Jacinta
Ispin around, but before I can answer, Harlow and Hope are there. “I think you need to leave now, Rowena. All those glasses of champagne are making you stupid.” Harlow gestures off to the side, and Riku steps up from somewhere. “Riku, can you please see that Rowena and Lindy are escorted home? Is there someone who hasn’t been drinking?”
“Simon and I haven’t had anything yet. We’ll see that they get to where they need to go,” he says quietly, and another shiver rolls down my spine. Damn it, I’m so sensitive to certain stimulation at the moment.
Rowena and Lindy are both spluttering excuses, but Harlow hasn’t finished yet.
“Those kinds of allegations border on sexual harassment, so I would beverycareful which little bird you let whisper in your ear.” Rowena blushes bright pink, and her eyes float to where Lindy is standing off to the side. “I would keep your head down and work hard. Without an eye for fashion, even I know Jace’s designs are divine. I’ve had the honor of wearing them. So far I haven’t seen anything you’ve come up with. Is there a reason for that?”
“Rowena hasn’t approached us to present anything yet. We haven’t even seen a basic sketch,” Molly happily calls out across the patio.
“Off you go then, and I suggest you put in some hard work this week. We’re already halfway through your trial period.” Nana joins the group that has drawn the attention of everyone here, which breaks through the enjoyment that I had. My skin starts to itch with all the focus now on us. I pull away from Jace, grab the two glasses of champagne I poured, and hand them to my sisters. Harlow hesitates for only a second, but it’s long enough for me to see and to remember what I was doing.
“Go now. I’m bored,” I say, shooing them away, and Lindy looks ready to put up a fight, but Riku and Simon gently take each woman by an arm and lead them away. I see the moment the fight leaves both of them in favor of panic.Good, let them sweat.
The gathered people disperse, and the itch fades a little. “Guys, I have something I need to talk to Harlow about, but I promise I’ll come find you when I’m done. I do want to hear about how you all are and what you’ve been doing.” I kiss each of them on the cheek, and by Alex’s and Shane’s surprised looks, they weren’t expecting it. I linger a little longer with Jace though.
“I’ve missed you,” I whisper into his ear before pulling away. I quickly refill the glass I had knocked over before making a beeline for my secret keeping sister.
“Come with me, you sneaky bitch.” I pull her away from the crowd and into the corner near the covered hot tub. When my twin sees what I’m doing, he excuses himself from the conversation he was having with Miles McCallister.
“Is everything okay here?” he asks when he gets to us.
I take a long drink of my champagne, chugging over half of it, as I try to get my thoughts into order. Tapping my foot, I raise a perfectly manicured eyebrow. “Is there something you want to tell me?” I ask, looking between the two of them before locking my gaze on Harlow’s. But my imperial bullshit doesn’t work on her. She just smirks, wrapping an arm around my brother and hugging him close to her. Gah, I love seeing them all loved up.
“So that’s how it’s going to be, is it? Who’s asking? Jacinta Summers or Jazzy, my kind, loving, and wonderful sister who hides behind a wall of stuck-up derision?” Harlow doesn’t pull any punches, which is exactly what I normally need. Right now, I just want her to give up the goods.
“Well, I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. If you two have been keeping secrets from me, then there’s a good chance you’re talking to Jacinta Summers.”
“Does it make a difference that you’re the first person I’m telling after your brothers?”
I wave my hand impatiently. “Yes, yes, fine, get on with it.”
“You’re going to be an aunt,” Jaxon tells me.
“I knew it!” I exclaim, and Harlow nods, smiling serenely.
“Yup, something good actually came from that whole clusterfuck. I mean, it most definitely wasn’t planned, and it’s sooner than I thought it would happen, but we’re happy.”
She rests her head on Jax’s shoulder as I squeal and throw my arms around her and my twin, spilling my champagne everywhere. I bounce up and down with excitement, the real kind that has nothing to do with the cocaine euphoria. “Oh my god, two babies!” I shout, unable to lower my voice, and of course that brings the patio to a very abrupt silence.
“Did I hear right?” Hope shouts, scrambling to her feet. “Are you fucking pregnant, Harlow Summers, and you didn’t tell me?”
Hope’s curse has Harlow cringing and turning to face her with a resigned look on her face. “In my defense, I’ve only known for five days. I told the guys yesterday, and I was going to tell everyone today,” Harlow calls back, and Nana jumps to her feet.
“Brad, Howard, come here right now!” she calls over to the grill. They still haven’t heard the commotion and are oblivious to everything that is going on now.
“Chuck! Chuck!” Melinda adds.
“What is it, Mom?” Dad asks as he, Poppy, and Chuck leave Thomas and Kai at the grill.
“Babies!” she announces, clapping her hands, and Chuck’s mouth drops open.
“You told them? I thought we were going to tell Maxine first. It’s been all I could do not to tell anyone today.”
Everyone’s eyes turn to Melinda, who rolls hers at her husband. “No, you idiot, you just did.”
“You’re pregnant?” Emma asks Melinda, wide eyed with surprise.
