Page 69 of Wild For You
“Are you two dating?”
I glance over to Marisol and Nash and eyed their supportive grins.
“Um. Actually, I wanted you all to be the first to know… I’m pregnant.”
“What?” Rory shouted, her eyes immediately narrowing on Andrew as she took a menacing step toward him, and I found myself immediately back-pedaling.
“No, Rory. It’s Caleb’s. I’m eleven weeks along.”
“Oh.” She winced and apologized to her brother.
“It happened during his birthday weekend in Vegas.”
The group remained quiet, a reaction I hadn’t expected. Maybe I chose the timing wrong, or maybe they didn’t really care that I was expecting. I wasn’t their child, after all. But I had gotten my hopes up, thinking I’d have their support.
“Guys,” Andrew chimed in, “she’s keeping the baby.”
Suddenly, the group erupted in congratulations and compassionate well wishes.
Rory was the first to gather me in her arms. She squeezed me with surprising strength. “I’m so happy for you, Kelsey. You’re going to be the best mom. I’m so sorry I jumped to conclusions. I’m just a little protective of you.”
“Thank you. And it's okay. I understand why you reacted that way.” And I did. She’d made it very clear that her brother was off limits. It was too bad that she was going to be thrown for a loop if she ever found out about me and Andrew.
I was moved throughout the group, each person embracing me longer than the last. Nash held on the longest, in a fatherly grip I missed over the years since my dad’s death. I was nearly in tears by the time he let go.
“I’m so happy for you. You’re going to be a wonderful mother.”
“Thanks, Nash.”
“Let us know if you need anything.”
“I will,” I said, lying through my teeth. I wasn’t used to asking for help, not even from friends. Having Andrew help me when I was sick was the most I’d ever requested.
“I can’t believe it. Another baby to love and spoil!” Marisol exclaimed as she clapped.
Laughing, I said, “I’m pretty sure you already knew.”
“I suspected,” she replied with a grin of her own.
The mood of our little crowd changed with my news. There was a new kind of excitement that I could sense while the girls asked me questions as we walked, and their husbands would constantly make sure I was okay. I almost felt bad for Andrew, as he was relegated to the back of the group while we walked toward a tilt-a-whirl ride. But when I stole a glimpse of him over my shoulder, he smiled in a way that put me at ease.
He wasn’t a fan of crowds or the growing attention surrounding him as he walked, but he was content.
I met his grin, and as Rory and Aspen piled into the ride cart, I slowly inched toward Andrew.
“How are you doing?” he asked, his eyes searching mine. Beyond him, Nate and Owen were watching us with curious expressions. Nate’s arms were laden with the oversized gorilla as a gift for the twins.
“I’m great. This is so fun.”
“Yeah. The town does a nice job. Was there anything else you wanted to do? The haunted house or carousel?”
“Maybe the carousel? I’ve never been a fan of haunted houses. Once, in high school, I nearly peed my pants at a haunted farm.”
He laughed and tucked me under his arm, directing me toward the rotating attraction. Andrew had gone without his crutch and wore a more flexible brace beneath his jeans. To the naked eye, it would look like I was helping support him as I wrapped an arm around his waist.
“How’s your leg doing?”
“It’s okay. Much better now,” he claimed, smiling down at me.
