“But why?” Abby is the first to speak.
Ava’s eyes land on every person in the room. When she spots me beside Nathan, questions sprout in her eyes, but she pulls them away and focuses on Abby.
“I’m pregnant,” she admits, further shocking everyone.
“What?” Abby asks quietly.
“I found out three weeks ago, and when I told Dylan, he suggested we get married. I agreed, because I want my child to have a real father around.”
I watch as emotions swirl in Abby’s eyes. “You’re going to have a baby,” she breathes softly. A big smile slowly spreads across her face and she leans forward to yank Ava in her arms. Ava laughs as she reciprocates by wrapping her arms around Abby.
Whispered words are shared, then Ava snaps back from her. “You’re pregnant too?”
Abby nods and answers loudly, “Yes! That means we’ll have babies together!”
After the two woman hug it out, Tegan steps up next for his turn. He hugs her to him and lifts her up so her feet dangle above the ground. She laughs and slaps his back as he says something in her ear.
He releases her, then steps up to Dylan. I hold my breath at Tegan’s serious expression. It whooshes out when a slow smile breaks across his face.
“No hard feelings, man,” Tegan says, throwing out his hand for Dylan to shake. “But just to say, she was our friend first, so keep that in mind if you don’t take care of her the way she should be.”
Dylan, his eyes narrowed, takes Tegan’s hand and mutters, “Got it.”
Willow and Colt are next with the hugs and congratulations. Then it’s Nathan. His face is flat, giving nothing away on how he feels.
“As long as you’re happy, then I’m happy for you,” he says quietly, looking down at her.
She smiles. “I am.”
He pulls her forward, and she laces her arms around his waist. His eyes meet Dylan’s over her head. “You hurt her, and I’ll break your legs.” The tone of his warning sends shivers down my spine. I have no doubt he’ll carry through with his threat if provoked.
Dylan nods stiffly.
Ava pulls away, and her eyes once again move to me.
“Looks like I’m not the only one who has news,” she says, quirking a brow at Nathan.
He turns and holds out his arm, silently asking me to come forward. When I do, I’m pulled to his side by my waist.
“Ava, this is Emberleigh, a friend of mine.”
“A friend, huh?” Her eyes dance with laughter.
Tegan, who’s now back on the couch, coughs, mutters “9B,” then coughs again, reminding me of his earlier comment.
Ava’s eyes widen fractionally, but she immediately relaxes again and holds out her hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Emberleigh.”
After that, things calm down and we all take seats in the living room. Ava tells everyone what’s happened with her over the last several days. I can tell the group is still surprised by her news. Looking at her and Dylan, how close they are staying to each other, the way Dylan laces his fingers with hers and brings them to his lips, and the way Ava’s eyes soften when she look
s at him, says their feelings run deeper than them just wanting their child to have both parents in their life. There’s love there too.
A couple hours pass, and I really don’t want to leave. I’m enjoying being around his friends, but I need to get to my parents’ house. I’m just getting ready to tell Nathan that I need to get back home, when he whispers in my ear, “You ready to go?”
I hate to ask him to leave his friends, so I suggest, “I can Uber it back to my place. You don’t have to leave.”
I sputter out a laugh at the ridiculous look he gives me. I hold my hand up when he opens his mouth to shoot down my idea. “Okay, okay. Forget I asked.”
The room goes quiet when we both stand.