He exhales, a slow, grounding breath. “I’m really glad it’s you.”
The words land softly but firmly and, for a second, I have to look away.
“Me too,” I admit.
The future suddenly feels enormous and fragile and oddly hopeful.
“Well,” I say eventually. “This is unconventional.”
He smiles. “I think that might be my comfort zone now.”
“And Geoff,” I add, quieter, “thank you.”
He meets my eyes, expression gentle and certain.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he says. “I promise.”
It’s not grand. It’s not dramatic.
But it’s exactly what I need to hear.
“Why are we here?”
Nohello, nohow are you?Just suspicion. Ivy doesn’t miss much. She’s been dating a Corbin long enough to know when something’s off.
“Because caffeine,” I say.
“No,” she replies. “Because something iswrong. Why are we not in Theo’s coffee house like usual?”
Because if we were there, your boyfriend would hear me breathe and know something was up. Because I don’t want an audience. Because I need five minutes of your attention without the risk of steam wands and Corbin brothers.
“Because I wanted a latte with a lid,” I say instead. “And anonymity.”
Her eyes narrow. “Youarehiding something.”
We order. Ivy glares at the barista like he’s personally involved in my apparent secret mission. Drinks in hand, we sit down. I wrap my fingers round my cup and immediately wish I’d gone for something colder. My mouth is dry. My heart is loud.
Just say it. You’ve done harder things than this.
“I’m pregnant.”
Ivy screams.
Not a gasp. Not a sharp inhale. A proper scream that slices through the café like a fire alarm. Somewhere nearby, a drink hits the floor.
Oh God. I should have warned her.
“Oh my God,” she shrieks, already on her feet, throwing herself across the table and crushing me in a hug. “You’repregnant.”
“Yes,” I wheeze. “Still need ribs.”
She pulls back, eyes shining, hands gripping my arms like I might float away. “This is amazing.” She hugs me again. “I’m so happy for you.”
The sincerity of it hits harder than the scream. I hadn’t realised how braced I was until I let it slip.
“Ivy,” I start, because this matters, “I know this might be difficult to hear. And I didn’t want you finding out from anyone else. I know you always wanted a baby and can’t have one and—”
She pulls back instantly. “No. Stop. Don’t you dare.”
