. “Because for some of us here it wasn’t an option.”
“All of us,” Blair added. “I had to have IVF because of PCOS. So get off of your high horse and do something about it.”
Chloe crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, I’m so sorry I’ve bored you with my desire to have a family. We’re not all as lucky as you are with your perfect lives and kids.” Her friends were supposed to be here comforting her, not taking Theo’s side.
Blair scoffed. “We are hardly perfect, but yes, I am lucky because I love my husbandunconditionally. We’re not married because of our kids; we’re married because we love each other. The kids were a bonus. Mitch didn’t leave me just because we had trouble conceiving. And I wouldn’t have left him if he’d had a similar issue. We got lucky with IVF, but if we hadn’t, I’d still be with him. We’d be two happy DINKS”—Daniela mouthed “dual-income, no kids” at Chloe’s confused expression—“instead of two stressed—but ultimately happy—parents. I’ll always love him no matter what life throws at us. That’s what ‘for better or worse’ means.”
Hazel blinked back tears and sniffed. “She’s right. I feel the same about Joyce. If you love someone, you accept them for everything they are. Flaws and all.”
Chloe’s heart sank. They were right. All she’d been able to focus on was finding a husband and having a baby; she’d forgotten to let herself just love someone.
“Ask yourself this, if you were with Theo—not knowing of his condition and after months or years of trying to conceive with no luck, would he be enough? Would you still love him?” Daniela gave her an intense stare.