One to Protect (One to Hold 3)

I do understand that, even if it turns my stomach. “We’ll be there if you get in trouble.”

“Sangria.”

Chapter 12: Toothless Monsters

Melissa

My feet are in Elaine’s lap and she’s massaging them while we watch Pitch Perfect for the thousandth time.

“I think I can do that cups trick.” Speaking of cups, Elaine’s on her third margarita, while I’ve almost finished the entire chips and salsa by myself.

“Don’t. You’re drunk and you’ll just make a mess.”

She swats my foot. “I am not drunk!” She struggles to get up, but I push down with my legs, pinning her in place. “Let me up!”

“Seriously, can we please just finish the movie? I told you tequila would make you wild.”

“All the little kids do it at my school.” She’s whining now. “I’ve been wanting to try.”

“I don’t have any solo cups.”

Pouty face. “Fine. But you can’t crush my dream. I’ll do the cups!”

I grab the remote to rewind the scene we’ve missed while she was talking, but the movement pinches my stomach. “Oh, shit. Why did you let me eat all those chips? I’ll have heartburn.”

“I’m not about to get between a pregnant lady and her snack foods.” She takes another wobbly sip of margarita. “Besides, you’re in that lucky ‘eating for two’ stage. Live it up!”

“That’s a myth. My doctor said I shouldn’t gain more than fifteen pounds with this pregnancy.”

She leans forward and scoops up some chip particles from the bottom of the bowl. “Have you seen your fiancé? He’s a giant. That baby needs food.”

“Not sure chips and salsa count as real food.”

She flops back, and we’re quiet again, watching. She takes another, longer drink, and my eyes cut to her face. She’s not smiling. She’s been down since she got here, and I know Lainey well enough to tell it’s more than just missing Patrick.

“You okay?” I ask as gently as possible.

A few moments go by, and she blurts it. “I did something really bad.”

My brow lines in confusion. I can’t guess what in the world she might have done, but I can tell it’s seriously bothering her. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

She sits up and puts her margarita on the coffee table, then flops her arms at her sides. “Just… don’t lecture me. I know it was wrong.”

Eyebrows raised, I nod and take her hand. The anticipation is almost too much.

She takes a deep breath and then lets it out. “I stopped taking my birth control pills last month.”

My head ducks forward. “What?”

Her grip tightens on my hand. “You heard me.”

“Does Patrick know?”

“No. And I know it was wrong. I was having a really hard month, and then Kenny called, and it made me so depressed. I just felt like… I’m going to lose him, Mel.” Her voice cracks, and her green eyes are so round when she looks at me. “I panicked.”

“Oh, Lainey!” I reach forward to hug her, but she pulls away, shaking her head.

“I know, it was manipulative and all that… and there’s more.”