Page 14 of If the Ring Fits

“Ooh, I can’t wait to hear all about it.” Hunter loops her arm through mine as we head inside. I might not be ready to rehash the day’s events, but her nearness is comforting.

We take the elevator up to our apartment, the ache in my chest growing with each floor we pass. Where will I even begin to tell her everything that happened today?

As we step inside—my dilemma worsens as it’s not just my roommate in the house. A chorus of greetings rises. Nina, radiant as always, bounds over to pull me into a tight hug. Her brother, Dylan, offers a wave from the couch where he sits beside Nina’s boyfriend, Tristan. It’s weird for everyone to be already home from work. We all have high-demand careers—or I used to. None of our jobs are nine-to-five. What’s everyone doing here?

Nina pulls back, her brow creasing as she studies my face. “Are you feeling okay, Winnie? You look a little pale.”

“Must be the lack of sunshine from being chauffeured home in a luxury car,” Hunter quips with a smirk.

Nina arches an eyebrow at me, but I whiffle her off. “I’m fine, just tired. It’s been a day.”

They’re all watching me, waiting for an explanation. But I’m not ready. I paste on a weak smile, hoping it’s enough to hold them off… for now.

“Well, I hope you’re not too tired, because we’ve got pizzas on the way.”

My stomach churns at the mention of food, the mere thought of eating making me queasy again.

As Nina drifts back to Tristan, I pull Hunter aside. “Why is everyone here so early?”

She frowns. “Didn’t you get the text from Nina?”

I haven’t checked my phone since before lunch. “No, what is it?”

“I don’t know.” Hunter shrugs. “She just told us to be home early.” Then she studies me, perplexed. “What’s up with you today?”

Thankfully, Nina chooses that moment to clap her hands, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Come on guys, we have something to share before the pizzas arrive.”

I’m grateful for the distraction. Anything to postpone the moment when I have to confess my bombshell.

We all settle into the living room, finding our usual spots. I sink into the oversized armchair, pulling my legs up and hugging them to my chest. It feels like I’m trying to physically hold myself together.

Hunter perches on the armrest of the couch, her eyes trained on Nina. “Okay, spill!” she tells her. “What’s this big announcement?”

Nina’s smile widens. “Well…” She pauses for dramatic effect, and I lean forward despite myself, momentarily swept up in her excitement. She laces her fingers with Tristan’s, her eyes shining as she looks around at all of us. “We’re moving in together!”

Nina’s words hang in the air as Hunter and I stare at her—Dylan doesn’t seem surprised; he must’ve known already.

My first thought is that even if I had the strength to find a new job that came with a larger salary by some miracle, I’d still have to move to a cheaper neighborhood. I can’t cover my rent here with a kid, and I sure as hell can’t pick up half of hers on top of that.

But Nina hastens to add, “I know you guys must be worried about covering my portion of the rent. But don’t stress.”Don’t stress?I’m basicallymadeof stress. “Dylan saidhe’d be happy to take over my room if you two are cool with it. Since Tristan and I want to move in together as soon as possible, and Dylan needs a place STAT, it works out perfectly! Right, Dylan?”

She looks expectantly at her brother, who gives an affable shrug. “If they’re okay with it, I’m game. No worries either way, though.”

I press my lips together, trying to mask my rising panic. Oh gosh. An unpleasant roiling grips my abdomen again. They probably expect us to say something, but I’m not eager to rain on their roommate swap parade.

I glance at Hunter to gauge her reaction, but she seems lost in thought, sneaking furtive peeks at Dylan. She’s not speaking either.

The other three must’ve expected a different response because Nina’s face falls, Tristan looks uncertain, and Dylan is smiling awkwardly.

But then Nina’s brother flashes a charming grin. “I promise I don’t smell. I shower at least once a week.” He winks at Hunter and me conspiratorially. “I figure we can all see how this cohabitation goes until your lease on this place is up. What do you say?”

“Yes.” Hunter, out of her trance, almost falls on her butt in the exuberance of her reply. She always has had a huge crush on Nina’s brother, and Dylan moving in is probably a dream come true for her. One that I’m about to shatter.

All eyes turn to me expectantly and I have no other choice than to burst their bubble. Suppressing a sob or a burp—I can’t even tell at this point—I confess everything. That this morning I found out I’m pregnant with Liam’s baby and lost my job half an hour later. I tell them about Adrian and our meet-puke in the bathroom, and that I’m seriously consideringmarrying a total stranger, but that either way, I’ll have to move out.

To say that my roommates look at me shell-shocked would be the understatement of the century. Once they recover, they ask me a million questions: how far along am I? Does Liam know? What about Adrian? Who is this guy? And have I lost my mind?

They volley questions at me like one of those tennis-ball shooting machines. Hunter, to her credit, seems only concerned about me and not her smashed dream of moving in with her crush.

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