Page 43 of Embers in Our Past

I hear the guys laughing and straggling behind, so it takes a minute for them to catch up, but when they do, River halts when he sees me, looking over to his brother and then back at me.

“What’s going on?” he says, appearing concerned when he sees me sitting at the table. Lola remains seated next to me as if sitting guard to protect me, sensing I need a shield right now.

“Sit down, you two. Do you want something to drink?” Clay asks, motioning to his fridge.

“I’ll take some water,” Kennedy says, while River yells, “Same.”

“You look better,” Kennedy says when she swings her attention back at me.

“Were you sick, Abby?” River asks, concern taking over his features.

“Yeah, feeling much better.” I direct my gaze at River. “I was a bit under the weather, but better today.” I smile.

Clay comes back with two bottled waters and sits down next to me. Kennedy and River sit side by side and give each other a pointed look.

“So, what’s going on?” River asks, hesitant with his questioning.

“Well, we asked you here because we have some news to tell you,” Clay begins.

“I fucking knew it!” River declares while Kennedy breaks into a huge grin.

What’s happening right now?

River picks up his phone and seems to type something out.

“Goddamn it, Skipper. I fucking hate losing!” He throws his phone down and sulks.

Kennedy looks all too satisfied when she gazes at him, then puts her hand on his bicep and says, “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll do that thing you love later, you know, with my tongue, where I?—”

“Okay, no thanks!” Clay shouts, throwing his arms up to shut this conversation down. “You know I hate having a mental picture of both of you doing anything sexual in my head. Damn it. It’s there. Thanks, Kennedy! Also, you bet on us? What the fuck, River!”

“Kennedy started it!” He points at Kennedy, and my eyes double in size.

“You said we were friends!” I shout.

“It was before I went over the other day, I swear. I just had a feeling when I saw Clay all sad and stuff a few months ago. I just had a feeling I’d see you guys get back together, so I made a friendly wager. I hate seeing River win, so I bet him, and here we are!” She smiles, all too proud of herself.

“Well, send the money back!” I tell her.

“What, why?” she says, disappointment lacing her tone.

“Because we aren’t back together. Bet not won!” I tell her, sticking my nose up, much too happy these two aren’t making money off us today.

“Then why are we here?” River says, now seeming annoyed even though he didn’t lose money.

“Because we’re having a baby!” we shout at them.

That stuns them both into silence.

River rubs the back of his neck, mimicking his brother’s mannerisms. His eyes bounce from me to Clay. I don’t know what kind of reaction to expect from him, and the longer the silence stretches, the more nervous I become.

Finally, Kennedy stands from her chair and makes her way over to me.

“Congratulations to you both!” She reaches me first and pulls me into a hug. “You’re going to be the best mama,” she whispers into my ear, and I feel the lump in my throat form right then and there.

She pulls away and walks over to Clay, giving him a hug and whispering something to him as well that I can’t hear. I see Clay embrace her tighter and say thank you.

Once they pull apart, Kennedy turns to River. “Say something to your brother!”

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