Page 60 of Retribution

I pull my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around them, trying to rearrange my emotions, when the girls both turn to me after sharing a look.

My eyebrow raises. “What?” I question.

They look at each other once more before it appears that Lola is going to be the one to take control of the conversation.

“We just… hm. How can I say this nicely… We noticed you looked like absolute shit earlier and we didn’t want to say anything and ruin the night,” she cringes at the selective words.

Ouch.

I stay silent for a moment, unsure how to handle this. I could evade the truth and say I’m just tired, still heartbroken over Scott (I’m not), or I could be honest and actually ask them for advice. Even just the thought of Scott makes the peanut buttercups rise in my stomach, threatening to escape.

“I’m fine.” Well, wasn’t one of your options but pop off. I internally roll my eyes.

“We can see that you’re not fine Ind, is something going on?” Lola presses.

I inhale deeply, looking for a way to avoid the questions. I don’t normally feel this uncomfortable telling my sisters anything, they usually already know everything about me. The foreign feeling rocks me, sending ice cold signals down my spine. I shake it off and peer back at the two pairs of green eyes looking back at me.

“Girls, you’re going to need a drink for this…” I sigh, pointing to the alcohol trolley across the dining room.

Gracie is the first to get up, disappearing into the dark hallway. Lola ponders, unsure of what to do or say, the discomfort obvious.

“Lola?” She startles whilst I instantly grow concerned.

I shift closer to her and wrap an arm around her, pulling her in tight. I breathe in the soft scent of strawberry shampoo in her blonde hair, enjoying the familiar feeling.

“I’m pregnant,” she whispers into my ear.

I draw away from her to gauge her facial reaction, trying to work out whether she is playing a prank on me or not.

Her eyes water with tears.

“Oh my god! Lola!” I practically scream and dive on top of her, my celebrations becoming muffled as I face plant into the couch pillows. She laughs and tells me to shush.

“Like, how far along? Who knows? Oh my gosh, the wedding!” I ramble on, the excitement of becoming an aunt overpowering everything else in my brain.

“Ha-ha, well so far I think I’m around five weeks, nobody but Greg knows, it’s very early days but I thought you might have needed a bit of good news.”

She grabs my hand and squeezes it slightly, the ice in my spine, slowly melting away. My eyes brim with tears of happiness for once, I couldn’t have wished this joy on anyone more deserving of it than Lola. She is definitely the most thoughtful of the trio, the most mature and understanding. I swear we were both born in the wrong order; she should have been the big sister with her incredible attributes.

Gracie walks back into the room with a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses. I wince hoping we didn’t spoil the news for Gracie, me and Lola stare at her full of confusion.

“What? You don’t think I’d know when my own sister was pregnant?” She smirks, we gasp.

“But, how? This isn’t some crazy intuition sister thing, is it?” Lola asks.

“Look, sis. I’m observant. Do you really think there would be any other reason when you’ve just inhaled a share bag of Hershey’s kisses two weeks away from your own wedding?” She tuts and places the wine down on the table in front of us.

“Plus, I’ve noticed you’ve gained a few pounds.” She tests.

And, that’s all it takes before Lola launches pillows at where Gracie stands. I join in on cue as we all laugh relentlessly, careful to avoid the bottle of wine.

I’ve been interrogated, poked, and prodded for answers for the past hour.

My sisters have been going insane that they’ve been kept out of the loop of this part of my life. I explained it was the shame and guilt of it all weighing me down, which they understood, in regards to Allie.

They want me to file a restraining order against Scott after I told them about our slight altercation earlier, highlighting that a man should never lay a hand on a woman, regardless of the circumstances. I nod in agreement.

“Now, onto the mysterious Mr. Reed who is offering you a lifeline in exchange for a temporary marriage,” Lola begins.

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