“Yeah.”
Shelooks at me. After a beat, she speaks. Her voice is hesitant. “Willcalled me.”
“Shit.” I sit down on the couch next to her. “I really hopethat he didn’t rope you into anything. I refused to help him forthe first time since I met him.”
Shelifts a hand. “No. I didn’t help him. But he was begging me, Ellie.I mean, like…he cried.”
“Are you serious?”
Shenods. “It freaked me out.”
“He’s never cried. It would freak me out too.”
“But I still didn’t help him. Did I do the rightthing?”
“Yes. Absolutely. He called and begged me and Denice, too, butneither of us would give in, so he probably figured that you werehis last resort.”
“He’s in real trouble, Ellie.” She says soberly. “I’d stayaway from him if I were you. There’s no telling what he coulddo.”
“I don’t reach out to him, Sloane. So, there’s no worry unlesshe calls me again, which he knows will be futile.”
“How’s it going with Maverick?” She asks. And I still detectthat there’s more to her visit. We always fight, so us talkingagain isn’t a big deal. That’s how we are. No, there is somethingbehind that stoic face of hers, and I’m going to find out what itis.
“Great. It was a little touch and go for a while, but we loveeach other, and that’s all that matters.”
Sheswallows, staring at her hands. Her voice is so low I have tostrain to hear her. “Ellie, I’m pregnant.”
I sitcloser to her. “I wondered what was going on with you. Does Jacobknow?”
“No, not yet. I just found out a couple of hoursago.”
“Are you happy about this?”
Shestares at the floor, shaking her head. “I don’t know. I think I’min shock. I went for a physical and didn’t even see itcoming.”
“Welcome to my world. Now you know how I felt.”
Shelifts her head. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. I know you meant well.”
“No. I was selfish and insensitive.”
I frown.“That, too, but you had valid points.”
“So, you and Maverick are okay now?”
I nod.“Yeah. Yeah, we’re more than okay. We’re great.” I pause. “How areyou and Jacob?”
Shelooks at me. “We’re great, too. But, I mean, we’re still so new,and his sister-in-law, Kobie, she’s pregnant, too.”
“And how does Jacob feel about that?”
“Oh, he’s crazy about it. Loves Kobie to death. Fawns all overher and everything. But I’m not so sure how he’s going to feelabout this.”
“I was the same way, Sloane. I know exactly how youfeel.”
“I know. And that’s why I came right over here when I foundout. I figured I owed you an apology at the very least.”
