Page 179 of The Puck Stops Here

‘And you do look so very happy,’ Sissi said softly.

‘I am. Truly. Blake is too. I’m not gonna lie, the day I took the pregnancy test, I was all over the place, but the second Blake walked in the door, I knew it was going to be okay. That whatever we decided, we’d be okay, because we were in it together.’

Sissi’s hand flexed around hers and Astrid bit her cheek, knowing her friend was thinking how different it had been for her. How Aiden had abandoned her. She hated that her happiness could bring her friend the opposite. ‘Sissi…’

‘I’mhappyfor you,’ she stressed, knowing exactly where Astrid’s head had gone.

And Astrid knew she meant it, but…

‘I really am, honey. Now let us toast to your happiness!’

They all clinked glasses and Astrid grabbed the OJ she’d set aside so as not to hint at the baby surprise. ‘You know?—’

Her phone interjected with a buzz and she glanced at the screen.

Blake

Do I need to wear my jockstrap?

She laughed into her drink.

‘What’s so funny?’ Paige said.

‘Blake’s asking if he’s safe?’

‘Safe?’ Bella asked.

‘He’s scared of what you might do to him for getting me pregnant.’

‘Well, it takes two to tango,’ Paige murmured.

‘That’s what I said you’d say and for the record, it’s what I said too.’

‘Oh my God, he really is a pussycat!’ Bella laughed out.

‘He is and he’s all mine – well,ours…’ She touched a hand to her invisible bump. ‘And in a few months, he’ll be my husband, which brings me to my next bit of news.’

‘Is ittwins?’ Paige asked.

‘No! But I’d really appreciate triplets’ – three sets of eyes bugged out – ‘in the maid of honour sense.’

‘Now you’re talking!’ Paige said.

‘Threemaids of honour, is that even legal?’ Bella said.

‘It’s my wedding, I can have three if I want three.’

The girls squealed with excitement, all save for Sissi who took a calming sip of champagne, then, ‘Ishegoing to be best man?’

And Astrid had to dampen the mischief in her smile… because though Sissi wouldn’t like her answer now, Astrid hoped with every fibre of her being that come her honeymoon, her friend would be thanking her for more than just the pretty frock.

She’d be heading for her own sparkly rock…

* * *

‘You told them then?’ Blake said, sweeping her into his arms when she returned home to their house in Brooklyn later that evening.

‘Yup.’

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