Page 12 of Upshot

“Will this be all for today, Mrs. Rios?” I ask.

I managed to convince the owner of The Copper Pot to give me a part-time job. You’d think, with that name, they would be selling weed out the back door. Or, at the very least, spittoons. Nope. Just your average, quaint, home decorating store. I love working here because, first, they sell candles, so it always smells good, and second, both of my sisters work a block away.

“That should do it, sweetie. Say, when is your honey coming to town so we can meet him?” Everybody has heard I’m pregnant now. It’s not like you can hide something that big in a town this small. However, word that there is no baby daddy hasn’t seem to make it to everybody yet.

“Oh, Mrs. Rios, you know it was an immaculate conception.”

She looks at me, horrified for a count of three. Then she laughs. “Brontë.” She shakes her head like she’s finally gotten the joke.

It’s really not funny. I haven’t been able to hunt down anyone with the name Rand who fits the bill. Not that I expect anything from him. Well, I expected him to wear a condom, but that’s water under the bridge. At least he picked up the bar tab. Jesus, Brontë.

“Have a great day,” I call as Mrs. Rios pushes out the door. It’s been four months since my one-night stand. I’ve got the tiny baby bump to prove it. I plaster a smile on my face and welcome the next customer. Crap, it’s my sister Eliot.

“So,” she says, leaning on the counter. “Immaculate conception, hmm? And here I thought you fell on some gorgeous rich guy’s swizzle stick.”

“Swizzle stick?” I roll my eyes.

“Pogo stick?”

“Popsicle stick?” Austen adds, joining us at the counter.

“Breadstick,” Eliot adds.

I ignore them. How many words can there be with stick at the end?

“Joystick,” Austen says excitedly, like this is some sort of game show.

“Stop before you get me fired,” I hiss.

“You’re not going to get fired,” Eliot says. “Mrs. Rios loves you. She says sales to the men in town have tripled since you started here.”

I roll my eyes. Why would anyone want a woman already knocked up by some rando? Besides, I’m not interested. I might never be interested in sex again. I mean, look where it’s gotten me so far.

“Come on, we’re taking you to lunch,” Austen says. I say goodbye to my boss, then follow them out the door.

Did I mention this is the best part of being home? Every day, one of them shows up in time for lunch. They always pay, knowing I need to save every penny I get for the baby. And I’ve loved getting to know my sisters as adults. We were always close as kids, but this is a whole new level in our relationship.

“Have you begun picking names yet?” Austen asks as we slide into a booth at The Hungry Heifer.

“Not really. How about y’all tell me what you plan to name your kids, and I’ll just steal those. Seems easier that way.”

“No way,” she answers. “I’m not jinxing Reed and myself by picking out future kid names. This uterus is closed for business right now.” We both look at Eliot, who is sitting across from us.

“Don’t look at me. I’m happy just to be the doting aunt,” she says.

“And you’d actually have to have sex once in a while,” Austen adds.

“Harsh,” Eliot responds. “Speaking of, did you hear about that new sheriff’s deputy? Only here a year, and he’s run off with one of the preacher’s wives.”

“No,” Austen exclaims, leaning closer. I smile as I watch them discuss the latest rumor to hit the grapevine. At least that will get everyone off the topic of my baby daddy.

I wonder what Rand is doing right now. Probably staring out from some fancy high-rise office window, thinking about his next conquest. I doubt he’s thought of me even once since I crept out of that hotel room. I sigh and tune back into the gossip.

* * *

RAND

“You’re insane.” Geneva stares at me as I gaze at the banner across the street. “Let me get this straight. You don’t think it’s psychotic to stalk a woman you had a one-night stand with and fly across the country to, what, yell ‘surprise’ when she opens the door?”

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