Shit, shit, shit. This was so not how she’d wanted to do this. Of course, there probably wasn’t ever a good way to drop this particular bombshell on her father, but right after insulting one of his closest friends was certainly at the bottom of the list.
“You should definitely be sitting for this.”
He didn’t sit. He went straight for her, pulling her into his arms, his cheek resting on the top of her head as he gently rocked her side to side. “Whatever it is, we’ll handle it together, baby.”
Oh, god, more tears. Giving into them, into the need for her father’s comfort and strength, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tight as she dragged in a shuddering breath. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, I never meant for this to happen. I don’t even know how it happened. I mean I know how, but like?—”
“Breathe, Ari.” Strong, familiar hands, the hands that had held her and soothed her through sickness and heartbreak and grief for more than two decades, rubbed at her back. “Can you do that for me? Deep breath in through your nose and hold it.”
Right. Breathe. She needed to breathe.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled as deeply as she could manage with the vice wrapped around her lungs. The scent of her father’s cologne, sharp and spicy and familiar, filled her nose, loosening the vice. After a few more slow breaths, the panic ebbed, enough for her to actually get the words out.
“I’m pregnant.”
Her father went so completely still, she might have worried he’d passed out if he weren’t still upright.
“You’re what?”
It was more shock than anger in his voice, and it emboldened her enough to pull away, to force herself to look up into his eyes. Eyes so much like her own sometimes it was downright creepy.
“I’m pregnant. And I-I know this wasn’t the plan, and I’m supposed to go to law school in the fall, and I’m so fucking sorry I screwed everything up.”
“My baby’s having a baby.” Awe now, more than shock as his gaze shifted down to her still mostly flat stomach. “You’re really pregnant?”
“I am. You… You’re not mad?”
“No. No, honey, I’m not mad. In shock, definitely, but not mad.”
“Oh, thank god.” Now she let the tears come as she threw herself back into his arms. “I was so worried.”
“Aria, look at me.”
At the gentle command, she pulled back, but before she could swipe at her streaming eyes, his hands were on her face, his thumbs wiping at her tears. “I don’t ever want you to feel afraid to tell me anything. Was this the plan? No. But plans change. People adapt. If you still want to go to law school, we’ll make it happen. You’re not in this alone, baby.”
“Mom’s gonna flip,” she whispered. “You know how she feels about this.”
A dozen emotions flickered across her father’s face before he managed to smooth out his expression again. “I do. And yeah, she’s going to be pissed at first. But she’ll come around.”
“You think?”
“I do. She loves you, Aria, and at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”
Right. Her mother might have some very strong opinions about things, but she really did love Aria. So much it sometimes felt like it might smother her.
“Okay.” Dragging in another breath, she blew it out through her mouth, happy to note it wasn’t quite as shaky now. “Holy shit. I’m having a baby.”
Once again, Lottie’s happy squeal rent the air as she wrapped her arms awkwardly around Aria and Braden at the same time. “We’re having a baby! We should celebrate! I’ll go grab a bottle of champagne.”
“Charlotte.” Braden’s voice was full of fond exasperation as he caught his wife around the waist before she could hurry away. “I don’t think champagne is the best choice, do you?”
It was hilarious, and adorable, watching the way Lottie’s mouth moved into a pout for a split second before her eyes went round. “Oh, right. Sorry. I’m dumb.”
The corners of Braden’s mouth dipped down. “You are nothing of the sort, and I suggest you wipe that phrase from your vocabulary right this second, little girl.”
Pink blossomed on Lottie’s cheeks. “Sorry.”
Well, this was awkward. Especially now that she had some inkling of what her dad and Lottie got up to behind closed doors. “Um, you guys could have champagne if you want. And I wouldn’t say no to another of those magic muffins.”
