Ralph's chopsticks stopped mid-air. His expression darkened several shades. "Look at properties? What's wrong with the place we have now?"
"Well, if we want kids someday, we might need more space." I looked at him, my tone perfectly innocent, as though I were genuinely planning for our future.
His face changed completely. Even his voice went tight. "Kids aren't urgent. We're still in the startup phase. Money's tight. No point throwing it around."
Ha.
Money's tight?
It wasn't tight when he wired Lisa $50,000 for a down payment on a school-district apartment.
It wasn't tight when he took her to the most expensive steakhouse in the city and blew money like it was nothing.
"You're right. We'll wait, then." I nodded meekly, but behind my eyes, everything had gone cold.
That afternoon, I used the restroom as an excuse to take the long way back past the front desk.
I heard Lisa and a coworker chatting and giggling before I even rounded the corner.
"The doctor said the baby's perfectly healthy. Due date's the end of the year."
"Lisa, you're so lucky! Your boyfriend spoils you rotten, buys you an apartment, even helps you fix up your design entries for the competition!" her coworker gushed.