Page 81 of Implode

“Hi,” I say softly.

“How did last night go?”

I suck in air through my teeth, weighing with myself how much to divulge. Keeping secrets from her hasn’t worked out in my favor thus far, so I opt for the abridged version. “As awkwardly as you could imagine. Nic was unhappy I kept the pregnancy from him, Ethan showed up to threaten me and announce he got Deena pregnant, and then Nic punched him in the face, yada yada.”

“Dang. Deena is pregnant? Holy hell.”

“Yup. Oh, and Ethan is going to use the video footage he gathered of me trespassing at his house to prove I’m unfit—if he’s the father. He wants sole custody.”

The color drains from Angie’s face. I need to change the subject.

“But at least both men know the truth. Ethan could be bluffing.” He’s not. But I can pretend. “I just ask that you keep Graham in the dark until I get through my wedding duties. Then, I promise to put on my big-girl panties and face him head-on. I hate asking you to do this, but the wedding is days away.”

Angie nods. “No, this makes sense. I think you aren’t giving Graham enough credit, but I know your past history with him is hard to forget. So I get it. I can keep quiet for a few days.”

“Thank you.” I sigh with relief. I look up at the menu and see a whole list of drinks and breakfast items to meet a variety of dietary restrictions. “What’s good here?”

“Rumor has it, everything. Which could get dangerous just being a few minutes’ walk from our office. You know my weakness is food.”

“Ha,” I respond, moving up in line to get a decaf iced latte with oat milk. “Pretty sure all of my food hang-ups got thrown out the window with this”—I lean in closer to only allow Angie to hear—“pregnancy.”

“How are you feeling?” Angie asks, after she orders her blended mocha drink with extra whipped cream.

“A little better than I did two weeks ago. I think knowing what is causing all of the nausea has helped me stay on top of it.”

“Well, that’s good.”

“I still can’t believe my pill failed. The shock has not worn off entirely.”

“Sometimes surprises are not always bad,” she says softly, with a smile.

“You didn’t leave a note on my desk, did you?”

Angie shakes her head. “No. Was it a love note?”

“Nope. Just an odd thing about a surprise being better than the expected. No signature.”

“Have you received these notes in the past?”

“Yeah, but they have always been from Nic. Must be him too. Although, I don’t really know where we stand. He didn’t exactly take the multiple truth bombs as gracefully as I would have hoped. Actually,” I say, shaking my head, “maybe he did. I am just so mixed up in my emotions, and I am ready for my life to get back to a healthy rhythm.”

“Hi, Claire,” a voice from behind us greets.

I pivot and see Dan approaching from the drink pickup area. Brenna is beside him and smiles. “Oh, hi.” The wheels in my head turn over the possibility of them dating. Nothing like a little office romance. Plus, she seems to have just the right amount of social awkwardness to blend with his.

“Good seeing you, Miss McFee,” he says to Angie who smiles and waves. He gestures toward his to-go cup of coffee. “Looks like great minds think alike.”

“Yeah,” I say and then wave bye to them as they leave.

I continue walking with Angie back to our office space. We have a lot of delegating to do today, since we are both taking a couple of days off this week to prepare for the weekend’s festivities.

“What was that about with Dan King?” she asks, her tone serious.

“He was just saying hi.”

She turns toward me and tilts her head. “You don’t honestly believe that, right? He looked at you like”—she pauses to think of the right words—“you were single.”

“To him I am, Angie. No one really knows I was ever with Nic unless they were paying me any type of real attention.”

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