“I’ve missed you, princess.” He pulls back to inspect me, and my stomach drops because there’s an inquisitive look in his eyes that I can’t deny. “You look different. You’reglowing.”
“Oh—um, it’s probably just this new highlighter I’m using. It makes my skin shine bright. It’s all the rage. I mean, who doesn’t like a Chernobyl tan once in a while?” I look to Serena. “Am I right, or am Iright?”
That amused look on her face glides right off. “She’s right,” she says, pulling me to the side. “Hey, not to make you squirrely, but that sweatshirt of yours is looking awfullyfull.”
I glance down and wince because it’s true. I look like someone stuck a pillow up my shirt. “I’ll have to tell them today. I mean, I wasn’t planning on it starting with that. I was sort of going to fill them in on Seth and me, but you’re right—there’s no hiding this anymore. And I’m running out oftime.”
The baby kicks, and I can’t help but coo at Serena. “It’s kicking!” I steal her hand a moment, gliding it over my tummy and, sure enough, there’s anotherwallop.
“Oh my God!” Serena dips on her knees amoment.
Seth pops up with a wild look of worry. “Hey.” He nods to the rest of the party behind us, and I note his parents are here along with Lex and Axel. My God, Lex is going to hang both Eli Gates and me by the toes. Axel’s brother, Shep, is with them, and I’m hoping Lex will be moved to behave because ofit.
She makes a beeline this way and offers me an impromptu hug. “Hey, stranger. Am I losing my mind, or have you been ignoring my texts?” Lex is totally not losing her mind. Ignoring her texts has become my new favorite hobby. She pulls back and inspects me. “You feeling okay?” She turns her head just slightly, those eagle eyes of hers never leaving mine. “What’s going on? You look like you’re off to a football game. You always dress fordinner.”
“It’s finals.” I shrug. I never thought I’d be so grateful for this detestable time of the semester. “I’ve been pulling one all-nighter after the next. Going to bed at four in the morning three nights in a row wreaks havoc on everything.” I pluck at my hair and pray I don’t end up with a clump in my hand. Lex will be the first person to whisk me off to the emergency room. And when she finds out I’m having a baby in a few short minutes, I’m sure she’ll do just thatanyway.
Misty calls for everyone to take a seat, and on my way next to Seth, I spot Izzy watching from the bar with her husband. My eyes sink down that unnaturally curvy body of hers, and her stomach looks as if she swallowed an entire pumpkin patch. Wow, she’sbig. She’s the size of a battleship! Just the thought of my skin stretching to unnatural levels has me swaying on myfeet.
“Whoa.” Seth helps me into my seat before leaning into my ear—“everythingokay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just thirsty, that’s all.” That’s actually true. I’m not only eating for two. I’m drinking for two. It turns out, Little Fish needs its amniotic fluid sac filled to the brim, and it’s my responsibility to top it off on theregular.
A waitress comes by and drops off a dozen or so glasses of iced water, and Seth is quick to furnish me with both his andmine.
“Seth”—my father narrows his gaze on him, and if I didn’t know better, it’s a suspicious one—“what’s occupying your time these days?” He smirks as if he already knows the answer. My dad didn’t make his millions with a subpar IQ. The man suspects something, and he’s about to winnow the truth fromus.
“Basketball’s over, so I’ve got some free time on myhands.”
“I bet you do.” Dad needles him with the silentaccusation.
Mr. Baker leans back to get a better look at my dad. “What’s that supposed tomean?”
Dad growls at poor Seth, never taking his eyes off him. “It means I can see the way he’s looking at my daughter.” His voice rises an octave, and now both Nolan and Rush are glaring at the two ofus.
“No way.” Rush shakes his head. “Baker knows what side hissafetyis buttered on. He wouldn’t dare hit on my sister.” He glowers at him. “Isn’t that right,Seth?”
Shit. Why the hell did Rush have to go and offer it up like some testosterone-basedchallenge?
“What’s it to you?” I ask as I glare right back at my brother before offering my father the same caustic stare. “Really, is it any of your business who Isee?”
“All right”—Nolan bats his hands for everyone to calm down—“Sunday’s got a good head on her shoulders. I’m sure it’sfine.”
“Thank you,” I’m quick to tell him. It’s about time someone around here acknowledges the fact—even if I will disprove him in a few meremoments.
Nolan gives a sly wink. “She’s just a kid. She has no business hanging out with Seth for anything outside of school. Isn’t thatright?”
My mouth falls open. “How dare you!” I scoot back violently in my seat as I look to the entire table with their judgmental stares. Everyone here thinks I should be kept under lock and key as if I were a three-year-old who needs constant supervision—as if I’m prone to making life-changing mistakes. I am, but that’s not what this is about. I jump to my feet as I ready to tell everyone off and leave in a dramatic fashion because that’s exactly what my mutant hormones are demanding that I do, but Rush stands right along with me, accidentally knocking his elbow into my swollen belly with a hard jab, and I land sloppily on top of Seth clutching at mystomach.
“Oh my God, the baby!” the words spring from me, loud and strong like a reflex, and I swear on all that is holy the entire restaurant falls silent for a few ripe seconds. I squeeze my eyes shut tight in remorse before righting myself as Seth stands by myside.
Literal steam emits from my father’s ears, and I’m pretty sure it’s a YouTube-worthy moment if ever there was one. “Holy shit!” he barks with an instant rage percolating from him. His face is red with fury. His eyes bulge with disbelief. “What did you justsay?”
I look to Nolan, to Lex, to Rush, all staring at me wide-eyed, and I can’t help but note the disappointment on theirfaces.
Rush shakes his head. “She didn’t mean it. She’s pulling ourleg.”
I glance to Misty, and she gives a slight shrug as if suggesting I go with it, so Ido.
