Page 12 of On Thin Ice

But dwelling on the whole fiasco wasn’t going to get me anywhere, and I had to pee super bad, a common occurrence thanks to the little diva. Shoving thoughts of Dom aside, I finished up in the bathroom and then unpacked, tossing mydirty clothes into my hamper and putting away my toiletries. Ethan said only psychopaths unpacked immediately, but I hated leaving things in my suitcase. I wanted it done and put away so I didn’t have to stare at it.

Then I put on my comfiest sweats, not caring that it was late summer, curled up on the couch, and flipped on the TV. I’d gotten addicted to this show calledTraitors, so I planned to binge a few episodes, order takeout, and work on my nursery Pinterest board. I’d found the cutest 3D butterflies online, and I wanted them everywhere.

Just as I took my first bite of caramel fudge ice cream, Darcy walked through the door.

“Save some of that for me.” She tossed her purse on the kitchen island and grabbed a spoon from the drawer.

“You can’t just walk in here anymore. You moved out two years ago, remember?”

“You never asked for the key back, and I’m not giving it up, anyway.” She took the seat next to me and stuck her spoon in my ice cream.

“Get your own,” I mumbled.

“Nah, this is my favorite flavor,” she said, digging in.

“Why are you here?” I tried to sound put out, but I was secretly happy that I wasn’t alone right now.

“Because I knew your flight info, and you did a big thing this week, and I wanted to be here if you needed it. Also, you have the best ice cream stash,” she finished with a grin.

I couldn’t help but smile back at my bestie. She had just known I needed her. And that was why the little peanut and I didn’t need Dom. We were going to be fine without him.

“Did he ever call you?” she asked. I’d given her a rundown of our conversation shortly after breaking the news to Dom and she’d threatened to kick him in the balls for how he’d reacted.

“Nope.” ThePpopped as I said it.

“Fucking dick,” she said. “Whatever. You don’t need him for anything. He did his part, and now I get a little cute niece to spoil rotten.”

She knocked her shoulder into mine.

“It’s going to be fine, Ally. We got you. And you’re going to rock this mom thing. We made a list, remember?”

I smiled softly. “Yeah, we did. And I know I shouldn’t care. But part of me feels bad for her. I don’t want her to feel like she’s not wanted. I mean, we know I’m scared shitless about becoming a mom, but I want her, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure she knows she’s loved.”

“He’s not important.” Darcy waved her empty spoon at me. “She’s going to have an entire hockey team of pseudo-uncles and a village of people who love her. You know Penny is over the moon to be an aunt. Your baby shower is going to be epic.” She put her hand over her mouth. “Oops, it was supposed to be a surprise. Act surprised, okay?”

I laughed, my eyes welling with tears. “How epic?”

She pointed her spoon at me again. “You heard nothing. Not a thing.”

My shoulders shook. Darcy was awful with secrets. Well, except when she’d managed to convince people that her relationship with Jake wasn’t fake at the beginning. Maybe she’d used all her secret-keeping abilities for that.

I gasped and put my hand to my mouth, then whispered, “For me?” My voice returned to normal as I dug another bite of ice cream out of the carton. “How was that?”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Don’t out me.”

“I won’t. Promise. Just tell me the date so I don’t look like I just rolled out of bed that day.”

“Deal.” She clinked her spoon with mine. “But seriously, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I don’t know what I was expecting, but he showed his true colors, so I shouldn’t be shocked. He’s always been a player who doesn’t want to settle down. Not that I was asking him to. His involvement wouldn’t have been easy because the season is starting and he lives in a different state anyway. It’s easier this way, and it’ll be fine.”

My sigh was resigned, but what else was I going to do? He clearly didn’t want to be involved, and it was definitely less messy this way. But, if one day she wanted to know who her father was, I wouldn’t keep that from her.

“His loss. His major, epic, gargantuan loss. Now to important stuff. Can you believe who they brought back?” Darcy gestured to the TV. “Oh wait, which episode is this?”

I glared at her. “Dammit, Darcy. I’m a few behind. Don’t you dare spoil it.”

She shoved another spoonful of ice cream in her mouth, and I nodded at her before turning my attention back toTraitors. I wondered who was getting banished tonight.

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