Page 75 of Pleasure Island

I blinked.

Involuntarily, my eyes dropped to Michelle’s flat belly where Jake’s hand rested, then immediately looked back up.

They were both clearly waiting for my response. “You…” I stopped and scratched my head. “You’re pregnant?”

“Yes,” they both said.

“Stop doing that,” I told them, shaking my head. “Talking in sync like that is…creepy.”

Michelle made a face at me while Jake just laughed.

“You’re pregnant,” I said after a few more seconds to process it. Then I looked at Jake full-on. “Son of a bitch, you’re going to be a daddy.”

He grinned, looking happier than I’d ever seen him. “Damn straight.”

Getting up from my stool, I went around the island and clapped my cousin on the back, then dropped a kiss on Michelle’s cheek. She smiled at me with misty eyes and caught my hand, squeezing it. I squeezed back, looking between the two of them.

“A daddy,” I said again, shaking my head.

“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Jake pulled Michelle back up against him, hugging her tight.

* * *

“We want to get married– likesoon,” Michelle said a little while later. She puffed out her cheeks and held her arms in front of her. “Like before I start showing.”

“Any dates in mind?” I asked.

Michelle’s mouth formed a pout, and I looked over at Jake. He slid an arm around her shoulders. “We’re having trouble finding a venue that can do, a for-real wedding in such a short time. We thought about just going to a justice of the peace, but…”

“I want a real wedding.” Michelle gave me a wobbly smile. “It’s going to be a pretty tall order, I guess, finding a way to make this happen before I get all big with the baby.”

“You’ll be beautiful,” Jake told her.

She stuck her tongue out at him. “I want to be beautiful and able to fit in the dress I found.”

While they commented back and forth, my thought strayed.

I found myself thinking about the island where I’d been with Mila, about that day on the beach when she’d gotten the cramp.

Then I thought about her grandmother and the offer Millie had made.

“I might have an idea,” I said softly.

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