Jeremiah (Stud Ranch 5)

“Is that why you’re getting married so fast?” Olivia asked, and my head swung around toward her. Jesus, she really was drunk. She usually had more tact, but it was true when she was drunk, she would just say whatever was on her mind. It had ruined more than one relationship—when she got drunk and told her boyfriends what she really thought of them. I’d been grateful in most of those cases, but now I was really wishing we’d all been drinking vodka sodas minus the vodka tonight.

My eyes came back to Charlie right as a raucous country song started over the speakers and a whoop came from the crowd as people around us flooded to the dance floor.

“Bathroom break,” Charlie said. “Come on.”

“I’ll stay and keep the table,” Mel said.

Charlie looked at her gratefully while Olivia and I followed her toward the back of the bar and into the women’s restroom. Closing the door behind us provided a modicum of quiet compared to the roar of the music beyond.

“Okay,” I said. “Spill.”

Charlie looked at both of us, anxiety on her face as she wrung her hands. “I didn’t mean to hide it from y’all. It’s just, Reece and I thought it would be best to keep the news to ourselves.”

I frowned. “I can get not wanting to tell your mom, but—”

Charlie shook her head. “It’s not just that. Reece always worries what his brother thinks of him. He feels like Jeremiah only just stopped thinking of him as a fuck-up. But getting me knocked up and having to throw a shotgun wedding—”

“But you love him, right?” Olivia asked.

“Oh God, yes, I do, I really do! Our timeline might have gotten a little… well, moved up because of the baby, but I’m seriously the happiest I’ve ever been in my whole life.”

It reflected in her face too. When she smiled, it lit behind her eyes.

Her hands went to her stomach. “And to have a baby on top of it all…” Her voice trailed off as her eyes grew shiny and her smile grew even wider. “It’s a miracle.”

“Oh, honey,” I said, and threw my arms around her. “I couldn’t be happier for you.”

She hugged me back. “Really? You don’t think we’re being reckless?”

I laughed as I pulled back. “Anyone who tells you life goes according to set plans are full of BS. But you do realize that Jeremiah can do math. When this baby pops out three months early, he’s going to put two and two together.”

She shrugged. “We figure by then he’ll be too enamored with the idea of being an uncle and we’ll already be married, proving we’re mature and handling everything. Reece is an amazing man and I hate that his brother can’t see that.”

“I don’t know. Jeremiah’s been letting up on him lately, hasn’t he?” I asked.

Charlie shrugged. “A little, I guess. He’s just been big brother for too long. He doesn’t know how to relax and let go, you know?”

Oh, I knew. That man had a control problem. Granted, I happened to enjoy that little quirk of his. But only for a few more days, and then I was out of here.

Which meant I’d only get to see the new baby on visits when I was able to get enough time off to come down. My heart sank.

If this was the time for confessions, I ought to open up and tell Charlie I was leaving.

But I was clearly a coward, because as Olivia cooed over the baby and pressed her hand against Charlie’s stomach, I just stood there silent and still as a scarecrow.

I told myself it was Charlie’s day and I didn’t want to detract from it, but maybe I was just still in denial myself. This was where I wanted to be. These people were my family. I hated that there wasn’t a place for me here.

Oh God, was that what I was doing sleeping with Jeremiah? Was sleeping with him my desperate last gasp at holding on to this life?

“Come on,” Olivia said, grasping Charlie’s hand and jumping up and down. “Now we have even more reasons to celebrate. Let’s go dance!”

Charlie laughed but then her eyes went wide and she pulled her hand back. “First, I gotta pee. Oh my God, they weren’t kidding about the being pregnant and needing to pee every five seconds thing. And I’m not even showing yet!”

She hurried off into a stall while Olivia pulled a makeup kit out of her purse and started refreshing herself. I could only sort of stare off into space. A baby. Charlie was going to have a baby. I don’t know why it blew my mind so much, but it did.

But then Charlie was back and Olivia was stuffing her makeup kit back in her purse and then I was reaching for the bathroom door.