Page 137 of The Friend Zone

Lake nods. “Good. He can’t become a lawyer now, right?”

“In theory he could,” I shrug. “But he’ll have to start college from scratch and go to law school. I doubt any reputable institution will accept him. He also would have to show good moral character and rehabilitation to be allowed to sit the bar exam and I doubt that’s going to happen. He won’t even have his father’s help. Rupert Mumford has been disbarred for his involvement in the corruption scandal. His law firm voted for his dismissal, despite him being a name partner.”

“What about Bianca?” my sister asks.

“Her situation was much worse. She got expelled from the university and Zeta Theta Beta. She was given a five-year jail sentence for both the arson and the cyber bullying. Without the plea deal, she would have looked at more than ten years. The Dean was fired, and he’s also going to jail for three years. I heard from Keith that he filed for bankruptcy after the university decided to sue him for damages in civil court.”

There’s a beat of silence before Lakyn asks me another question.

“I’m happy they all got what they deserve. Does that make me a bad person?”

I shake my head. “Not at all.”

“Good. I think Topher deserved more jail time after what he tried to do to you.”

I don’t disagree. “I know. But I’m just glad this is all over. It would have been very difficult to prove what happened five years ago and?—”

“I know,” Lakyn interrupts me. “You couldn’t prove those drugs belonged to him and that he slipped those roofies in that Champagne bottle at the alumni dinner. It’s bullshit, if you ask me, but whatever. I need to go to the bathroom before we walk out there. The archbishop is known for his lengthy sermons and all the water I’ve been drinking will have to come out at some point. Keep me company, like when we were kids?”

I giggle, following her into the en-suite bathroom.

“You haven’t changed at all since we were five. Remember? You refused to go to the bathroom without me. Especially at night.”

Lakyn chuckles. “True. But you insisted on telling me all those ghost stories before bed. I was scared. Besides, I’ve been drinking sparkling water, and that always seems to make me pee more. I think it’s the bubbles.”

I roll my eyes. “Nonsense. Talking about bubbles,” I say. “I was expecting you to drink Champagne before the big day.”

She opens a drawer in the vanity under the sink. “Nah, it’s going to be a long day. Besides, I can’t really drink.”

“Why can’t you—Lakyn Veronica Woods!” I squeal. “Don’t tell me you’re?—”

“No one knows except the guys, the King and Queen and the royal family doctor. I’m going to be out of the first trimester in one week. Then we’re going to tell Cash and Blaze’s families and Mom and Dad, before we announce it to the world. We can tell Mom and Dad together, actually.”

I laugh. “If you need moral support to tell our parents, I can be there. But what are you worried about? It’s not like you got knocked up on a one-night stand. You’re about to get married tothe best guys in the world. And Mom and Dad would be happy for you regardless, you know that.”

“I know,” Lake smiles. “Come on, go pee. We don’t have all day.”

“Me?” I ask, confused. “I thought you had to pee. And what are you giving me? Is that a pregnancy test? Why are you giving me a pregnancy test?”

Lakyn’s expression becomes serious. “I had this really intense dream,” she explains. “Right before I found out. We were both pregnant with twins.”

I know I’ve been talking about our twin connection for years, but this time I have to laugh. “Twins having twins at the same time? Isn’t that a little cliché?”

She shakes her head. “Believe me, I thought so too. Until my first scan and the doctor confirmed that I’m having twins.”

I take the stick with trembling hands. “That’s crazy. Your dream was probably just fifty percent accurate. I’m on the pill, it’s impossible.”

Did I ever say that my sister is the most stubborn creature in the world?

“No birth control is one hundred percent effective, Bay. I shouldn’t be the one to tell you that. Just pee on that stick, will you?”

I roll my eyes, but sit on the toilet. “I’m only indulging you because it’s your wedding day and I don’t want to upset my pregnant sister. But this is ridiculous. Your twin sixth sense is off its rocker. Maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones that interfere with our connection?”

Lakyn insists. “Less talking, more peeing. If we don’t hurry up, Claudia will send the Royal guard.”

Neither of us says anything while we wait for the timer Lakyn set to go off. I’ve been feeling tired and a little bloated, but with graduation, the Zeta house inauguration, the move toConnecticut and everything else, it’s to be expected. “It’s going to be negative,” I say as the timer goes off. “I haven’t even been nauseous.”

“Not every pregnant woman experiences nausea,” she says. “I haven’t either.”

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