“Is she on atrip?”
I fold my arms in front of me and take a deep breath. “A big one. In fact, she had to leave her body to take it. I won’t be seeing her until I give up my ownghost.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Her features contort inhorror.
“No, I’m fine. It happened a long time ago. My cousin, Lex, sort of stepped in and raised us as best she could. Don’t get me wrong, I love Lex, but she’d have my head on this table and a butcher knife right over my neck if sheknew.”
Her phone buzzes, and she gives it a quick glance. “Does Misty know?” Her eyes growwide.
“Nope. And I’m going to keep it that way. She’s married to my brother. Need I saymore?”
A cool breeze wafts over, and we glance up to find a petite brunette with a cute turned-up nose and a mischievous grin on her face. “What can’t I know since I’m married to yourbrother?”
It’sMisty.
“Great.” I lean back in my seat and stare at Izzy. “Justgreat.”
“What?” Misty falls in next to her, and the two of them exchange those nonverbal best friend cues—and my debacle has them both looking confused. “Will somebody please tell me what’s going on around here? Or do I have to start threatening the two of you with throwback pics that will make your hair curl on its own? And I do havethem.”
Both Izzy and I cringe. I bet Misty has an entire litany of photographic evidence at how awkward I was as a pre-teen. That alone is enough to topple my cosmetics-based empire in one fell pimple-faced swoop. That or it can be a really good beforepicture.
Izzy takes a breath and looks tome.
“Oh, come on.” Misty thumps her red glossy nails over the table. “It can’t be that bad. The two of you look as if you stomped a litter of baby seals todeath.”
Izzy bubbles with a small laugh. “That’s so random.” Her body bucks as she looks to me. “And yet sort of on point. This conversation is geared toward life.” She clears her throat. Her eyes widen at me, assuring me the beach ball belly is in mycourt.
The way I see it, I have two options. I confess to Misty now or I confess to Mistylater.
“All right, fine.” Gone are the tears, replaced with a slightly pissy attitude. Nobody asked Misty to crash our party. If she’s disappointed in me, I can’t help her. I’m disappointed enough in myself. I look right at her, my gaze hard, bordering on cruel. “But I’ll warn you. If you tell my brother, I will never forgive you.” And sadly, I mean everyword.
Her cherry red lips part, and that fun, flirty smile she wears for the world has long since dissipated. “I won’t. My God, are youokay?”
“I’m fine.” I swallow down any internal protest I might have in regards to spilling the maternity beans. “The baby and I are bothfine.”
“Good.” She gives a few hard blinks. “Because I’m starving. Have you guys eaten?” Misty stops cold, her gaze goes catatonic. “Did you saybaby?” A tiny laugh bubbles from her throat. “You mean Izzy’s baby!” She belts out a laugh, looking rather relieved, but neither Izzy nor I am laughing along with her. “Sunday? Please tell me you’re joking.” She looks to Izzy with a veiled threat on her face. “Come on, Izzy, stop. It’s notfunny.”
“And that’s why we’re not laughing,” I add. “It’s true, Mis.” My chest heaves as I struggle to hold it together. “I’m knocked up.” My voice pitches, and the two of them offer an anguished coo as if I were a baby myself. And considering the fact I haven’t crested my second decade of life, I’m pretty sure I qualify in most people’s eyes. Oh my God! I’ve become astatistic!
My face collapses back in my hands as the two of them do their best to comfortme.
Eventually, Misty coaxes me back to an upright position. “Hey—no visits to Self-Pity Land,” she says itsweetly.
“Well, too bad because I kind of like it there.” I look up at the two of them and their long faces. “Self-Pity Land is the perfect place for me to be. Have I mentioned they’ve crowned me queen? It turns out I throw one mean pityparty.”
The two of them share a laugh, and Izzy dabs the tears in her eyes with her pinkies. “Have you been to adoctor?”
I shake my head. I’m so ashamed at how lousy I’m handling this whole thing, I can’t even look at the two of themanymore.
“You’ll love mine. And I know for a fact he takes your student insurance because Misty uses him,too.”
“Him?” Kill me now. I’ve never had anything but a woman looking at my nether regions. “No thanks. I don’t think I can takeit.”
Misty shakes her head. “You’ll have to. He’s the only OB/GYN covered on the university’s plan. I should know. I looked into it myself. Nolan and I are trying.” Her cheeks blush withcolor.
“Oh, well, that’s great. I’m really happy for you. In fact, I wish we could tradeplaces.”
“Don’t be silly. I’ll be glad to provide a little cousin for your baby to play with.” She reaches over and picks up my hand. “It’s going to be great, Sunday. Trust me on this.” And just like that, I see Seth there hiding out in her eyes. She and Seth only vaguely look anything alike, but at the moment all I see is him. He’s been amazing, and oddly enough being with Misty actually makes me cravehim.
