"It looks as if my brother dodged a huge bullet with you," Brenna said with a smug look on her face. "How long after he went back to Yale did you find some idiot to knock you up?"
"Brenna!" Evan hissed.
"No, Evan, it’s okay," I said. I was just glad that Brenna was too stupid to figure it out. "I have to go now."
"Were you cheating on Alex the whole time?" Julia asked.
"What? No!" I said. "I could never do that to him."
But I could hide a pregnancy from him! Yep, this is lookin' better and better.
"I'm not complaining." She smiled. "I'm glad he came to his senses, and I told him that last weekend when I went to visit him."
"You went to Connecticut?" I asked, trying not to sound disappointed, but I was heartbroken.
"Yes, and I spent the whole weekend with him. He's as charming as ever."
"She went with Brenna and Ryan," Evan said. "It was hardly a romantic getaway."
Julia made a face at him.
I felt sicker by the minute, and I was sure my face was pale. I swayed a little, and Evan grabbed my arm.
"You look a little woozy," he said. "Do you want to sit down?"
"No." I faked a smiled. "I have to go."
"I do too," Julia said. "Alex's coming home, so I was thinking a trip to Victoria's Secret is in order."
"Oh, perfect," Brenna said. "I haven't surprised Ryan with something new in a few weeks."
"Jocelyn," Julia said. "Maybe you should look into a new wardrobe while you're here." She looked me over, lingering a few seconds on my stomach before snickering and shaking her head.
I could feel my face burning up. I was trying really hard not to puke all over anyone. And a new threat just entered the mix. I had to tell Alex before Dumb and Dumber spilled the beans and left him with the wrong idea.
"Evan," Brenna barked. "We'll meet you for lunch in a half an hour."
"Fine." He sighed.
I waited for them to walk away, and then I said, "Please don't tell Alex."
"I won't; I promise." He nodded toward Julia and Brenna. "But you're going to have to do it and soon."
"I know." I looked down at my swollen feet.
Evan took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I’m here for you now," he whispered. "I would have been here the whole time."
"I know." I smiled. "I missed you."
"I'll call you tonight," he said. "You better not avoid me. I'll just show up on your doorstep."
"I won't," I said. "Talk to you later." He gently kissed my cheek, and then flashed me his signature panty-dropping smile before taking off. I reallyhadmissed him.
Talk about a mall trip from hell, I thought as I headed through the double doors and out into the parking lot; all I wanted to do was go climb under a rock somewhere. I climbed into my car, rested my head against the headrest, and closed my eyes. Alex would be home tomorrow. It was what I’d been waiting for. Soon, he'd know just what he'd left behind.
I smiled when I pressed my hand to my stomach. My little one was moving around while thoughts of Alex ran through my head. In a few days, he would be able to feel his baby moving inside me. I just hoped he could forgive me for shutting him out.
