Be with Me (Return to Haven 2)

The woman had even become certified in yoga and had talked them into joining her in doing hot yoga at a studio a few towns over. Merciful sakes, that workout had been brutal.

“How can a text sound urgent?” Jade asked, taking a seat on the bar stool.

“She used the wineglass and stiletto,” Livie explained. “That’s SOS.”

Jade drew her brows in. “I thought SOS was the wineglasses and the middle-finger emoji.”

“No, that’s what you wanted,” Livie corrected. “We went with the stiletto.”

“Regardless, you’re both here.” Melanie poured two glasses of wine and eased them across the bar. “Can’t a girl just need a break from blogs and emails and get some time in with her friends?”

Both women stared back at Melanie, the untouched glasses on the island between them.

“What?” Melanie asked. “Don’t tell me you don’t like white, because that’s a lie. Oh, is it the twist-off top that’s giving you pause? I’m sure it’s fabulous. What wine less than ten bucks wouldn’t be great?”

“What’s going on?” Livie asked, still ignoring her glass. “Wait. Did Neville come to town?”

“Don’t even tell me that bastard is still harassing you,” Jade chimed in. “I wish we could catch him doing it, but he’s so damn sneaky—”

“Neville isn’t here,” Melanie stated, trying to calm her friends. “He’s sneaky, for sure, but he uses his assistants to get in touch with me. To my knowledge, he hasn’t stepped foot in Haven.”

“No, he’d send his minions to do any dirty work,” Jade muttered as she reached for the wine. “So what’s really going on and why aren’t you drinking? We always have a glass together.”

Melanie reached around to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. “I’m trying to relax and think of new ideas for blogs, plus I’m changing out some of the ads. I was approached by a fitness trainer who’d like a guest spot once a month.”

Melanie knew she was rambling and dodging the real question her friends wanted her to answer. They would find out soon enough why she wasn’t drinking and what was wrong.

From the blank stares and the pursed lips from Livie and Jade, they weren’t even listening to her rambling anyway.

Livie’s eyes narrowed as she flashed a quick, knowing look to Jade. “She’s definitely hiding something.”

Jade nodded and blew out a sigh. “Alright, Melanie. What’s really going on? Your nail polish looks like hell and I just put that shade on you two days ago. You look like you’ve been crying and you sent the SOS emojis.”

She hadn’t been crying, actually. Maybe she just needed a better concealer. She had been slacking on her makeup and hair lately.

“Pour her a glass of wine,” Livie demanded. “She looks like she needs it more than we do.”

“I can’t.”

Her friends stilled. Damn it. Now they were even more suspicious.

“I just mean that I really do need to keep a clear head right now,” she explained. “I have a few emails to answer and I’d like to get a new blog scheduled so I don’t have to worry about it Monday morning.”

Because she’d be busy at the doctor.

“One glass won’t hurt,” Jade claimed. She slid hers across the island. “Here. Take mine.”

Melanie rested her palms on the island and dropped her head between her shoulders. “I’m pregnant.”

The dual gasps had Melanie cringing. She’d really wanted to keep this news to herself until she knew how to handle it better, but right now she could use all the support from her closest friends. And really, she should’ve found a better delivery than just dropping a verbal bomb.

“You’re joking.”

Melanie glanced up, meeting Jade’s wide eyes. “I’m pregnant,” she repeated, getting more used to the words. “I took a test this morning.”

“But . . . wait.” Livie reached for her glass and downed the contents in one gulp. She slammed

the glass back down and reached for the bottle. “You’re not even seeing anyone. How is this possible?”