Page 105 of Indecent Ventures

All of a sudden, Reagan holds her stomach and screams. “Ahhhh. I think I’m in labor.”

Everything regarding Declan and me stops, as everyone rushes to Reagan’s side. Carter quickly pops out of the pool, picks her up, and carries her inside, laying her down on the couch.

The rest of us that were in the pool wrap ourselves in towels and follow suit.

We’re all surrounding her. Darian starts freaking out. “Are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?”

Reagan shakes her head. “Relax, Mom. Give it a minute.”

She looks around. Declan and I are on opposite sides of the room. Things seem to have cooled down. She smiles. “Oops. False alarm. It must have been indigestion.” She winks at me.

I can’t help but smile back at her. She just faked labor to stop the fighting. She’s truly one of a kind.

She stands and looks at Melissa. “Why don’t you take Uncle Declan home?”

Melissa gives a knowing nod and grabs his hand. “Let’s go, Neanderthal.”

He mumbles, “I’ll show you a Neanderthal later.”

Trevor makes a gagging face. I can’t help but inwardly laugh at that.

Reagan grabs my hand and Carter’s. “Why don’t the three of us go and talk in private?” She turns to Jackson. “Can we use your study?”

Jackson nods. “Of course.”

Darian hands me a bag of ice. “You’ll need this.”

I take it from her and place it on my eye. “Thank you.”

Carter and I follow Reagan into the study. I’ve never been in this room. It’s big, with wooden planked walls. The entire back wall is shelves with books, including a ladder. In addition to the desk and chairs in front of it, there’s an entire sitting area with a couch and chairs. The rest of the house is so modern. This room is more traditional. Not what I would have expected.

I sit in a big chair while the two of them sit on the couch. Carter turns to Reagan. “Did you know? Did you know about Collin and Jade?”

She nods. “I figured it out the morning we were in his room. I saw the clothes and the shoes on the floor. I knew they belonged to Jade. I confronted her at the office that day and she confirmed it.”

I didn’t know that.

He looks hurt. “Why didn’t you tell me? We don’t keep secrets from each other.”

She grabs his hand and kisses it. “Baby, I wanted to. I hate keeping things from you, but this wasn’t my news to share. You needed to hear it from Collin. I spoke with her earlier today. I told her I couldn’t keep it from you any longer. She said she’d talk to Collin about coming clean with you.”

I can’t help but interrupt. “I was planning to talk to you about today, Carter. That’s what Jade and I were discussing in the bathroom when Declan walked in.”

He nods, though the hurt and confusion are still evident on his face. He glares at me with a look of repulsion. “How did this happen? When?”

I look at Reagan. “Do you know everything?”

She shakes her head. “No, she didn’t tell me anything. I gathered that you two were in Mexico together last week.” I nod in confirmation. “I also gathered that it’s been several months at this point. You both stopped going out at around the same time. I put two and two together. Jade didn’t deny any of it, but I don’t have any details as to when or how it began.”

I swallow at what I’m about to say. I can feel my heart beating fast. “Carter, know that your friendship is one of the most important things in my life. I’ll tell you everything, but please don’t hate me. I couldn’t bear it.”

Carter runs his hands through his hair. “I don’t even know what to think right now. I’m in shock.”

I take one more deep breath. “I imagine you remember the party you threw for Reagan right after you two got married? Her twenty-eighth.”

They both nod.

“I met Jade that night.”

---