Page 26 of Books and Hookups

“What about the father? Do you, um, know who he is?” She winced.

“God, Savannah. I don’t have that many hookups. Of course I know who it is. The condom broke, and I forgot to get emergency contraception. Goddammit. How is it fair that this is all on me?”

“It’s true that it’s your body that will have to carry the baby…if you decide to keep it. But it’s notallon you. The father has responsibilities and choices too. And you know we’re all here for you. You won’t be alone.”

I grabbed another paper towel and blotted my eyes. “Dammit, Savannah, you’re making my mascara run.”

“Better get the waterproof. Pregnancy hormones are a bitch. When I was pregnant, I couldn’t watch those Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercials without losing it.”

The timer on my phone beeped. “Ready?” she asked.

“No.”

“You’ll never be ready. Do you want me to look?”

“We’ll look together.” Taking a deep breath, I turned my phone so she could see while I examined the test sticks. I exhaled.

“Congratulations?” she said.

11

Unicorn Puke

As the headmistress of an elite school for young men, I inspire them to great achievement. However, I also instill values in them, like charity, responsibility, and respect. I want them to succeed, but I want them to do it in a way that makes them—and us—proud.

Abigail Davidson, Headmistress of St. Bernardino Academy

LUCIE

Holy shit.

I blinked hard, then peered through the glass window in the door to the bar again.

Nope, I was right the first time. Unicorns had puked all over the bar.

There was a rainbow balloon arch over a long table against the far wall. Pastel gift bags sat under the arch like a leprechaun’s prize. A giant white-frosted sheet cake dominated one of the four-tops in the middle of the room, and crock pots and chafing dishes took up the tables to the left.

People milled about, smiling. But no smiles were as big as those of a pair of women holding hands in front of the cake, one of them hugely pregnant.

What the fuck was going on? I’d come down at opening on Saturday to talk to Danny before the bar got busy, but I’d clearly failed at that. Was he even here?

I stuck my face against the glass so I could peer at the bar. He and Leo stood side by side, grinning. Leo pulled a beer, and Danny shook something in a shaker.

When the door opened, I nearly fell on my face. A short woman in her fifties gazed up at me. Silver glinted in her dark curls, and her brown eyes looked familiar. “Are you here for the shower?” she asked.

“Shower?” I repeated.

“I guess not,” she said. “The bar opens at two.”

She scanned me from head to toe. Was she judging me for peering into a bar at barely noon?

“I’m here to see Danny,” I said. “I need to talk to him.”

“Oh? What’s your name?”

“Lucie. I’m a…a friend of his.”

She tipped her head to the side, then took a slower scan of me, lingering on my oversized black wool sweater. “Come in, Lucie. He can take a break.”

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