Page 150 of Before I Loved You

But he just keenly nods. “It’s all yours.”

“Good.” I grin, but the second I face the door, it falters. “Okay. Let’s get this over with.”

Paul knocks on the door and then opens it, poking his head inside. “Do I smell Chinese food?”

“Yeah, man. Come grab a plate,” I hear Jason say from inside.

“Is it okay if I grab two plates?” Paul walks in, and I step closely behind him, feeling the uptick of my heartbeat.

Surveying the room, I notice Nate, who observes the ceiling, looking anywhere but at Paul and me. I know it’s been torture for him to keep this secret, but it won’t be much longer now.

“Sarah!” Vanessa and Natalie say in unison. I spot Vanessa on the couch with Jason, sporting a small bandage on her head, but other than that, she looks well, and it makes me feel relieved after what happened to her. And the sight of Jason being so protective of her warms my heart. They’re in love, and I couldn’t be happier for them.

“Is it okay that I’m here?” I ask, looking between everyone. “I don’t want to interrupt if—”

“You’re always welcome here,” Vanessa adds reassuringly.

I follow Paul into the kitchen, where he starts plating food for us.

“Hey, Sarah?” Vanessa shouts. “I love your shoes. Where did you get them?”

“These?” I look down at my feet, examining my old pair of black Converse with paint splatters. “I’ve had them forever.”

“Oh my God, Vanessa,” Natalie gasps, her eyes widening as she looks between Jason and Vanessa. “I just realized that when you guys get married, we’ll be actual sisters!”

Jason chokes on his food, initiating Vanessa to pat his back a few times.

“Easy, Natalie. Don’t want to kill your brother before he graduates.” Nate places an arm around Natalie’s shoulder, laughing as he brings his drink to his lips.

“Keep laughing, my friend,” Jason mutters. “Especially because I heard Mom tell Dad that she can’t wait to see how cute Natalie and Nate’s babies will be.”

Nate spits out his drink, his face going pale.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Jason responds with mocking laughter.

“Well.” Paul moves into the living room and sits on the arm of the chair across from the group, holding our plates. I sit in the chair, feeling riddled with anxiety about where this conversation is about to go. But it’s now or never. “Speaking of babies…” He looks down at me as I nervously bite my thumbnail. I nod in approval for him to continue. “We’re having one!”

“Having what?” Natalie asks, scanning between the two of us.

“A…baby,” I say, taking a deep breath, looking uncertainly around the room at everyone who has gone into a state of stunned silence.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

“Looks like that answers my question,” Vanessa says casually, shrugging her shoulders.

“What was your question?” Paul asks.

A huge grin spreads over her face. “I was wondering if you two were fucking.”

The silence is taken over by laughter from all of us. I hide my cherry-tomato face behind my hands, my shoulders shaking from how hard I’m laughing.

“Holy shit, Vanessa.” Paul wipes a tear from his face, smiling.

Jason looks at Nate. “You knew, didn’t you?”

He lifts his shoulders. “He left some baby books lying around our place. I had my suspicions.”

Natalie stands first, followed by Vanessa, who both come over to hug and congratulate me.

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