Page 26 of The Baby Contract With My Hot Billionaire Boss

“Hey, I happen to like it.”

“You don’t care about the movie. You just think Ryan Gosling is hot.”

She grins and shrugs at that but turns back to the movie and I can’t help but laugh. Though I don’t mind too much because I like the movie as well.

“How’s school been?”

“Same as always. I started the process of running for class president. I’ve got some people helping me with a campaign and they’re going to have a debate next week.”

“Are you prepared for it?”

“As prepared as you can be for a debate, I guess,” she agrees.

The store isn’t far from the house so it’s less than an hour before Mom is back and then it’s time to make my announcement. Before I lose my nerve.

“So, I actually came over here for a reason,” I tell them and both look up at me with confusion on their faces.

“Since when do you need a reason?” Mom asks and I draw in a deep breath.

“Just … let me say it, all right?”

“What’s wrong? Are you sick? Are you hurt?” Immediately she’s in Mama Bear mode, like she is with Leann and the general confusion on both their faces turns to concern.

“No. I’m not sick. I’m not hurt. Just let me say what I need to say, okay?”

They look at each other and then back at me but nod silently and I have to steady myself yet again before I can get the words out of my mouth. “I’m pregnant.”

There’s complete silence in response to my words. Both of them stare at me, open-mouthed. But that only lasts a moment before Leann squeals and jumps up, throwing her arms around me in a huge hug that makes me laugh despite myself.

“Pregnant …” Mom repeats the word slowly, still staring. “I didn’t even know you were seeing someone. And for it to be so serious, why did you never tell us you were dating?”

“It … we just …” I wasn’t prepared for this question even though I should have been and I see the way Mom’s lips purse together. “We’ve been together for a little bit now but … we were keeping things kind of … low key,” I manage to get out.

“Low key. So low key that you couldn’t even tell your own mother? And now you’re pregnant so you had to come clean?”

“Well, it is a little sooner than we had intended to tell people,” I reply, though that’s not entirely true. We never really planned out how we were going to tell people.

“You weren’t being safe.” The words aren’t a question. It’s a disapproving statement and I shrug.

“We’re happy with the news.”

“I’m happy with the news, too!” Leann squeals, wrapping me in another hug.

“It’s not that I’m not happy, Emma. I am happy for you I just … I worry that you and this guy have jumped into things too quickly. Having a baby is a big responsibility and I don’t want it to cause problems for you.”

“It’s not,” I reply firmly and she hesitates a moment but then gives a tentative smile.

“Then I’m happy for you. I am.” She gives me a hug and for a moment it feels like everything is right with the world. Now my mother and my sister know, not quite the truth but … they know something about what’s going on at least and that’s a start.

“So, tell me everything about this guy,” Leann says finally, sinking back onto the couch, legs crossed, an eager look on her face.

Mom is sitting back in her chair with an interested gaze as well, though perhaps not quite as eager as Leann. Still, they both want to know and I try to think just what I can say about Chris that won’t give away too much.

“He’s very outspoken, stubborn, kind of intense.”

“Is he cute?”

“He is gorgeous,” I admit and Mom smiles while Leann squeals yet again.

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