“When was that?” Megan snaps.
I stare at her. “I don’t know.” Fuck! “I can’t think.”
Lucy takes my hand, her face panicked. “Nina, are you pregnant?”
THIRTY-FOUR
Nina
“Keep your fucking voice down!” I hiss, moving to the double doors and pulling them closed. I do not need the boys hearing this. “Scarlet, when was the accident?”
“Must have been a good couple months ago? I think,” she tells me, and my body heats instantly, a cold sweat breaking out across my skin.
“Fucking hell.” Lucy fans her face, her eyes wild.
“Calm down. I’m not fucking pregnant.” My eyes flick between them all, my stomach in knots. “Cocktails. I need a cocktail. You’re all a bunch of drama queens.”
I move to the bathroom and close the door. Needing the space from them. I’m not easily influenced, but the way the girls were looking at me has panic clawing its way up my chest.
I look in the mirror and eye the slight swell that sits below my belly button.
Lowering my hand, I stretch the skin, noticing how the bulge only protrudes farther.
I’m due on. I know I am. And I always bloat. That with the bread we had last night and all the alcohol, it’s given me bad bloat.
The door knocks open against my back, and I move to let the girls in. None of them say a word, and their silence pisses me off more than their probing.
Lucy pulls back my hair and starts braiding it while Megan drops sandals at my feet. Scarlet follows their lead, blotting at my cheeks before covering my face with a ton of makeup.
I hadn’t realised I was crying.
Mase
Nina has been quiet all night, and I don’t know why. I just know something is wrong.
Maybe it’s because I brought up marriage. I know it was too soon, but she’s seemed okay since I told her not to worry about it.
It’s something else.
Everyone has gone to bed, but I’m still up, sitting on the terrace and watching as the waves crash against the rocks in the distance. It’s been an incredible week with everyone, but I know I have things to deal with when I get home. Dad didn’t get around to managing his affairs, and if we don’t handle it right, then the properties he owned could end up in the wrong hands.
We need to be smart.
I just don’t want to deal with it yet. With any of it.
“Mase?” Scarlet’s soft voice pulls me from my thoughts as she drops to the seat next to me. “Can’t sleep?” I ask.
She shakes her head, and I pull her into my side. We used to do this when we were young. Only Mum and Dad would be cuddled up on the other sofa.
“Do you think about them?” she asks after a while, so quietly I almost don’t catch it.
“All the time,” I tell her honestly.
“Me too. I like being here. We should’ve come out together sooner.”
“I know, and I’m sorry, Scar,” I say against her head. “I’ve been shit, and it isn’t fair on you.”
“Everyone deals with grief differently, Mason. It’s how you move forward that will show me you’re not a complete ass.”
