* * *
HallowedGrounds is filled to the brim with students cramming for finals and those who look as if they’re toasting the fact they’re done. Serena and I happen to fall into the lattercategory.
We each order an oversized vanilla bean cookie crumble and find a seat near thewindow.
“So you’re never going to believe this,” I say as we take the first groan-worthy sips of our delectable delights. “But this pregnancy thing is all yourfault.”
“What?” She nearly blows her drink from her nose. And just as she’s about to assault me for the details, she looks up and averts her eyes at someone standing behindme.
I turn with my heart pounding, fully expecting to find Seth Baker in all his dark-haired ocean blue-eyed glory, but I find my cousin, Lex, instead—a totally heart-pounding event for far more nefarious reasons. That night I ran out of the Black Bear, I didn’t give her an opportunity to grill me. Instead, it was Trixie and Serena who helped me run straight to Cutler Tower forcover.
“Why, yes”—she says, taking the seat next to Serena—“I think I will invite myself to this party. What did I miss?” Her crimson hair is a touch darker than Serena’s, but they both share the same hellion appeal. They’re both firecrackers in their own right. Lex has the ability to take the chest hair right off a construction worker. She can be that scary. “Right here, right now, spill the details. Serena asked me to give you space and I did. Guess what? That game is over.” She glowers at me a second before softening. “Now what were you girls discussing before I gothere?”
Serena curls her lips at her sister. “Sunday was just about to tell me how it was all my fault she got herself knockedup.”
Lex’s mouth drops open. “Is thistrue?”
“True as gospel.” I take another sip of my Frappuccino and groan again as the goodness slinks down my throat. “Anyway, it all goes back to the week of finals last semester when we sat right here, I believe, and we discussed how crazy it was that we were both finally in college. You said you were about to run wild and that Lex would blow a gasket if she knew, and that the only one of us that could keep your sister sane was me because I was prettyboring.”
Both Serena and Lex gasp at once, and it’s actually pretty comical towitness.
“I didn’t say that.” Serena gets that look in her eye that both warns me and lectures me at once. “Okay, so there might be some truth to it, but I was totally kidding!” She backs a safe distance from her sister in the event Lex is moved to backhand her. “I was, Iswear.”
“Good.” Lex looks from Serena to me. “Sunday.” She exhales hard as she closes her eyes a moment. “Have I taught you nothing about treating everything this girl says with a grain of salt? You know she’s all over the place in life. If you look up the definition ofhot messin the dictionary, you’re apt to find herface.”
“What?” Serena squawks so loud she solidifies our audience base. Honestly, after that announcement, I had better get used toit.
“Oh hush, you. We all know it’s true.” Lex knifes her green eyes into mine. “Promise me you’ll never keep anything so big from me again. I know I can never replace your mom, but you need someone in your life who acts as a mother figure and, by darn it, that had better be me.” Lex has a thing with cursing. I think expletives actually burn her ears or at least that’s the line she fed us when we werekids.
“Lex, for all practical purposes, you are my mother. And if my mother could give you a message from the great beyond, I’m pretty sure she would let you know how proud of you she was that you bothered to step up. So, thank you for that.” I pull her hand over and kiss it since hugging from across the table might endanger Little Fish, and keeping my little fishy safe is top priority forme.
Lex warms me with a smile. “I’m pretty sure your mom is proud of you, too. Your dad, however, doesn’t know what to make of this, but your mom is sending you all her best wishes. I’m positive ofthat.”
“Thank you.” My voice grows small as I fight the urge to bawl. I’d blame it on my out-of-control hormones, but I think we all know my mother’s death is still a pretty sore spot for me. She didn’t have to die. It was an accident. One moment she was here and the next she was in heaven earning her wings. None of it seemed fair. And the pain I felt from losing her, the pain Istillfeel from her loss is what’s driving me to be the best mother I can be for my littlepeanut.
Serena lands her hand over mine and her sister’s. “To no more secrets.” She flits her eyes to Lex. “Between the two of you especially.” She gives a little wink, and we share alaugh.
Lex grunts, “Just behave yourselves, would you? I don’t want to go gray any faster than I haveto.”
Serena bounces a pink nail over her sister’s arm. “So, what about you and Ax? You planning on expanding the family any time soon? Misty and Nolan beat you to the punch, but there’s still time to join the baby explosion.” Nolan shared the news with me over a text and I felt bad about the nightmare that unfolded that night—especially that it got in the way of their bigannouncement.
Lex remains suspiciously quiet a moment too long. “We might be dipping a toe into the kiddie pool soon. I guess you never know what the future holds. Stay tuned, girls. You just might get some newsyet.”
“Aw, that’s great. I’d love for Little Fish to have another cousin to playwith.”
“Little Fish?” they deadpan in unison. It’s clear my baby moniker isn’t the biggesthit.
Serena moans like she might be sick. “Please tell me that nickname is a passing phase that will time out as soon as that precious baby pops out of yourbelly.”
“Ipromise.”
Lex bites on her lip nervously, and the fact that Lex is showing any anxiety at all is enough to frighten me. “And please tell me your plans as far as school is concerned—even though you don’t owe me anyexplanations.”
“Please, I owe you everything. You helped me shop for winter formals and prom dresses. That was at least a thousand mind-numbing trips to the mall.” I take a deep breath. “I don’t know. And that’s the truth. I’m having the baby in September. Traditionally, that’s when I’d be sorting through my sweaters and eyeing cute fall jackets to add to my growing collection. Instead, I’ll be sorting through baby laundry and eyeing cute booties to add to someone else’s wardrobe. I have to take next semester off. I have no choice. And after that, I might do as many online classes as I can handle. I’ll try to keep up my vlog. But I’ll have to move out of the dorm in a week, and I don’t have a clue where I’ll moveto.”
“You’ll stay with me,” Lex says firmly as if it were an order. “I have three spare bedrooms, so the baby will get a proper nursery. Serena and I are throwing you a shower at the beginning of August, and you’ll have more than enough trinkets and gadgets to ensure you have a happy little fish once she or he arrives. Do you know the gender of the baby, or is this something else you plan on tormenting mewith?”
Serena and I laugh. “I don’t know. But if it makes you feel better, it’s sort of tormenting me, too. I can’t wait to find out, but I’ve decided to wait until D-Day.”
