Page 55 of Pregnant in Plaid

---

"What do people do here?"

"Live. Work. Survive winters. Gossip about newcomers." He glances at me. "Mostly that last one, actually."

"Great. So everyone's been talking about me."

"Probably. But in a nice way. Small towns are like that—nosy but well-meaning."

"Comforting."

"You'll get used to it. Besides, being pregnant gives you automatic sympathy points."

"I'm using this kid for sympathy points already?"

"Survival strategy."

I lean back into the cushions. The baby's finally settled, no more acrobatics. Just a steady pressure against my ribs.

"Trace?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad I'm staying. For the wedding, I mean."

He looks up from his book. "I'm glad you're staying too."

"Just for the wedding," I clarify quickly.

"Right. Just for the wedding."

But something in his voice tells me he's hoping for more.

The fire crackles. Snow taps against the windows. Trace turns a page, and I close my eyes.

The baby shifts, rolling against my ribs. A week until the wedding. Six weeks until this baby arrives and everything changes again.

I have no idea what I'm doing.

But for tonight, Trace reads and the fire burns and I'm warm and safe. Tomorrow I can worry about the future. Tomorrow I can figure out what comes next.

Tonight, I just need to breathe.

Chapter 9

Trace

Moosehead Lodge is exactly as underwhelming as I expected for Gage's bachelor party.

Six guys. Three pitchers of beer. A dartboard with a photo of a moose taped to it for some reason nobody can explain.

"This is it?" I ask Gage as we walk in.

"What were you expecting? Strippers and poker?"

"Maybe a little excitement?"

"We're in Ashwood Falls. This is excitement." He grins. "Besides, Tessa would kill me if I came home smelling like anything other than bad pretzels and cheap beer."

Fair point.

---