Mara nodded her understanding. “So is this an ice cream, bourbon or whatever all of this is kind of thing,” she asked and motioned to the food on the kitchen counter. And the kitchen table. And the stove.
“All of it. For starters.”
Mara grabbed a mini pizza and rounded the corner, holding the tempting bite just inches from my mouth. “Is there someone I need to beat up? I mean, that’s my past but I’ll do it if I need to.”
“Thanks, Mara. But no need to get in trouble on my account. Have a mini pizza instead.”
“Don’t mind if I do,” she said with a cheeky grin and turned to reach for one, biting into it with a satisfying moan. “Delicious.”
Fifteen minutes later, my three closest friends sat around the kitchen table piled high with food and waited for me to spill my guts. I opened my mouth at least a dozen times, trying to find the right words to say everything I had to say. “I’m pregnant.” It wasn’t exactly how I meant to tell them but that was the most important part as far as I was concerned.
Eva smacked a fist against the table. “Is this the real reason Wyatt broke up with you, because I only held off damaging his totally punchable face out of respect for our friendship.”
I couldn’t help but smile at her words of defense, but my stomach sank as reality settled in about what made me hesitate. I had to tell them the truth. The whole, unvarnished truth. “The baby isn’t Wyatt’s. I’d be much farther along if it was.”
“Oh,” Sophie said, that one word holding about a dozen different emotions.
My gaze bounced around the table at my friends, each of their faces holding varying degrees of shock. “The short version is that after Wyatt dumped me and called me frigid, I was determined to prove to myself, at least, that he was wrong. So that’s what I did.” My heart raced faster than I thought it capable and I took a long sip of ice cold lemonade to dislodge the lump settled in my throat. “The baby is Liam’s.”
“Liam Reyes?” Eva’s shock pretty much mirrored the expression that Sophia and Mara wore. “Wow. Go Olive, I mean except the baby part. Unless you’re happy about it, because my mama will tell you that babies are always a blessing. Always.”
At Eva’s words my hand instinctively went to my stomach. “I’m still in shock about it and less than thrilled about Liam being the father, but you’re right, I’m happy. At least I’m getting there.”
“Liam isn’t a bad guy, you know.” Mara said with a shrug. “He’s just not the settling down type.”
“You’re defending him?” Sophie turned her terrifying Pit Bull’s glare on Mara.
Mara though, was as tough as they came and completely unruffled by Sophie’s accusation. “I haven’t heard anything I need to defend him for, but what I am saying is that not everyone comes from perfect, idyllic families and that maybe that colors their idea of family and love. And commitment.” Her words weren’t accusatory but they did hit the mark.
I knew some of Mara’s past, which included foster care and a short stint in juvie, so I understood exactly what she was saying and I reached a sympathetic hand out to her. “I didn’t even think of it that way Mara. Thanks.” I hoped, for my baby’s sake, that’s what it was. But I didn’t believe it. “But I have tried to call him, a lot, and he hasn’t returned any of my calls. Or texts.”
“That fucker,” Mara growled. “My offer of violence still stands.”
“Thanks, but I’m pretty sure he’s the one guy in town who’s ass you can’t kick.” He was, literally, a certified badass so that was unlikely but I appreciated the offer.
Mara folded her arms and arched a dark brow. “No man is immune from a kick in the balls.”
“Amen, sister,” Eva seconded, lifting her glass of bourbon high in the air. “We have to do something.”
“What? No. Absolutely not.” I shook my head furiously and glared at each of them, a painted finger pointed their way, one at a time. “You can’t tell anyone about the baby or Liam. Swear on it.”
“But Olive,” Sophie chided. “He has a responsibility here.”
“No he doesn’t. I do. And if you tell him or anyone else, I’ll deny it.”
Eva snorted a laugh. “You can’t hide it forever.”
“But I can hide the identity and I will, if you can’t do this for me.” I didn’t want to play hardball but I had to. “What matters to me now is myself and my baby. I can’t worry about what everyone else thinks, only what I think is right.”
Eva gave a little pout and then a sigh. And then a slow smile livened up her pretty face. “Olive is gonna be a mama!” She clapped her hands excitedly and stood, shuffling around the table to wrap me in a hug that always turned me into a blubbering mess. “A mama! How exciting for all of us.”