Page 48 of Line Change

“Let’s party,” Hadley exclaims, holding up her glass, and the other ladies raise theirs. “To Sutton. May she have many years of wedded bliss and even more orgasms.”

I widen my eyes at Hadley, feeling my face heat up. Fuck’s sake.

“Here, Here,” Holly adds.

Everyone clinks glasses, and conversations start around me. I take another sip of my drink, watching the ladies over the rim of my glass, the ones I get to call my close friends, who know this marriage is fake but still wanted to throw me a bachelorette party. For the millionth time in the years I’ve been working for this team, but especially in the past few years, I wonder how I got so lucky. How I went from a shitty childhood living under my father’s thumb, to a decent experience in college, and then to a godsend of a job that happened by pure chance, which led me to these ladies. And this life.

I blink back the tears threatening to fall.

I am so lucky. My hand falls to my stomach.

Peanut and I are so lucky to have all these amazing ladies and their partners surrounding us.

And Sebastian.

My mind drifts to the handsome British hockey player, the one who makes me feel safe, feel seen, makes me feel as though I can do anything and be anything I want.

“Hey. Are you okay?” Becca asks from my right, putting her arm around me.

“Sorry,” I mumble. “Just everything.”

“We got you,” she whispers.

All I can do is nod, trying to regain my composure.

“I promised myself I’d stay out of it, but if you let him, that man would love you for the rest of your lives. He’d make a great father. You’ve seen the way he is with Hazel and Tate.” Tears stream down my face. “I know you told him no, and I respect that, as does he, but you can change your mind.”

I wish it were that simple. And it probably would be if he wasn’t leaving in a few months to move back to England, for good.

“Woah. Why are you making her cry?” Hadley asks.

“It’s not.” I shake my head, covering my face with my free hand. “She wasn’t. Just pregnancy hormones.”

“You’re pregnant?” Holly asks, and all the air whooshes out of my lungs.

Shit.

I meet her eyes. “I am.”

The guilt hits me square in the chest at her expression. I know she and Jax have been struggling with fertility. And here I am, pregnant after a one-night stand without even trying.

I wince. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want to upset you …”

She blows out a breath. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault.” She’s silent for a few seconds, staring at the floor. “I’m going to get a drink.” Then she’s turning on her heel and walking toward the kitchen.

“Fuck.” I sink back against the pillow.

“What happened?” Hadley asks, glancing between me and Holly’s retreating form.

I sigh. It’s not my story to tell. If Holly wants everyone to know, she’ll tell them. I shake my head. “Nothing.”

Hadley tilts her head, watching me, but before she can ask anything more, the doorbell rings.

“That’s dinner,” Madison says, getting to her feet. “Hads, will you help me with the food?”

“Sure,” Hadley says, following her out of the room.

We spend the next while making up our plates and taking them into the dining room. By the time we’re seated around the table with our pizza, Holly seems to have recovered. I should talk to her. I know it’s not my fault I got pregnant and she hasn’t been able to, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel guilty about it, that I wish things were different for her.