“Malachi,” I spit out without thinking.
Nico’s eyes widen and he pulls Harlow in for a hug. “That’s great news.” Harlow gives me an evil side eye when he steps back. “Congratulations, Har.”
“Uh, yeah. Thanks. But can you, um, keep this to yourself?”
“You’re not going to tell him?”
“No, I mean, I just…” Harlow groans and looks to me for help.
And like the tongue-tied idiot I’ve become in the last ninety seconds, I say the first thing that pops into my addled brain.
“She’s going to surprise him after the ceremony. Ya know, when they finally get a minute alone.”
Harlow elbows me in the gut, but when she realizes what she just hit, her face pales.
“Oh my God, I’m sorry,” she cries.
“Sorry for what?” Nico asks, clearly confused.
“Nothing.” I smile brightly. “Did you need something? Why aren’t you with Malachi?”
“Oh, right.” Nico reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small velvet box which he hands to Harlow. “Malachi asked me to give this to you.”
Harlow holds the box to her chest. “And now you have so you should go.”
“Okay.” Nico presses a quick kiss on my cheek. “See you soon.”
“Yep. Soon.”
He stares at us, his gaze darting back and forth for a few more seconds before turning and walking away. I’m pretty sure he mutters something about weddings and hormonal women, but I’m too stunned by what just happened to give a shit.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Harlow shouts after Nico exits the clubhouse. “Now what am I supposed to do? I can’t tell Malachi I’m pregnant because I’m NOT!”
“You really shouldn’t get worked up, Har.” I try to keep my tone soothing, but it only comes out squeaky. I fucked up. I fucked up big time.
Harlow takes several deep breaths. “Okay. I’m calm. I know what to do.”
“What?”
“Lie through my goddamn teeth. I’ll tell Malachi I thought I was pregnant because I was late but then I took a test today and it was negative.” Her words are rushed, almost as if she doesn’t believe the lie will work.
“That’ll work,” I say weakly. “Right?”
Harlow bends and lifts my shirt slightly to kiss my stomach.
“I’m sorry for the love tap, little nugget,” she says. When she stands, she leans in to hug me but moves her mouth to my ear.
“I didn’t want the kid to hear, but this better fucking work, Pep.”
CHAPTER18
Nico
“The ceremony was beautiful.”
Peppermint nods but doesn’t take her eyes off the steak knife she’s been twirling in her fingers for the last ten minutes. The crowd at the clubhouse continues to grow as the reception carries on around us. Malachi and Harlow were married at a small church, but that was the extent of Harlow’s giving in to tradition.
“I especially enjoyed the elephant Harlow and Malachi rode back to the clubhouse.”