Last Minute Fiancé

Chapter 10

Addison

Okay, dinner was set, the covered dish was ready to go. And I was ready for this.

I cringed at my internal pep talk, because it sounded as if I didn’t even believe myself. And I probably didn’t. Today was the day I was going to tell my friends I was pregnant. Because there would be no hiding it soon. My morning sickness that wasn’t exactly morning but randomly inappropriate at times sickness was now abating slightly. But my pants were getting a little too tight, and I wasn’t going to be able to hide the pregnancy for much longer. Not to mention I wanted to talk with my friends about it. I wanted them to know what was going on. Not that I knew exactly what was going on, but I wanted people other than Luca to talk about things with. I needed to talk to somebody rational. Because while Luca could be rational, he was also very much tied to his emotions.

I wanted someone to be able to tell me what to do or to explain that what I was doing was the right call. Which didn’t make any sense, because I was usually great at making choices for myself.

I wanted to talk to my best friends. Because every time I talked to my other best friend, Luca and I added more complications and stress to our relationship. It made sense though. Because this wasn’t just a one-off thing. We would be forever and irrevocably tied. And while at one point that wouldn’t have bothered me because I would assume we would always be friends, as I would always be friends with his brother’s wife, it didn’t mean that I was ready for any of this. Everything had changed. And I needed to talk to my girls about it. I just wasn’t quite sure how they would feel about this new turn of events. Because it would change everything. We wouldn’t mean for it to, but it would alter the fabric of our group and our lives.

That wasn’t overstating it at all. I wasn’t overreacting. I was freaking the fuck out just like I should be.

I would get this over with, I would tell them, and they would either judge me harshly, freak out right alongside me, or something in between, but at least then they would know. It would be out in the open, then tomorrow I would tell my parents.

I just hoped they wouldn’t be disappointed in me.

I shook my head and frowned. My parents had never been disappointed with me. Yes I had made mistakes in the past, because I was human, but they had always been there for me. They loved me.

And now I was going to make them grandparents.

I went lightheaded at that and had to lean on my kitchen island to remain steady.

My parents would be grandparents. What would they want to be called? Nana and Papa? Gigi and DeeDee? Grandpa and Grandma? Maybe a more formal Grandfather and Grandmother? I wasn’t sure. We had never discussed it. Yes, we had always made references about future grandkids and me being a mom, but as I had never been in a serious relationship before this—not that I thought that this was a serious relationship—we had never seriously discussed any of it. It hadn’t felt real. I didn’t even know what they would want to be called. That seemed like something we should have talked about, but I wasn’t even sure how they were going to react to knowing that their only daughter had gotten knocked up by a man during a drunken one-night stand. Although, could it really be called a one-night stand anymore when we’d had sex again?

I groaned, putting my head in my hands.

Oh, it had been so much more than a one-night stand. And we were both being very good about pretending that it couldn’t be anything else, even though part of me could only think about that.

There was truly something wrong with me, and I didn’t know how to fix it. I would blame it on the hormones, but I had been having this attraction to him long before that. Hence my problem with myself.

My parents were going to be grandparents. And so were Luca’s.

I frowned in concern at that thought. Not for myself, but for Luca. I didn’t know everything that occurred in his childhood, nor Greer’s, but I knew enough. I knew that their family had been ripped from each other more than once, all because of the selfish wants of two people. Two people who hadn’t cared about their own children, let alone anyone else other than themselves. And even then, I knew they didn’t care about each other. They only cared for moments of time before they changed their mind. I didn’t know how they could do that. And I vowed right then and there I wouldn’t do that to Luca. Even if, no, even when we realized it would be better for us to only remain friends who raised a child together, we wouldn’t pit ourselves against each other and put our child in the middle. No matter what, we would make sure that never happened. Because I trusted Luca with my life, and with my future. Maybe not my heart, but that was fine. I didn’t need that. I just needed him to stay, and to not be broken in the process.

The doorbell rang, and I quickly pushed those thoughts out of my mind. I needed to tell my friends what was going on, probably with explicit detail about how it happened, because that’s who we were, and I wasn’t quite ready for that.

