Following Alley inside, she gave me a once over as she shut the door.
“Seriously, you too?” she said.
I looked around the room at the ladies who were all cracking up.
“What did I do?”
That sent them all into a bigger fit of giggles.
I tossed both hands halfway in the air, palms up, and shrugged my shoulders. “I’m clearly missing something.”
Alley moved by me into the open living room. “You certainly didn’t miss getting noodled like half the other ladies before you came in late,” she teased.
My mouth dropped open. “Did you just say noodled?”
“That’s Alley’s way of telling you that she knows you had sex before you came,” Summer said.
Oh heavens, I was a minute in and it was already interesting. I should have known there wouldn’t be a dull moment from start to finish when it came to the group of women who’d become dear friends.
I winked. “Just to be clear. Bronson’s more like a long, fat, all beef sausage than a noodle.”
Laughing along with everyone else, Alley replied, “Way to rub it in. I was so busy getting everything ready that my man didn’t get to slip me anything before Teal here”—she pointed at the petite woman next to her—“showed up early.”
“Hey, it’s not my fault Kace is on duty outside tonight and wanted to check the surroundings before everyone got here.”
I’d seen Kace and Lyric standing guard outside. Bronson wanted to be there, I knew, but they needed him at work that night. I hoped that the ladies could have their sleepover without any tragedy because I heard how a couple of events didn’t end on a good note for them.
And I was looking forward to a night of fun with my girls.
“Fine, I’ll let you make it up to me," Alley told Teal. “Be prepared when I come knocking for a favor,” she added as she walked over and jumped up on the coffee table like it was her stage. “Okay beautiful people, let's get this party started!”
The raven-hair dynamo launched herself back off the table and motioned for everyone to follow her into the kitchen where shot glasses sat on the counter, waiting for everyone. Or almost everyone.
“London, this one's yours, filled with sparkling cider,” Teal said.
She wasn’t far along but she hadn’t been sick at all and her happiness shined across her gorgeous face. I may not have known her for long but London had become a wonderful friend in just a short time and I was so happy for her, Lance, and Oliver. Theirs was a second chance love story for the books.
London said thank you and everyone grabbed their drinks, but I hesitated. Maybe it was wishful thinking but deep down something was telling me shots were not meant for me that evening.
“You’re not drinking?” Ruby asked from beside me, causing my head to swivel in her direction. She had a sly smile on her face that I wasn’t sure how to decipher.
I bit the inside of my cheek unsure what to say as I took in everyone’s gazes on me.
“Oh my god!” Capri yelled. “You’re pregnant too, aren’t you?”
The room was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop as they waited for my response. But I didn’t have the answer, only a suspicion or a feeling.
“You don’t know,” Brinley said, pinning me with a laser-eyed stare. It wasn’t a question, she seemed to have read my thoughts. “Were you trying?”
I hadn’t really spoken about it with anyone, but Bronson admitted to calling Lyric the second we decided we wanted to try to have a baby, so…
A lightbulb went off in my head. “Lyric told you.” I pointed at Ruby and her smile widened.
She jumped to defend her man. “He was so excited for you guys, don’t be mad at him. Plus we tell each other everything unless specifically asked not to, and Bronson never told him not to say anything.” Her eyes scanned mine as if looking to see if I was angry. “But we didn’t say anything to anyone else.”
I wasn’t mad at Lyric or her. I guess I never told anyone because I was worried I’d jinx our chances or something.
“It’s okay, I’m not mad. Truth be told, I’m glad you all know now because I’m going crazy.”
