Page 98 of On the Wild Side

“We’re having virgin huckleberry margaritas,” Summer informs Polly. “And those three can get hammered if they want to.”

“And you can all stay out here so that no one is driving,” Polly adds, clapping her hands. “This isfun.And probably a good distraction for you, Abbi.”

I nod and pour the bag of corn chips into a big bowl. “Yeah, I could use a distraction while Brady’s out of town.”

“Ryan’s gone, too,” Polly says with a sigh. “It’s his last big trip out of the country before the little one arrives. He’ll be spending the next few months at home with us, so he has to wrap up some business first. He had to go all the way to Amsterdam.”

“That’s a long way,” Millie says.

“Way farther than Wyoming,” I agree and lean over to pat Polly’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, friend.”

“Me, too,” she says. “Because it means that Brady has to fly commercial on his way home, and that delays things for you.”

I hadn’t thought of that. My stomach sinks, knowing that Brady will now be gone for another day, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

He’ll be home again before I know it.

“Okay, no being sad,” Millie decides. “We have each other, and we’re going to have a good night. We can play pool and listen to music and gossip about all the tea happening in Bitterroot Valley.”

“I want to hear the tea,” Erin says, waggling her eyebrows. “Yes, please.”

We have thebest timemaking enchiladas with chips and salsa in Polly’s massive, amazing,gorgeouskitchen, and then we take our drinks and dessert of lemon cupcakes from The SugarStudio to the game room, where some of us play pool and others lounge on couches.

“Why are my feet so swollen?” Polly asks the room at large. “Like, they’rehuge.And it’s not hot outside or anything. It’s dumb.”

“Because you’re going to have a little baby,” I remind her and smile at her bump. “Tell me again why we don’t know the sex?”

“Oh, there was sex,” Erin says with a wise nod, making me snort with laughter.

“Jesus Christ,” Millie mutters, making me grin.

“Because we want to be surprised,” Polly answers and rubs her belly again. “I don’t care if it’s a girl or a boy, as long as it’s healthy.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Summer replies, rolling her eyes. “But there are certainbestieswho would like to buy pink or blue shit, Poll. If that’s a girl in there, I want to buy frilly things. Like,allthe frilly things in the world. You’re stealing that from me.”

“No, I’m not,” Polly says with a laugh. “You can buy things after it’s born. Besides, we don’t need anything. I don’t want you guys to spend your money on us. Ryan?—”

“He may be rich,” I say, interrupting her, “and that’s great for you, but honey, we’re your friends, and we want to buy stuff for you. Because we’re your village, and that’s what we do.”

“Don’t make me cry.” Polly rests her head back on the couch. “For the love of God, don’t make the waterworks start because it’s hard to make them stop.”

“Did you have a huge baby shower and a million gifts when you were having Daisy, Abbi?” Millie asks, stuffing a cupcake into her mouth.

And suddenly, all of the laughter leaves me, and I’m reminded of what Daisy and I didn’t have before we came here.

“No.” I shake my head and pour myself another margarita. “No gifts.”

“Notonegift?” Erin demands.

“I didn’t have family,” I remind them. “And Nate’s family wasn’t exactly pleased that I got knocked up and was trapping him into marriage.”

“Bullshit,” Millie bites out, clearly pissed on my behalf.

“It’s fine. Nate and I were able to buy everything we needed. Butyou,” I turn to Polly, “have people, and those people love you.”

“I know,” she says, blowing out a breath. “And I love you all, too. Summer, are you guys going to find out what you’re having?”

Summer grins and rubs her own smaller baby bump. “It’s a boy.”

---