But there was no going back now.

I opened the door to see Paisley and Devney standing there, both smiling at me. Devney looked absolutely radiant. Of course, she usually did. That’s what happened when you were in love and happy and things were working out for you. She deserved it. After all the tragedy of her life, and trying to figure out exactly who she was, she deserved to find that happiness. I loved that for her. And I loved how absolutely stunning happiness looked on her.

Paisley stood behind her, still smiling, still radiant, but not quite as happy. There was always something about Paisley that spoke of sadness, but I could never figure out why. I may have gotten to know Paisley well over the past year or so, but I didn’t know all of her secrets. Like why she and August had divorced, or how she felt about the fact that she was forced to see her ex often, and in the face of Devney’s husband—considering that the two were twins.

There was no hiding from your past when it literally stared you in the face.

“We’re here. Sorry we’re late.”

I smiled as I shook my head.

“You’re not late. I feel like I got ready early. I can’t help it, that’s just me.”

Devney grinned. “True. But that’s fine. That’s why we love you.”

I moved back and took the dish out of Devney’s hand as Paisley came in holding a bag I assumed held dessert. We set everything out and found ourselves sitting around the kitchen island, talking about our days while I ignored the screaming inside my head.

Devney kept bouncing on her heels, looking anxious and excited all at once. I met Paisley’s gaze, who shook her head. Apparently she didn’t know what was going on either.

“I’m so glad we’re doing this. I know it’s not easy getting time away from your computer and your files to do this with us, but I’m so grateful that you are.”

I smiled again at Devney and tilted my head, studying her.

“Of course. Girls’ night is the best thing that we do. I love spending time with you guys.”

Would girls’ night continue like this once the baby came? Would things happen the way it always had or would it all implode? We’d have to find a way to make it work. That was the whole point of this, but everything was going to change. I knew that, and they would know soon as well.

I just wasn’t ready.

“So, what are we having for dinner?” Paisley asked, looking over my shoulder towards the kitchen. “Whatever it is smells good.”

I had been in nesting mode, because I had been nervous and frantic.

Luca always made fun of me for that, because when I got nervous I began to cook, even though I wasn’t really great at it. He was better, and we both knew it.

But there were a couple of things I could make really well.

“It’s a spinach lasagna, which I know sounds disgusting, but there’s so much cheese in it, five cheeses to be exact, that you can’t even tell it’s meatless.”

“That sounds amazing.”

“I also made garlic bread, and I have an Italian salad ready to go, and I have some appetizers.”

“I brought those stuffed mushrooms that we plopped in the oven, they should be ready soon.” Devney looked at her watch. “In fact, they should be ready now.”

We went to pull them out, and the scent of yummy Italian food and mushrooms filled my nostrils.

“Okay I’m going to eat this entire tray of mushrooms,” Paisley said with a laugh, and I waved her off.

“No, mine. All mine.”

“Excuse me, the pregnant woman should be able to get to her food first.”

I nearly opened my mouth to say of course that was why I was standing there, and then I realized exactly what Devney had said.

The pregnant woman.

But she didn’t know it was me.

I turned to her, eyes wide as Paisley stood next to her, also staring at Devney, but Paisley’s eyes were filling with tears, and the other woman put her hand over her chest, a smile playing across her face.

“Devney?” she asked, that smile growing.

I just stood there blinking, trying to come to terms with what had just happened.

Because there was no way Devney had just said she was pregnant, not today. Today was supposed to be the day I announced I was pregnant.

There was no way that Devney and I would be pregnant at the exact same time. Fate wouldn’t be that ridiculous. Then again, maybe fate was exactly that ridiculous.

“You’re pregnant?” I asked, my voice slow, unsure.

It wasn’t as if I was upset. No, far from it. I just felt confused. And anxious, and happy. And sad. Everything all at once.

Because if Devney was pregnant, that meant our babies would be growing up together. They would be cousins, and they would be family.

And one of my best friends would be going through this pregnancy alongside me.

