Page 101 of Snowbound with the Santas

“Ah, well, it’s Frankie’s day. I just wanted to make sure I was respectful,” I reply.

“You’re family,” Frankie says from the couch. “Having you here means the world.”

“Family,” I repeat. “Yeah.”

“Rayne?” Nick leans forward in his chair, cradling his mug. “Are you sure you’re alright? You seem… down.”

“Is it being back here?” Archer asks. “Do you hate it?”

“No! God, no, I love it,” I assure him quickly. “I just…”

“You can tell us anything,” Frankie says. “We won’t judge.”

“I—” Words catch in my throat as all three of them look at me with warm concern in their eyes.

I have to do this. If today has taught me anything, holding onto things doesn’t do anyone any good.

I shift up onto my knees and stare down into my cup.

“Uhm… well, when I went to the doctor after Ashton… they had to run some tests just to make sure I could take the medication they wanted to prescribe.”

Three heads bobble before me.

“One of them was a blood test which, yesterday, confirmed something they found when I was being checked over.”

Nick’s face turns serious.

“I…” I swallow hard, lift my head, and look at each of them slowly. “I’m pregnant.”

You could hear a pin drop from the other side of the mountain with how quiet they are.

No one moves. No one blinks. No one even breathes.

For a moment, I wonder if they even heard me. Did I say it in my mind instead of out loud?

“I’m pregnant,” I repeat. Warmth sweeps up my neck and settles in my cheeks. My stomach ties itself into painful knots.

Then Archer surges forward and tackles me, peppering kisses all over my face to the point that I can only laugh.

“Holy shit! Holy fucking—holy shit! Pregnant! Fuck, I thought you were about to tell us you were dying!” Archer yells.

“Pregnant,” Nick repeats like it’s the first time he’s ever heard the word.

Frankie’s mouth slowly drops open.

“I… I’m sorry,” I gasp around Archer’s kissing. “I didn’t mean to. It was an accident and I think my IUD just stopped working from stress or something. I don’t, uhm… I don’t know how to tell who the father is and I’m really sorry if this ruins things.”

“Ruins things?” Nick abandons his cup and slides off his chair. “How could this ruin things?”

Archer pulls back, his eyes shining.

“Well…” I look between them, uncertain. “We’ve never… I mean, not once has anyone mentioned a baby, and you’ve only just got Freida back, and I have no idea how to raise a baby. Or if I’m even going to keep it or if you want to, and I just…” Breathlessly, I pause and try to calm myself. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Frankie gasps, joining the others on the floor. “Holy shit. I’m going to be a dad.We’regoing to be dads.”

“It’s amazing,” Archer whispers, and it’s the softest he’s ever sounded.

“Wait, you’re happy?” I clutch at whoever I can reach, scanning them from face to face. “You’re not mad?”

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