Maggie stills. "In your tattoo shop."
"In my tattoo shop."
Ruby presses a fist to her mouth, trying not to laugh and failing. Darla makes a noise that could be a cough or pure delight.
"I just want to know what part of me made them think I wouldn't immediately know."
Candace's mouth twitches. "Maybe they were hoping the universe would bless you with a sense of irony."
Frankie's stare could cut glass. "Say that again and I'm piercing your nose while you sleep."
Darla laughs, bright and quick, pops another gummy.
Candace's gaze shifts to Darla's hand. "Okay. What is your deal lately?"
Darla's chewing slows. "My deal?"
"You're eating as though you're training for a competitive sport. And you flinched when Frankie lit a cinnamon stick."
"It was aggressive."
Frankie snorts. "Cinnamon doesn't have intent."
Darla catches herself as every eye narrows. She glances at me, then Frankie. A silent question. My mouth curves. Frankie's expression stays neutral, eyes softening.
"They know," Darla says, nodding at us. "Obviously."
Ruby sits straighter. "Know what?"
Candace's gaze sharpens, tracking the three of us. "Wait."
Darla's hand drifts to her stomach. Protective, claiming. "Sloane confirmed it two weeks ago. And Frankie..." She glances at her best friend. "Frankie knew before I did."
Frankie's mouth twitches. "You ordered coffee and didn't drink it. Dead giveaway."
Understanding blooms across Maggie's face. "Oh."
Ruby's eyes go wide. "OH."
Candace leans forward, her jaw setting. "You're pregnant."
Darla nods, exhaling as though she's been holding it. "Yeah."
There's a beat of silence as the weight of this new information settles. Ruby launches forward, half-gasp, half-laugh, arms opening.
"Oh my God. Darla."
Maggie's hand goes to her mouth, eyes glossy. "Sweet girl."
Candace asks, "How far?"
Darla smiles. "Not far. But far enough that Sloane already yelled at me about lifting heavy boxes."
Frankie's laugh breaks out. "That tracks."
"Congratulations," Candace says, and it lands as a hand on Darla's shoulder would.
Ruby wipes her face. "Does East know you're telling us first?"
