But Quentin said, “Why agree then?”
My stomach flinched, I swear it. “Same reason you all are getting married. Out of necessity.”
Next to me, Bryce went still. While his friends were nodding in understanding, my heart had stalled right along with his. It was the wrong thing to say—especially since I was starting to know the real Bryce. He wasn’t some selfish businessman with his eyes on his bank account. He cared about people too, and my answer had bypassed all of that.
I opened my mouth to say so, but then someone knocked into the back of my chair, sending my open purse flying across the ground. All its contents skittered over the floor. Several just-in-case tampons gathering dust, a few pens, a pack of tissues, Chapstick, and...
My sonogram.
36.Bryce
Before her tubeof lip balm even stopped rolling, Jada had jumped out of her chair, racing to get something on the ground that looked like a black and white picture. She snatched it up and pressed it against her chest so only the white edges were visible behind her hand. Her eyes were wide, and her breaths came quickly.
Confused, I continued helping her gather up her things, tucking them into the purse. I wondered if it was an older picture of her parents—but why wouldn’t she want me to see? Maybe it was an ex?
Something about it left me feeling uneasy. “Is everything okay?” I asked as I passed back her purse.
Finally, she shoved the photo into the bottom so I couldn’t see. “Can we talk somewhere private?” she asked. She wasn’t even looking at me, her gaze trained on the stained concrete floor.
My stomach sank. I hadn’t dated much throughout the years, but I knew how a breakup began. Even so, I agreed, gesturing to the outdoor garden. She nodded, walking toward the glass door. I turned back toward the guys. “We’ll just be a minute.”
Q nodded with a concerned look in his eyes while Aaric and Cruz were already arguing over another topic. With a sigh, I wound through the patrons toward Jada, who was escaping out the side door. By the time I stepped outside, my view of her was obscured by rows of hanging plants. The stands were wound with twinkle lights, giving the place an ethereal glow. A soft breeze lifted the scent of damp earth and foliage.
“Jada?” I called.
“Over here,” she said, a little breathless.
Concerned, I followed the sound of her voice past a few rows of plants and found her sitting on a wooden bench.
For a second, I watched her, committing this moment to memory. She looked so beautiful with the twinkle lights bouncing off her dark, curly hair. Her nose was cute, turning up slightly at the end. It was odd—finding a nose so attractive. But here I was, thinking how much I would miss her nose.
I took a breath, not wanting to suffer longer than I had to.
We sat beside each other, and Jada fiddled with a spinning ring on her finger. The little red ladybug blurred as it went round and round. “This isn’t easy...” she said softly.
“Jada, what is it?” I asked. I leaned in, reaching for one of her hands, if only to still it. “Are you having second thoughts?”
Her beautiful eyes flashed up at me, a million emotions swirling in her dark irises. “When I agreed to marry you, I had a lot of second thoughts, but you erased all of them, just by being yourself.”
Her words were comforting but left me confused. “Okay, then what is it? I’m sure we can figure it out together.”
“That’s the thing...” She looked down at her legs covered in the floral skirt. “I’m not sure you’ll want to figure it out once you hear what I have to say.”
The little bit of food I’d eaten for supper froze into a heavy block in my stomach. Had she cheated? Fallen for someone else?The possibilities flashing through my mind at breakneck speed were driving me mad, so I asked, “What is it? Tell me.”
“I’m pregnant.” The two words that fell past her lips were the last I expected to hear.
My lips parted and closed while my brain struggled to process what she’d said. “Pregnant?” I echoed.
She nodded, a tear rolling down her cheek, catching the orange glow of the fairy lights. She quickly wiped it away.
“But we haven’t...” I said, reality dawning on me.
A sad smile formed on her lips. “I’m six months along.”
My eyes widened as I looked at her. She was a full-figured woman, but I would never guess she was carrying a child. And then, with horror, I realized that meant... “You’ve known all this time.”
She nodded slowly. “Since you had the doctor see me in your office.”
