Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
“No.” I bite my lip. “If you guys don’t mind…we talked about keeping it small. Mercy and I have been friends for a long, long time. And Marcel wanted to include my brother…So we were going to ask Mercy, Heidi, Murphy, and Carter to maybe stand up for us.”
“Thank God,” Lilly mutters.
Hope blows out a similar relieved breath but doesn’t say anything.
“Is that okay?” I ask. “You’re sure you’re not—”
“The wedding is to celebrate you and Teller,” Hope says. “If you want to keep things simple, you should.”
“Thank you. Oh! We did want Grace and Alexa as flower girls. And Chance for ring bearer, if you think he’d be okay with it?” I ask Lilly.
“I think he’d love it. Thank you, Charlotte.”
“We want the little guys included,” I explain. “No need to find babysitters or anything like that.”
“I don’t know,” Lilly says in a teasing voice. “When there’s a toddler meltdown in the middle of the ceremony, it might make you think twice about having your own.”
She’s kidding but for some reason, her words hit me like a punch in the stomach.
Hope pins her with a look. “Whose toddler do you expect to melt down?”
“Ooo,” Trinity sings. “Retreat, Lilly. Retreat.”
“Charlotte?” Hope’s alarmed tone seems like it’s a million miles away. “Are you okay?”
Heidi touches my shoulder.
“What?” I swipe at my eyes, surprised to find dampness on my cheeks.
“Charlotte, what’s wrong?” Lilly sits next to me. “I’m sorry. I was only kidding.”
My throat’s too tight to get any words out. Heidi slides her hand over mine and squeezes. I glance up and she tilts her head, sympathy shining in her deep brown eyes. She knows.
“Murphy told you?” I whisper.
She nods. “Not until, you know, everything blew up.” She bites her lip. “I’ve been wanting to tell you I’m sorry for all the when will I be an aunt jokes but didn’t want to bring it up if you didn’t want to talk about it.”
At least I don’t have to actually say the words. The girls all seem to understand.
Hope runs her hand over my back. “When was it, Charlotte?”
I shake my head and blow out a breath. “Right around the time Rock and Teller got their news.”
“Oh, Charlotte.” Hope pulls me into her arms. “I wish you’d said something sooner. I’m sorry.”
Trinity reaches over and rests her hand on my leg, a gentle offer of support.
“I’m having trouble getting pregnant now,” Lilly says quietly.
I lift my eyes to hers, grateful to have the focus off of me.
She shrugs one shoulder in a nervous or embarrassed way. “One broken condom gave us Chance but now we’re raw-dogging it all over the place and nothing.”
I burst into much-needed laughter.
Hope blinks several times. “Thanks for the visual, Lilly.”
“Besides all the…raw dogging,” Trinity says, “did you see your doctor?”
“No. I’m afraid of what they might tell me,” Lilly admits.
“Mine was kind of a jackass,” I say.
“You should go see my doctor,” Hope offers. “She’s very kind.”
Although she’s still sitting right next to me, Heidi’s gotten awfully quiet. I squeeze her hand. “I am very excited to meet my new niece,” I assure her.
Lilly reaches across my lap to touch Heidi’s leg. “Me too.”
“I know,” Heidi says.
“Should we head downstairs before the guys get themselves into trouble?” I suggest.
Heidi rolls her eyes. “Ten dollars says Blake and my brother are already in some sort of trouble.”
“I’m not taking that bet.” I look at each of their faces and can’t understand why I waited so long to tell them this. “Thank you. I feel a lot better. Just having it out there.”
“You don’t have to go through anything alone.” Trinity looks at me, then Lilly. “Ever. No matter what.”
We all agree.
“Hey,” Heidi says. “Don’t tell her I told you, but I think Shelby’s writing a song for you guys. For your wedding.” Heidi sighs and rests her hand on her chest. “I’m totally not jealous at all.”
“Really? That’s so sweet.”
“All right.” Trinity slams her binder shut. “Speaking of Shelby, she and Serena should be here soon.” She lifts her chin at Hope. “Will you run home with me for a sec?”
“Of course.”
We file out of the bedroom and Hope locks the door behind us.
In our absence, the party’s gotten louder and rowdier. Brothers and their bunnies for the night have moved to the upstairs hallway, but some haven’t bothered to take their activities into a bedroom. A girl with her shirt pulled down to expose her enormous tits has her mouth wide open, about to swallow Hoot’s dick. I accidentally kick the heel of one of her shoes, almost face-planting. She shoots a glare at me.
“Sorry,” I mutter, shielding my eyes and hurrying past them.
“I didn’t need to know Hoot’s dick was pierced,” I whisper to Lilly.
She giggles and bumps into me while she turns, craning her neck to see. Moans and slobbering noises propel us faster toward the stairs.