I’ve tried to do the pregnancy math in my head. I had a period after the first time Liam and I had sex, but I haven’t had one since. I’ve been so busy with dating him, tutoring Olivia, whether or not Mom would agree to surgery, and helping out at the bakery—not to mention my full-time job—that I hadn’t been paying attention. My life has been absolutely insane lately, so a surprise pregnancy would just add to the madness. It seems like the only outcome that would make sense, given how the cards have been falling lately.
“Quinn?” Piper’s voice sounds from the other side of the door. “You okay?”
I rub my hands over my face. “Yeah. Be right out.”
“Okay, good. I have to pee.”
Over fajitas, my friends dutifully steer conversation anywhere but in my direction and what’s going on with me. We discuss Heath and Sophia’s upcoming wedding first. They are so adorable and excited about it, it takes my mind off of things for a while, except, of course, when Damon asks where the wedding and reception will take place. Poor guy, he’s too new to our circle to realize Liam owns the place.
Madison quickly answers him, then shifts the conversation to share that Shawn has written another song that we just have to hear later. I swear, that man is going to end up with a recording contract at some point. He’s that good.
Hadleigh and Sawyer fill us in on his second student teaching placement and how that’s going, and Damon, who got to witness the evolution of Hadleigh and Sawyer’s relationship in the workroom they share, joked about how Sawyer shouldn’t try to date his second mentor. Sawyer blushes bright red, but is quick to say that Hadleigh is the only one for him. Knife, meet gut.
Sawyer parries, asking if Damon has yet to win an argument with Piper. There’s a bit of debate about that, which ends in quite a lot of laughter.
Zoey is fairly quiet, taking in the couples we are surrounded by, much like I am. I glance at her, sitting next to me, and wink with a little shrug, as if to say, Maybe someday it’ll be us. She seems to understand me just fine as she grabs my hand and squeezes before letting go to tell everyone about some hubbub that’s been going on in the office this week.
No one asks me anything—it’s as if they are all walking on eggshells. I don’t blame them. Who wants to invite that kind of drama to the table? No one, that’s who.
After dinner, we all help clear the table and clean up, making quick work of it with so many hands, before we decide to adjourn to the living room with another round of drinks.
If anyone has noticed I still have the drink that I was initially served, they haven’t said anything. That’s one thing—with ten of us, no one sees every last little thing happening. Thank goodness.
We’re all just settling in on the big L-shaped couch and a few chairs when Zoey walks slowly
out of the bathroom, attracting everyone’s attention with how strangely she’s acting. “Um. So, I was just in the bathroom.”
Hadleigh giggles, a little tipsy. “Obviously.”
Zoey looks to Sophia first. “I found this in the trash can.” She lifts her hand so we can all see what she’s holding.
My eyes widen. Shit. My pee stick. I guess I wasn’t thinking when I threw it in the trash can.
Zoey sets the test on the coffee table. “It’s obviously not mine.” She gives an uncomfortable laugh. “No man, so no baby on board.”
Sophia slaps her hand over her mouth before she sprays margarita everywhere. She glances at Heath, who looks like his heart has jumped up into his throat, and she quickly shakes her head and grabs his hand to reassure him. She looks around the room. “I know it may seem like we’re the obvious choice, seeing as how the wedding is coming up and this is our place … but we have no plans for babies until after we’re hitched. Not to mention, I never use the powder room.” She shrugs, palms up in front of her.
Eyes flick from one person to another, assessing, studying, trying to figure out the little puzzle of our own making. I pray for nothing more than a hole to open up in the floor and swallow me so I don’t have to deal with this.
Madison frowns. “Wait, is it positive?”
Shawn grabs at the back of his neck, eyes a little wild.
Madison takes his hand. “Don’t worry, babe, it’s not mine.”
Hadleigh leans forward. “Two lines means positive, right?” Sawyer’s gaze meets hers, and she shakes her head quickly.
Nope, buddy. Not yours.
Hadleigh grins. “This is just like that episode of Friends leading up to Monica and Chandler’s wedding when Phoebe finds Rachel’s test and everyone assumes it’s Monica’s.”
“Well, that makes me Monica, and just like in that episode, it’s not mine.” Sophia laughs, albeit a bit nervously.
All eyes shift to Piper and Damon, who are having some sort of silent Sherlock conversation, trying to suss out the answers to the clues. A laugh bubbles out of Piper as she leans into Damon’s side. He puts an arm around her and pulls her close, kissing her cheek. Both of them look strangely confused when Piper murmurs, “Well, we didn’t expect to say so just yet, but we’re pregnant.”
Everyone freaks out all at once, jumping up to hug the two of them.
I put my hand to my head, not quite believing what’s just happened.