“Math. I am sorry. I can explain,” Hue said, and knew he was going to.
“Please do. I would like to hear it.” He could tell Math had been sure Hue wouldn’t call him, probably ever again.
“Is Tess there?” he asked, wondering if the woman had already told Math, and he was just messing with him.
“There was an emergency book club meeting. I hope these don’t become normal. She left the baby with me. All I can say is it better not be an overnight thing,” Math grumbled, which made Hue smile. Math hated when his woman slept away from him for a night. Hated it.
“I left today because I was following your sister. Who also left?” He was trying to deflect blame, but Math could probably be equally pissed at them both.
“Do not tell me you spent the afternoon in bed with my sister. I do not want to hear about it. And if you tell me you broke her heart again, I will have to pack up my baby and come into town and pound your face in—something I should have done the first time,” Math said. Yup, he was a little angry at them both. “Did you at least make up? Did you apologize, so she can get back to normal?”
Math’s words made Hue look at the phone in his hand. What did he know? How long had he known?
“I had nothing to apologize for. But that’s not the point. I am glad I followed her because she was trying to walk home,” he told his friend.
“It was freezing today,” Math stated, like Hue had no idea how cold it was out.
“I picked her up before she froze to death,” Hue explained.
“I’m starting to think she’s gone off her rocker. She’s been declining since Zia was born. I don’t want to apologize to my sister for having a baby, just because she lost some,” Math said.
Taking a deep breath, Hue said, “She is pregnant—waspregnant. Since before Zia was born. She has been hiding it from everyone. She did it to protect you guys.”
“Are you the dad?” Math asked between his teeth, a little mad.
“No, but I would like to be,” Hue admitted and was happy his friend wasn’t in the same room as him.
“So, she is no longer pregnant. She lost it again. No wonder she’s been so depressed. If she would have said something, we could have helped.”
What could they have possibly done?
“I didn’t even know until I was taking her to the hospital. She never even hinted.” Hue remembered back and didn’t up with anything that might have pointed at pregnant.
“Haven’t you been sleeping with her?” Math asked, and Hue wondered how he had known.
“Well…” He didn’t know how to answer.
“Come on, you think I didn’t notice? Your eyes are always following her around ever since she moved back. Where’s Mandy? Just check Hue, where is he looking? Then after the trail ride…” Math laughed.
“Jerk. You set me up on a date.” Hue blushed at the memory and hoped his best friend had no idea what really happened that day.
“I wanted to see if you were serious about her. You passed.” Math laughed.
“Thanks,” he grumbled.
“Hey, I have to look out for my sisters. They may be independent women, but I don’t need them to end up with losers,” Math pointed out.
“Thanks,” Hue said again.
“Mandy isn’t pregnant anymore. I feel bad not knowing.” Math sounded saddened by his sister’s misery.
“Do you have plans tomorrow?” Hue pushed on.
“No,” Math said in confusion.
“Do you want to bring your girlfriend to Grand Forks and meet your nephew?”
“Sure,” Math said absently. Then, “What nephew?”