Out of the corner of my eye, I see Anna’s face fall slightly before she quickly recovers, forcing her expression back into a smile.
April blushes, reaching to take a healthy sip. “Clearly not,” she says, raising her glass. “But. I will just say that we aren’tnottrying.”
“Oh my God!” I exclaim. “You’re trying for a baby!?”
April shrugs nonchalantly. “I guess. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
“That’s so exciting!” I scoot forward, wrapping April in a firm hug. “You and James are going to make the most beautiful babies,” I say.
Pulling back, I see Anna’s strained expression. Her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes, but I can tell she’s trying.
“Anna?” I venture quietly. “You all right?”
She shakes from her daze as soon as the words leave my mouth, straightening her spine and perking up. “Oh, sorry, I was in a daydream. I’m fine!”
“Is it the red wine? Sometimes it makes me gassy,” April says.
I scoff. “Doubt it. Considering the number of times she’s dropped her guts in an Uber when we’ve been drinking tequila.”
“Oh, piss off! You’re the one who farts!” Anna retorts.
“Me?” I say, hand over heart. “You wound me.”
“Yeah, well, so does your lethal arsehole,” Anna mutters.
“I’ve never hadanycomplaints about my arsehole, thank you very much,” I say, turning my nose up mockingly.
Anna finally laughs, waving me off before pointing to my near-empty glass. “Need a top-up?”
“Sure, thanks.” I hand her my drink, and she takes it into the kitchen.
I turn to April. “Is she okay?” I ask.
“I don’t know… She went a little quiet as soon as I mentioned that we’re trying. I’m sure she’s just distracted,” April says.
“I know she wants children, but she’s never mentioned anything about her and Mason trying,” I say.
“Maybe they are and it’s not going well?” April suggests, picking at the corner of a cushion. “I hate to think she might be struggling with something and not telling us.”
“You know Anna—if she had something important to tell us, she would’ve brought it up already,” I say.
April’s voice drops. “God, I feel terrible now.”
“Hey, don’t do that to yourself.” I reach over and squeeze her hand. “You’re allowed to be excited about your future.”
April sighs. “I just want everyone to be happy, you know?”
“I know you do, hon,” I say.
Guilt floods my chest. Here we are, worrying about Anna keeping secrets from us, when I’m sitting here harboring a big fat one of my own.
If Annaisstruggling with personal issues and I’m… well, shagging her brother behind her back, am I the worst friend in existence?
Jesus. What kind of person does that make me?
But no matter how guilty I feel, I can’t bring myself to say anything. Certainly not without talking to Max about it first. Then again, we both agreed there’s no point in telling Anna because he’ll be gone soon enough.
“We could be wrong. I think it’s rude to ask outright. I hate it when people ask James and me if we’re having kids—it’s no one’s bloody business,” April says, her tone slightly more hopeful. “I think you’re right. I’m sure she’ll tell us when she’s ready.”