Even though she was married and happy and probably either planning or expecting something like this with her husband.

When I was the exact opposite.

I did all this thinking in the matter of milliseconds, when Devney put her hands in front of her, and squealed.

“I didn’t know how to tell you, so I figured I’d do it with a joke. But yes I’m pregnant. And I want those mushrooms.”

“Oh my God. You’re pregnant? This is amazing. Congratulations to you and Heath.” Paisley threw her arms around Devney and held her tight, while I stood there, a genuine smile on my face, but feeling two steps behind.

Because I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do now.

Of course, Paisley kept talking, giving me a moment to catch up with the rest of reality.

“Okay. When is the due date? How far along are you? And yes I realize that they’re similar questions, but I literally cannot do baby math. So tell me everything. Oh, I know we had been talking about expanding the daycare center within the company, but we’re going to have to do it now. There’s three of you that are pregnant, and Sam’s wife is also pregnant. And while his wife is going to be staying at home for a little while, eventually he’ll want to use our daycare center because you know we have the best. And I love being the best. Oh, and you can always work from home for some things, but we can make it more as well. We are in the digital age after all, and I do not mind it. Hell, I’ll come to your house. Especially, you know, for anything. I’m just so happy. I’m going to be an aunt.” Paisley paled for a moment, and then I realize what had just happened.

Because Paisley meant aunt as in Devney’s friend, not the ex-wife of her brother-in-law.

“Yes, you’re going to be an aunt,” Devney said, gripping Paisley’s hand, and then mine. “Both of you are. Of course, I have more than a few brothers and sisters, so there’s going to be plenty of aunts and uncles involved. I’m just so damn excited. We’re going to have a baby. All of us. And thank you, Paisley. There wasn’t one moment where I was worried about work, because I knew that, no matter what, we would find a way to make it work. Even if I had to take extra time off because I wasn’t sure how long my maternity leave would go.”

“Well, at least four to six months right? Screw that one month thing.”

“I love you,” Devney said with a laugh, and then the two of them were hugging, and I was standing back, feeling as though I’d been blindsided.

Because not once had Devney worried about work. Paisley had a healthy and welcoming business which knew that people procreated and that meant things would need to change. And Paisley would find a way to make that work.

And I knew that if my boss found out I was pregnant right now I wouldn’t be fired, because that would be illegal, but I would lose out on that promotion and any thought of being able to work from home. I would lose prestigious clients, and I would be treated like the fragile lily he thought I was, rather than the fierce kick-ass Addison I fought so hard to be.

I would lose it all.

Why was I fighting so hard to keep it?

But before I could answer that terrible question, Devney gave me a look, her face falling.

“What’s wrong? I’m sorry that I sort of took over this whole evening. I just really wanted to tell my friends. Heath is telling his brothers and sister tonight. You know, a whole family thing. And I wanted to do it with my part of the family. I’m telling my actual kin tomorrow. Are you okay, Addison?”

I opened my mouth to say something, to pretend and then tell them later, but instead I burst into tears.

Devney looked pained before she threw her arms around me, pulling me close.

“What’s wrong? Oh my God.”

I shook my head and wiped my tears, annoyed with myself, because Devney needed this happiness and I was ruining it. “I’m so sorry, Devney. I’m so happy for you. You’re going to make an amazing mom. And yes you’re going to have all 1,000 of us aunts and uncles by your side no matter what. I’m truly blessed to be your friend and to be part of this. I love you and I love this.”

Devney was crying now too, but Paisley just frowned at me. “Then why are you crying? What’s wrong, Addison?”

I pressed my lips together, trying to gain the courage to say the words, and I knew that courage would never come so I just needed to get it out there.

“I had you guys over tonight because I was going to tell you I’m pregnant.” I gave a brittle grin. “Surprise.”

Paisley just blinked at me, while Devney dried her tears and frowned.

“You’re pregnant? How? Who? What? Why?” Devney shook her head. “Wait, I’ve run out of questions, but what?”

Paisley pointed to Devney and then at me. “Yes, what she said. You’re both pregnant? At the same time? Oh my God.”

