Page 80 of Broken King

I close my computer and tap the lid. “She’s wrong about a lot of things.”

“Oh, I have no doubt about that. But you’re going to be an amazing mother, Scarlet. And you’re going to have it all. You’ll just have to learn how to balance it all. Then, maybe you can teach me.”

“Thanks, Len. I appreciate it. Thank God, I’ve got time to figure it all out before I need to teach you anything. Because I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing.” But that idea isn’t as scary as it used to be, thanks to Cade.

Lenny purses her lips before she smiles. “Well, that’s what I came to talk to you about. I wanted you to be the first one to know.”

I remove my glasses and study my sister. “Know what, Eleanor?”

Her entire face lights up. “I’m pregnant.”

I jump up from my chair and pull Lenny into a tight hug. “Oh, Len. I’m so happy for you. When are you due?”

“February third. Can you even believe it, Scarlet? The Kingston girls are having babies together. First Amelia, then you, and now me.”

I squeeze her again, then laugh. “You always did want to do everything I did.”

“I did. But Bash and I had a little too much to drink after our friends’ bachelorette and bachelor parties, and as they say, the rest is history. We’re trying to keep it quiet for now. You know, our friends Nattie and Brady are getting married next month, and we don’t want to announce it before then. I don’t want to steal her thunder.”

“Nice Friends reference there, Len.”

“Yeah, well it’s Nat’s favorite show. But that’s not everything. I need your help. Sebastian and I want to get married at Dad’s house next month. We want something really small. Intimate. Can you help me pull it together?”

“Oh, Lenny Lou. I would love to.” I pull back and frame her face with my hands. “Sebastian is a lucky man, Len”

She hugs me again. “Love you, Scar.”

“Love you too, little sister.”

As I lie in bed, wrapped up in Cade’s arms, I fill him in on my conversation with Adaline. I know I need to tell him what happened after we broke up. Adaline nearly said it earlier while Lenny was in the room. I guess it’s just a matter of time before the truth comes out.

But I’m not ready to pop our perfect little bubble.

I never imagined we’d find our way back to each other.

I never thought I’d find this.

The tips of Cade’s fingers trace circles on my bare back. “You seem lost in thought, duchess. What are you thinkin’ so hard about?”

I rest my palm over his heart and close my eyes. “Lenny’s pregnant. Sebastian and she are finally getting married.”

“It’s about time. They’ve been engaged for what... two years?”

I lean up, my chin resting on his chest. “A year and a half. He asked right after he got drafted.” With one bulky arm resting behind his head and the other on me, Cade’s eyes are sleepy but locked on mine. “Do you think that would have been us if I didn’t break us?”

“I don’t know... maybe. Or maybe we needed that time apart. Tell me... Did you do what you thought you had to or were you just over us?”

I suck in a breath, his words bringing me back to such a painful time in my life. “I thought I was saving us both from what I thought would be a worse breakup eventually. But now, I don’t know if it could have been worse than it was. I wonder if I stole all those years from us.”

Cade rolls us over so he’s bracing himself above me. “You’re here now, and I’m not letting you go this time. Go ahead and try.” His lips brush over mine gently, reverently, before he places his lips against my stomach.

“I told Adaline today.”

I’m tucked back into his arms, and his palm rests gently on my bump. “How’d that go?”

“About as good as you’d expect. But it’s done.” I let out the breath I think I’ve been holding since I ended the call. “Thank you for pushing me to call her. She needed to know, and now it’s done.”

“I’m glad you did it. It’s always better to just get it out there.”

I wonder if he’ll think that once he knows my secret.

---