He met her through me at boarding school. He was in my house, in my circle, in my trust. Then he fucked her in my home while on break, behind my back. I didn’t care that he knew we weren’t happy; our lives were planned out by our families. I was livid that he, my best friend, my roommate fucked who he knew would one day be my wife, and even more livid that I knew he didn’t value what he touched. I went to find Matthias, and he was in bed with another girl. A different one from two nights before.
She said she would never love again. Said she would never have children. She meant it then, and honestly, I was relieved she didn’t expect to bring a child into a marriage that was one of convenience.
Anna sets the sonogram down carefully. “You’re going to be insufferable,” she says quietly.
“I already am.”
She laughs once, but her eyes are bright. “Are you scared?”
I lean back against the counter. “Not even a little.”
She picks up the photo again. “They look like peanuts.” I chuckle. “You’re going to be a good father,” she says.
“Hey,” Hildy sighs when she answers the phone.
“Hey,” I chuckle, and she laughs softly. “You ready to do this?”
This being that this morning, Anna asked Hildy if she and Lucy would go to the game tonight. Hildy said yes immediately,and then our little Lucy woke up and came out of her room, yawning hello to us and then walked up to Hildy, smiled at her belly and said, “Good morning, sister.”
After the conversation about not knowing whether it was two girls or two boys or one of each, her little head nearly exploded, now knowing there were two. Poor Anna felt horrible that she’d spilled the proverbial tea. Hildy was the first to assure her it was seriously okay. I have no doubt they will be close.
Before I left for practice, I pulled Hildy aside and told her we needed to let those in our circles know, especially since we’d already agreed that Hank would return today and stay as long as he wanted, and there was no way I’d want to ask Lucy to hold a secret that didn’t need to be one. She agreed.
“I am,” she says hesitantly. “Did you speak to?—”
“I sent an email,” I state.
“You what?” she asks quietly.
“It’s the best way.”
“How do you figure telling them that you are —”
“This isn’t about them, it’s about us. I am protecting my bubble for now.”
“Your sparkly shoes,” she says softly, and I can hear the smile in her voice.
“My sparkly shoes,” I repeat.
After hanging up the phone, I round the corner and see Kilovac entering, heading toward the door, probably heading to the viewing room.
“Aleks.”
He looks over his shoulder, “What?”
“Need a minute.”
He studies me for half a second and walks toward me, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He narrows his eyes. “That tone means something.”
I lean against the wall. “You remember me trying to place the redhead?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Late September, the lecture I attended for the foundation. The bar after. The woman I met and spent the night with. The one I knew was possibly the only woman who?—”
