Every time I think about telling him, my throat closes up and I remember Connor’s face when he found out about his dad. I can’t do that again. It’s too soon.
“What did you say to him?” Ella asks, leaning forward.
“I told him to think it through. Not to rush.” I pick at my salad, my appetite practically nonexistent despite the constant low-level hunger that’s been my companion for weeks. “I mean, he’s got at least one more big contract in him. Maybe two. He’s only thirty-two. He’s got years left in him.”
“But he missed ten years with Connor,” Ella says softly. “That changes a man’s perspective, I’m sure.”
“I know, and I respect that so much,” I say. “It’s just a lot to process. Hockey has been his entire identity for so long.”
Layken studies my face. “Is there something else going on that would sway him?”
I shrug. “Like what?”
She bobs her head like she’s about to pull ideas out of thin air. “Okay, so please don’t take any offense to this because I don’t mean it that way at all but…” Her gaze slips to my body before her eyes meet mine. “You look…different.”
My heart pounds in my chest.
“Different, how?”
She puts down her fork and stares right into my soul. “Well for starters you’ve got this glow about you.” She nudges Marlee. “Don’t you think, Mar? It’s a glow I’ve seen before.”
Marlee nods, tilting her head as she studies me. “Oh, my God, yes! Why didn’t I catch it before?”
“Catch what?” I ask, my eyes bouncing between them.
“She’s not drinking coffee. She’s been sipping water this whole time…” Marlee rattles off.
Layken winks. “And she was barfing a couple months ago for no reason…”
The water I just sipped goes down the wrong way, and I cough violently. Scarlett pats my back while I try to recover.
“Are you okay?” Marlee asks, concern etched across her face.
“Fine,” I wheeze. “Just—wrong pipe.”
When I finally catch my breath, four pairs of eyes are studying me with varying degrees of suspicion. Scarlett leans forward, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand.
“Alright, I’ll bite. Harper, babe, are you pregnant?”
The question hangs in the air between us, and suddenly I’m fighting back tears. I’ve been holding this in for weeks, carrying this secret alone, terrified of what it means and what Harrison will say.
“Yes,” I whisper, and the admission feels both terrifying and freeing. “About thirteen weeks.”
The table erupts in excited gasps and congratulations, but Ella quickly notices my expression doesn’t match their enthusiasm.
“You haven’t told him yet, have you?” she asks gently.
I shake my head, blinking back tears. “How can I? It hasn’t been that long since Connor found out Harrison is his dad and now Harrison is thinking about retirement. How am I supposed to throw this into the mix?” I lean forward, holding my head in my hands. “I’ve made a mess of this, haven’t I?”
Ella reaches across and squeezes my hand. “You haven’t made a mess of anything. Life is messy all on its own.”
“He deserves to know,” I say, more to myself than to them. “I can’t keep this from him. Not again.”
“Of course he deserves to know,” Marlee says gently. “But timing matters too. There’s no rule that says you have to tell him today.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “I’m just…terrified. What if this is too much? What if he feels trapped? He’s already talking about giving up his career for Connor. Now there’s going to be another baby and?—”
“Stop,” Scarlett says firmly. “Harrison Meers is many things, but he is not a man who runs from responsibility. He never has been and never will be. Plus, he’s crazy about you, Harper. Anyone with eyes can see that.”
