"Please don't do this right now," I whisper.
"You lied to me? You let my sister fall for a soldier?" Noah says to Lexi, ignoring me.
"It wasn't like that," I yell.
"You think I wouldn't notice the way you disappear after dinner? You think I'm stupid?"
"I didn't lie. I just... didn't tell you."
"That's the same damn thing, Lucy."
I stand up, my hands trembling. My voice shakes, but I make myself say it. It isn't the perfect time, but it's better to have the whole truth out there.
"He's the father of my baby."
Silence.
Noah stares at me like I've slapped him.
His jaw ticks. His eyes go cold.
"You're pregnant?"
I nod.
He jerks back, shakes his head, and stalks off the porch without another word.
Lexi curses, taking off after him.
Grace sinks down beside me, pulling me into her arms. I don't realize I'm crying until my face is wet against her shoulder.
"He'll calm down," she whispers. "He's just scared."
"I didn't mean for it to happen like this."
"You fell in love. That's not a crime."
We sit there until the sun sinks behind the trees, and the sky is streaked with orange and pink.
Lexi comes back eventually, and she hands me a bag.
"Girls' night. We're not leaving you alone tonight."
Grace grins. "I brought the foot soak. And the pickles."
"And I got the cookie dough," Lexi says. "We're going full cliché."
They lead me inside like I'm made of glass. We head right to the sunroom. Lexi's sunroom smells like vanilla candles and hope. There's a mountain of pillows and blankets piled across the couch and floor.
Paisley arrives with a stack of gossip magazines and an absurdly large bag of peanut M&Ms. Mandi shows up with face masks and fuzzy socks. Faith, late from her shift at Oakside, brings a still-warm box of cinnamon rolls that nearly makes me cry.
They don't ask questions, as I'm sure Lexi has filled them in. Instead, they take over. Lexi steers me into the comfiest chair, wraps a blanket around me, and hands me a cinnamon roll the size of my face.
Grace plops on the floor, opening nail polish like it's a normal Tuesday.
Mandi presses a cool mask to my forehead. "You look like you haven't slept in weeks."
"I haven't," I admit.
