Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 95107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Grace is quick to reassure me. “Nobody knows except us. We didn’t want to break it to my dad before graduation. He would freak if he thought I wasn’t fully concentrating on school.”
Stunned, I sweep my gaze over Grace’s girl-next-door features and tentative smile. She’s the perfect match for Logan, yes, but she’s two years younger than him. And they’re married?
“So you two just…eloped?” I’m utterly dumbfounded.
“Sort of? We didn’t plan to. It just happened.”
“It just happened,” I echo. “How does something like that ‘just happen’?”
“I mean, we’d discussed marriage before and realized neither of us really wanted a wedding. His parents can’t even be in the same room, so Logan didn’t want to be in a position where he was forced to choose. And then over the holidays, we wound up at this bed-and-breakfast in Vermont that was owned by a pastor. And not only does he officiate weddings, but he managed to get us a last-minute marriage license because the town clerk is part of his flock, and it was like, serendipity. Is that the word? I hate that word.” She’s blushing so hard, even the freckles on her nose look redder. “Anyway, I have zero regrets. Neither does he. We’re forever.”
Emotion clogs my throat and stings my eyes. I’ve always been a sappy romantic. “That is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard,” I wail.
“You have to promise not to say anything, Allie. We’re not ready to tell anybody, not until after graduation.”
“I promise,” I say, using the pads of my index fingers to delicately wipe my tears. “It’ll stay between us—”
A loud retching noise suddenly echoes in the bathroom.
“—and whoever’s throwing up in there,” I finish.
Grace pales. She shoots a panicky look at the last stall in the row. I’d been flipping out so hard when she’d dragged me in here, I hadn’t even noticed that closed door. I assumed we were alone.
“Everything okay in there?” I call at the stall.
There’s a long pause, then, “Yeah, all good. Give me a second.”
It’s Hannah.
She appears a moment later, still clad in the green sheath dress I’d picked out for her today after Dean informed her if she wore black to a wedding, she was dooming the bride and groom to an eternity of morbid misery. I don’t think that’s a thing, but it succeeded in convincing Hannah to add some color into her life. The dress is the same shade of green as her eyes, which are currently lined with fatigue as she approaches the wall of sinks and mirrors.
“How much did you hear?” Grace sighs.
Hannah offers a wry smile. “All of it.”
She places her cupped hands beneath the automatic faucet and fills them with water. She proceeds to rinse out her mouth before her eyes find ours in the mirror again.
“You okay?” I fret.
She slowly shakes her head. “I’m starting to think no.”
A knot forms in my stomach. “What’s wrong?”
“I might need a…um…pregnancy test.”
Silence crashes over us. It lasts about a second before my loud gasp reverberates in the air.
Grace purses her lips. “I’m pretty sure this was an episode of Friends. I’ve been watching reruns.”
My gaze instantly drops to Hannah’s stomach even though the rational part of my brain knows that even if she is pregnant, she wouldn’t be showing yet.
Hannah catches where my eyes went and fixes me with a stern look. “Don’t say anything to Dean.” She turns to Grace. “Or Logan. Please. They’ll tell Garrett in a heartbeat, and I haven’t even taken a test yet. For all I know, it’s a false alarm.”
“How late are you?” Grace asks.
Hannah bites her lip.
“How late?” I press.
“Three weeks.”
I gasp again.
“Seriously, I don’t want Garrett knowing anything until I take a test,” Hannah says firmly. “Neither of you are allowed to say a word.”
“Neither of you are allowed to say a word about my thing either.” Grace’s expression is equally severe.
“But…” I sputter.
“Not a word until further notice,” Hannah orders, while Grace nods in agreement.
I just stand there, gaping at the two of them.
This wedding reception is chock full of HUGE NEWS, and I’m not allowed to tell anyone about it until further notice? Not even Dean?
This is my worst nightmare.
18
Dean
“Pretty boy. What are you doing here?”
“I texted you to say I was on my way.” Rolling my eyes, I stride through the front door of the Brooklyn brownstone where Allie grew up.
“Yeah, and I asked you why. So. What are you doing here?”
Joe Hayes leans on his cane as he watches me enter. His face displays only mild hostility, which is better than usual. Allie’s dad and I didn’t hit it off the moment we met, but I like to think that over the years I’ve grown on him. Although the one time I voiced that thought, Joe had nodded and said, “Like a fungus.” He’s a real delight.