After everything that happened last night with Laiken, the morning feels deceptively normal.
Elody chatters from the back seat the entire drive to school, her feet swinging as she tells me about a dream she had where her teacher turned into a dragon. I laugh in all the right places and nod at all the right moments, but my mind keeps drifting back to Laiken’s bed and what it felt like to wake up there this morning.
When I drop her off, she hugs me tight before running toward the doors.
“See you later,” she calls over her shoulder. “Don’t forget that I like the cookies with pink sprinkles the best from the bakery.”
“I won’t,” I promise.
By the time I pull up outside Lakeshore Sweets, nerves are dancing low in my belly. The bell over the door jingles as I step inside, the familiar scent of sugar and espresso wrapping around me, settling the chaos in my mind.
Callie stands behind the counter, her hair pulled into a messy knot. Lilah and Rina sit at the corner table with mugs in hand as Sloane leans back in her chair, her posture relaxed and eyes sharp. I get the feeling that there’s not much that gets past her.
“Okay,” Sloane says with a tilt of her head as her gaze rakes over me. “Either you slept really well, or you spent a regrettable amount of money online shopping at three in the morning.” She takes another beat to assess me, lips pursed in mock seriousness. “My guess is that a ton of packages will be showing up within the week.”
Lilah snorts into her drink. “Why can’t it be both? Maybe she shopped and then slept really well.”
I laugh despite myself, the sound coming easier than it has in a while, as Callie rushes around the counter and pulls me into a hug.
“You look good.” She holds me at arm’s length in order to study my face. “Almost like you’re glowing. Working for Laiken obviously agrees with you.”
My pulse ticks up at the casual mention of his name, and there’s no way to calm it.
After I settle at the table, Callie sets a mug of herbal tea in front of me. The small kindness makes my throat burn. With each passing day, I find myself valuing their friendship even more.
At first, we stick to safe topics. Callie talks about a new pastry recipe she’s testing out. Sloane relays the latest nonsense from the Railers Rumors site. Lilah teases Callie about how River stops by every day after practice like clockwork and has apparently started helping out in the back, which makes the bakery owner blush and mutter something about needing the extra hands.
It feels so normal. Easy. Almost as if the world hasn’t shifted on its axis.
Throughout it all, Rina watches me without asking questions or prying. From what I’ve noticed, she has this way of waiting until you’re ready to speak instead of dragging the truth out of you. It’s like she can sense something big sitting just beneath the surface, something I’m still trying to wrap my own head around.
Even though we haven’t known each other long, there’s a quiet understanding between us. A connection that goes far deeper than the fact that she’s with my brother. Maybe it’s because she recognizes the look in my eyes. Or maybe she just knows what it’s like when your life starts to tilt in a direction you never saw coming. Whatever it is, I’m grateful for her support. Especially now.
I take a slow breath to steady myself. “Sooo,” I say, even as my stomach flips and my pulse skitters. “There’s something I want to share with all of you.”
The four women at the table still in a way that’s almost comical. Callie sets her mug down carefully, as if she doesn’t trust her hands to hold it steady. Sloane lifts a brow, already suspicious. Lilah smiles, her posture shifting as if she’s bracing for something big.
When I glance at Rina, she gives me a small nod of encouragement.
“I’m pregnant,” I blurt.
For one suspended beat, no one speaks.
Lilah reaches for my hand. “Wow. That’s huge. Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I answer, the truth of it surprising me. For the first time since I found out, the world feels somewhat solid beneath my feet. “I am.”
Callie’s eyes shine as her hand presses to her collarbone. “Oh my God,” she breathes. “Kia…”
Sloane leans back in her chair, lips pursed. “Well, that explains a lot.”
Rina squeezes my hand, her grip firm. “You’re not in this alone,” she says without hesitation. “We’re all here for you.”
My muscles loosen. It’s like I’ve been bracing without realizing it until this moment.
“And,” I add, because there’s no gentle way to ease into the next part, “I’m getting married.”
Callie gasps while Sloane chokes on her coffee, coughing and sputtering before grabbing a napkin to wipe her face.
