Twenty years ago, they’d run from the world.Tonight, they ran toward it.
Together.
Chapter27
The bathroom door rattled as Crystal knocked for the third time.
“Paige?Are you done in there?”
That morning, Crystal had sent out an urgent call for all of them to meet at Paige’s rental.Emergency gatherings were rare, almost unheard of, but today, every one of them had come.
From inside came a groan.“Would you quit rushing me?This is not like baking a pie.You can’t just open the oven door every five seconds!”
Nicole, leaning against the hallway wall with Amanda and Jennifer, lifted her brows.“Should we be worried?”
Amanda smirked.“Depends.If she’s in there with a bottle of tequila, yes.”
Jennifer crossed her arms.“I told you.She’s taking a pregnancy test.”
Nicole’s mouth fell open.“What?Who’s the father?”
Crystal rolled her eyes at the group.“Yes, Sherlock.And, apparently, the apocalypse happens at the three-minute mark because she’s been moaning about it the whole time.”
Inside the bathroom, Paige snapped, “I can hear you, you know!”
Amanda grinned wickedly.“Good.We’re judging you out here.”
Nicole pressed a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing.The nerves in her stomach churned, not for herself but for her friend.She knew Paige well enough to know that control was her gospel, except when it came to men.There, she’d always flown by the seat of her stilettos, chasing freedom and living the single life to the fullest.But even Paige couldn’t outmaneuver two little pink lines on a stick.
“Don’t know,” Crystal said.“I don’t think it’s anyone around here.Have you heard or seen her talking to anyone?”
“Just the pizza delivery boy, but he’s way too young,” Amanda said.
“Hey, I don’t do youngsters,” she replied from behind the door.“I like my men to know what they’re doing.”
They all laughed.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the door creaked open.Paige’s face was pale, her eyes wide, and she held the plastic stick in her trembling hand.She looked at Crystal first, like she couldn’t bring herself to face the others yet.
“Um,” Paige said, her voice squeaky.“What does it mean when there’s a pink plus sign?”
Crystal’s grin spread slow and certain.“It means you’re pregnant.”
Paige’s mouth fell open.“Oh crap.”
Amanda whooped.“Called it!”
Jennifer’s eyes widened.“Holy hell.Paige, are you serious?”
Nicole stepped forward gently, her heart squeezing at the sight of her usually unflappable friend looking so lost.“Oh, Paige…”
“I can’t be pregnant!”Paige blurted, pacing the narrow hall.“I have a career.I have plans.I have… I have a yoga retreat booked in Tulum!Pregnant women don’t sip cocktails in infinity pools!”
Amanda snorted.“Correction: pregnant womenshouldn’tsip cocktails in infinity pools.I’ve known some who tried.”
“Not funny!”Paige snapped, though her voice wobbled.She pressed a hand to her forehead.“I don’t even like children.They’re sticky and loud, and they ruin throw pillows.”
Crystal leaned against the doorframe, hands on her belly.“Yeah, I had doubts when one moved into my body and started practicing karate at two a.m.You get used to it.”
