“Maebh—”
“It’s okay. I see the women who throw themselves at you. I won’t compete with the likes of that.”
A look of horror moved over his face.
“I know I’m not as pretty or as…experienced…” I needed to leave before I kept spewing words.
“What are you talking about? Maebh, you’re…”
Cutting him off, I tried to act peppy as I plastered on a fake smile. “Have a good one.”
And like that, I was rushing down the hallway from Cord Parker. I’d just humiliated meself, and I would never forgive meself for being so damn weak.
It was a silly crush on a handsome boy who would never be happy with a girl like me.
A week had passed since Aisling’s grand opening, and I was ready for a day off.
Amelia had invited me to go to the spa with her, Harley, and Paxton. Waylynn and Corina were home with the sweet wee ones. But the rest of us were staying the night at the spa, which was a good thing, because I ached to have some girl time.
I sank down into the hot water and sighed.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Paxton said.
“The best! Me legs have been aching all week. I haven’t stood this much since I was back in Ireland.”
“Tripp said Aisling was packed the other day when he stopped in for lunch.”
Harley’s feet dipped into the hot tub, but that was all.
“Harley get your butt in here. It feels amazing,” Amelia declared, her eyes closed.
“I’ll pass.”
Paxton stared at Harley. A smile grew on Paxton’s face until she was full on beaming.
“Holy. Shit,” Paxton said, making everyone look at her.
“Why are you staring, Paxton?” Harley asked.
“Yeah, why are you staring at her?” Amelia asked.
Slowly shaking her head, Paxton whispered, “You’re pregnant.”
Amelia and I gasped.
“It all makes sense. No drinking at the grand opening. The healthy eating. No getting into the hot tub. You’re pregnant.”
Harley didn’t try to deny it. She smiled.
Amelia let out a scream then asked, “How far?”
“Not very. I’m due mid-March. We’ve been waiting until I’m a little further along before we tell everyone.”
“You mean to tell me my mother hasn’t sniffed it out yet?”
We all laughed, and I tried to ignore a twinge of jealousy.
“Look at you…the secret keeper,” Amelia stated.
I looked at Amelia and raised an eyebrow.
Paxton and Harley exchanged looks—then turned to Amelia.
“You know, being in a hot tub isn’t good for pregnant women,” Harley stated.
Amelia nodded. “Yep, I know.”
Paxton’s eyes widened. “So…why are you in the hot tub?”
Looking confused, Amelia replied, “Because it feels good? Is this a trick question or something?”
Harley moved along the edge and got closer. “Is there something you want to tell us, Meli?”
Her eyes darted over to mine. “Maebh! Did you tell them?”
“What? No!”
“Maebh knew before me? How could you tell Maebh before me?” Paxton turned to face me. “No offense, Maebh.”
I held up my hands. “None taken. In her defense, I walked in on it.”
Paxton’s eyes widened. “You walked in on it?”
Nodding me head, I replied, “I overheard Amelia on the phone talking to her agent about it.”
“What!” Harley and Paxton shouted at once.
“Your agent knows?” Paxton said, pulling Amelia up and trying to push her out of the hot tub. “Get out of this hot tub! It’s not good for the baby!”
I covered me mouth, realizing that the girls thought Amelia was pregnant.
“What in the fuck are you talking about, Paxton? Have you lost your damn mind? I’m not the one who’s pregnant!” Amelia looked at me, her eyes pleading me not to tell her secret, mine pleading her not to make me keep it.
Paxton froze. “Wait. What?”
“Are you pregnant, Maebh?” Paxton asked, clearly confused.
I nearly choked. “Hardly! That would be hard to explain considering I’m a virgin.”
Now all eyes were on me, and the heat was off Amelia.
“What!” they all yelled at once.
With an internal groan, I shook me head. Why did I blurt that out?
“How? What the… Like how?” Amelia asked, stunned.
My brows shot up. “If I have to explain that to you, Amelia…”
Paxton and Harley chuckled while Amelia rolled her eyes. “I mean, you’re so beautiful, Maebh. You have a body to die for, so I guess I’m just surprised you’ve never had sex.”
“Have you come close?” Harley asked.
“Come close?” I asked.
Paxton grinned. “How far have you gone with your old boyfriends?”
I felt me cheeks flush.
“I’ve only had one boyfriend and that was at uni. We kissed and messed around a bit. He wanted more, but I wasn’t ready to give him more. I cared about him, but I didn’t love him.”
Harley shook her head in wonder. “Wow. Maebh, I think you have officially blown my mind. It’s amazing that you’ve waited.”
“You’ve had an orgasm though, right?” Amelia asked, moving closer to me. I nodded and shrugged.
“Just by his hand…or mine.” Me face felt hot.
“That’s it?” Harley asked. “Oh Maebh, you’re in for a treat!”