“Exactly, oh my God,” Devney added, and I burst out laughing, feeling the ridiculousness of the situation. There were way too many emotions all at once.

“I’m pregnant. And I was trying to figure out how to tell you, but yes. I’m pregnant. About to start my second trimester.”

“Oh my God, me too.”

Devney blurted out her due date, and I nodded, my hands shaking.

“About a week after that.”

“Oh my God, baby math is going to do me in,” Paisley said, before she went to my fridge, and pulled out the bottle of wine that I’d had in there for a while.

“Since neither of you two bitches can drink, I’m going to be doing this. And then, Addison, I would love some answers to any of those questions. Yes, I realize you can keep them to yourself because I am the queen of privacy and not telling anybody what I feel, but please, let us know something.”

She poured a very large glass of wine, and then drank half of it in nearly one gulp.

That was pretty impressive.

Devney still held my hand as Paisley looked between us, the wine glass still in her hand.

“So, do you remember your birthday party? And how I got really drunk, as did Luca?”

Devney’s eyes widened as Paisley laughed and sipped more of her wine.

“Well, I’m pregnant. And it’s Luca’s. And we’re going to keep it. And we’re going to remain friends. And we’re going to pretend that we didn’t have sex again while at the retreat.”

Devney’s mouth dropped open wide, like a fish, as Paisley laughed and sipped more of her wine.

“You mean the trip where he pretended to be your fiancé? Oh. This is gold. These fucking Cassidy brothers just make you crazy. You are a sane, rational woman, Addison. And I am so damn happy for you.”

For some reason I thought Paisley was going to admonish me, and I just stared at her.

“What?”

“You’re having a baby. And you’re keeping it. And you sound happy even underneath the fear. I have no idea what is going to happen next, and I’m here for it. Because you guys are my family too. I’m excited for you. I promise.”

That made me cry again, and then Paisley and Devney were there and I was holding onto them both.

“I’m so sorry for stealing your thunder,” I told Devney, who just laughed.

“I was about to tell you that I stole your thunder. What were the chances we were both going to tell each other tonight that we’re pregnant?”

I shook my head. “I have no idea. I also have no idea what’s going to happen with Luca, or how I’m going to handle work and being pregnant and being a mom, but we’ll figure it out. Because one of the hurdles is over. I told my best friends. I’m having a baby.”

My mouth went a little dry, and Paisley laughed again.

“You know, I was coming over here to tell everyone that I had a boyfriend, but you know, I guess babies beat out boyfriends.”

Devney and I looked at each other, before we blurted out at the same time, “Who, how, when?”

“Oh, I’ll tell you about Jacob later, first though, let’s talk babies. And Luca. Because wow. That’s, that’s going to be interesting.”

And as I sat down eating mushrooms and lasagna with my friends, I knew interesting was one word for it.

I just didn’t have any answers to the questions they asked.

And that was a damn problem.

Once they left, I made my way to Luca’s, since we needed to talk. We had planned this earlier, as he’d wanted to make sure I was okay, and I knew I’d need to debrief.

I just hadn’t expected that debriefing to go as wild as it had.

Boyfriends and babies, oh my.

Luca opened the door before I could even knock, and then I was in his arms, my head on his chest.

“Hey there. Are you okay?”

There was a dog with a cone around his neck in the corner and kittens mewing from their little kennel near the couch, and I just sighed at the craziness of it all.

“They know.”

Luca nodded, running his hands down my back.

“I take it you know about Devney, too?”

I winced. “Yep. Did you tell your brothers?”

He nodded. “Yes and they didn’t punch me. It’s a big fucking news night. Are you okay?”

“I think so. Maybe. I don’t know. Oh, and Paisley has a boyfriend.”

Luca’s brows rose. “That was not discussed tonight.”

“I really don’t know if I can deal with everyone else’s problems right now, but okay. They know. There’s no turning back.”

“Baby, I don’t think there ever was.”

And because I was an idiot, because it just felt good in his arms, I went to my tiptoes and kissed him, and when he kissed me back, I knew we were in deep trouble.