Page 33 of Pucks and Likes

I blink. “Wh…what?”

Clara pats my arm. “We’ve known you were pregnant, El.”

I gawk at my younger sister.

“You stopped drinking, and the baggy clothes were a dead giveaway.”

“You stopped taking your meds—the last refill was in December,” Eliza says, a small smile on her face.

“It was the food aversions for me, when you threw up all the Russian snacks that Dimitri’s mom gave us,” Austen says softly. “They were your favorite, and you have an iron stomach. You eat everything and anything.”

Louisa sets me with a look. “I was logged in to your Amazon account and saw your cart.”

Coleson leans over and waves. “If it makes you feel better, I had no clue till my wife told me.”

Ciaran laughs, and Dimitri nods in agreement. I sit there, staring at the closest people in my life, and I feel like an utter idiot. “Y’all knew?”

“Yeah,” Clara says softly, rubbing my bicep. “But we knew not to say anything until you were ready to tell us.”

“Especially when you weren’t taking your meds.” Eliza gives me a small, reassuring smile, and I feel tears flooding my vision.

“Why didn’t you tell me you guys knew?”

“We wanted you to tell us.” Louisa’s gaze holds mine. “We figured when you wanted the support, you’d ask.”

“And we figured you wanted to tell the dad first,” Austen adds.

“How’s Cruz taking it?” Coleson asks, and I gawk at him.

“You even know who the dad is? We hid our relationship.”

Clara pats my arm. “Oh honey, you suck at hiding things. You wear it all over your face.”

“And Cruz did walk around like a cock in the henhouse around you,” Coleson supplies, giving me a sheepish grin. “I’m the one who told them you were sleeping with him.”

“Wow, maybe I should blacken your other eye,” I threaten, and he laughs.

“Not in your condition.”

That has everyone giggling. “Is he being supportive?” Louisa asks, keeping her eyes on me.

“He just found out yesterday. But yes, he is.”

“Why did you wait so long?” Eliza asks. “Why did you hide it?”

“I was scared,” I answer softly.

“Why? We’d be here for you.” I can see the hurt in Austen’s eyes. Hell, in all their eyes.

“I didn’t want to tell you guys until I told him, and I was too scared to tell him.”

Ciaran leans against the ladder, stroking Louisa’s leg. “Cruz is a good dude. He will be there for you.”

“I know,” I say softly. “I think that’s the problem.”

Clara leans in. “What is?”

“I could fall for him, and what if he only wants me because I’m pregnant?”

---