I pather on the back gently. “Karma…she’s a bitch, right?”
A scoff.“Yeah.”
“Do you know what you’re going to do?”
“Well, I don’t believe in abortion, and I wouldn’t dream ofadoption. I’m just worried about how Jacob is going toreact.”
“Well, if he’s over the moon with Kobie, I’d say there’spromise.”
“I’m not sure.”
“Hey, I was terrified to tell Maverick, remember? You were theone that was pushing me to tell him. And look how that turned out.He was so happy he cried when I lost the baby.”
Sloanelooks at me. “He did?”
I nod.“We both did.”
She’squiet for a moment. “Gosh, I don’t even know how to tell him.” Andjust as she says that, her cell phone rings. “Shit.” Shewhispers.
“Jacob?” I guess.
“Yeah.”
“Well, answer it. But I wouldn’t tell him this over the phoneif I were you.”
“I don’t…I don’t know what to say.”
“Hello?” I scoff.
“Ellie…you know me. It’s going to be a deadgiveaway.”
“That you’re pregnant? Sloane, you’re beingridiculous.”
Shelooks at the screen and swipes it over to answer the call, but shedoesn’t lift it to her ear. I grab the phone from her. “Hey, Jacob.It’s Ellie.”
Hisvoice is hesitant. “Oh, hey. How are you? What are you doinganswering her phone? Everything okay?”
“Yeah, she’s just over here at my place, and her mouth isfull.” I lie, shrugging, looking at her. I’m terrible at lying butI think I pulled it off. Then it just comes out. “Why don’t youcome over? I’m going to order a pizza. We can hang out.”
Sloane’seyes bulge.
“Sure. I’ll be right over.” Jacob says. “See you in a bit.” Hesays and hangs up.
“You don’t honestly think I’m going to tell himnow, do you?” Sloaneguffaws without a trace of humor.
“Well, why not? Pull it off like a band aid.”
“And you think I’m going to tell him here? God, you’re a badas me.”
“Do what you want to do, Sloane. You can easily call him backand tell him that dinner is off.”
She considers that for a moment but then smirks. “God,karmaisabitch.”
“Look, I’ll even leave the room, so you can have privacy,okay?”
A sigh.“Fine. But I’m not telling anyone else until I’m three months, justin case I lose it, too.”
I’m notsure if I should take that as an insult or not, but I decide to letit go. Five minutes later, Jacob knocks on the door. But what Idon’t expect is for both Jacob and Maverick to be on the other sideof the door.
