Chapter 11
Surprise – An unexpected event. Hint. It’s not the party.
Nova
“I don’t know why this party has to be at Hideaway Haven Resort, ” I complain as I drive Maya and Paisley toward the resort where Lucas has set up a surprise party for Chloe.
I don’t want to return to the scene of the crime. And I definitely don’t want to accidentally bump into Hudson. I glance at my belly. The conversation will have to happen but not yet.
“I think it’s romantic.” Maya sighs. “They’re having a do-over of their wedding reception, but this time they’re in love.”
“I’m just glad the resort is now carrying our beer,” Paisley says. “Good job on landing the account, Nova.”
My cheeks heat as I remember how I landed the account. After my night spent with Hudson, I thought I’d lost the Hideaway Haven Resort account for good. But a man named Wesley phoned the next day from the resort to negotiate the contract.
I had no idea what he was talking about. I asked him what contract. When he finished laughing, we had a deal to provide the resort with every beer we now produce as well as any future beer we develop. I should probably thank Hudson for giving Five Fathoms a chance. But I won’t.
“Does this mean you get to see more of the sexy owner of the resort?” Maya asks.
I scowl. “I don’t want to see Hudson any more than I already do.”
I can’t believe he showed up at the Mermaid Lagoon Races to complain about me wearing a bikini. He hates me. I get it. He can stop being a jerk now.
“But you hardly ever see him.”
“Which is exactly the way I want to keep it.”
“I don’t understand,” Paisley says. “You clearly find the man attractive. Why don’t you want to see him?”
Thank the smugglers in heaven, we’ve arrived at the resort because I am not answering her question. I park, switch off the engine, and jump out of the car. My stomach cramps and I place a hand over it. This is not the time to throw up. You’d think I threw up enough today already. You’d be wrong.
“What’s your hurry?” Maya asks as she rounds the car to where I’m standing.
“We’re supposed to be waiting in the lobby when Chloe and Lucas arrive.”
Paisley checks the time. “They should be here any minute. Let’s get inside.”
The foyer is crowded with guests. I spot Sophia with Flynn and her brother Weston and join them.
“I can’t believe Chloe is the second one of us to fall in love and the first one to get married. My money was on Maya,” Sophia says.
Maya’s cheeks heat. “I’m not in a hurry to find love,” she whispers.
Weston smirks. “Because you’re waiting for a certain someone to come home.”
Maya ducks her chin and shrinks into herself. Her shyness goes into overdrive whenever anyone mentions Caleb.
Caleb is from Smuggler’s Hideaway but he left after our high school graduation to join the Army. Maya’s been pen pals with him for years. She’s also had a crush on him since he helped her climb the monkey bars in second grade.
I elbow Weston. “Don’t embarrass her.”
He doesn’t get a chance to respond before Lucas and Chloe arrive, and everyone cheers.
“Awesome. The couple is here. I’ve greeted them. Time to go secure some company for the evening.” Weston wiggles his eyebrows before wandering off.
Sophia purses her lips. “I can’t believe my brother is such a manwhore.”
Flynn kisses her cheek. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”
“Don’t forget you promised to drive home,” she shouts after him.
“I can drive you home if you drink too much,” I offer.
She narrows her eyes at me. “Aren’t you drinking?” I shake my head. “Why not?”
I can’t tell her the real reason. I’m barely eight weeks pregnant. It’s too early to share my news. Too many things can go wrong in the first trimester. Considering my luck, I’m keeping the news to myself.
“Not feeling well.”
She frowns but doesn’t comment. My friends are the best. They never remark on my hypochondria or tell me I’m exaggerating or being dramatic.
Sophia threads her arm through my elbow. “Come on. We’ll get you some seltzer water.”
She leads me to the ballroom with Paisley and Maya following us.
“This is beyond romantic,” Maya says when we enter.
I sigh as I look around. The place is drenched in romance. There are pale pink roses on each table. Pink balloons hang from the chandeliers. And there are more candles here than I’ve ever seen in one place before. Hudson’s a cranky pants but his resort is the best.
“Agree. I’m happy Chloe found happiness.”
Paisley nods. “Me too. She was very lonely.”
“She wasn’t lonely,” I insist. “She had us. What else could she need?”
Maya points to Chloe and Lucas standing with his parents. “Him. She needed him.”
Sophia sighs. “Since Chloe’s found love, there’s no one around to make fun of Maya’s romantic tendencies.”
Good. I’m glad. No one should make fun of Maya. She pretends it doesn’t bother her, but I know it does. How could it not after how her parents acted?
Paisley studies the seating chart. “Our table is over there.”
“Meet ya there. I’ll get the drinks.” Sophia skips off to the bar where Flynn happens to be.
“She’s going to be a while,” I mutter as I weave my way through the tables to ours. I read the nametags until I find my spot. I scowl when I notice who’s seated next to me. “Why is Hudson invited?”
“He’s a client,” Paisley says.
“It’s a huge account.” As the financial wizard of Five Fathoms Brewing , Maya is well aware of how big an account the resort is.
Which is why I kept bothering Hudson to try our beers. Not to mention how much it bugged me that the biggest hotel on the island didn’t want to carry beer from the local brewery. It was an insult. An insult I had no plans to accept.
My stomach flutters and I place a hand over it. Maybe I should have accepted the insult and walked away after all.
No. I will never regret baby Sprog. A sliver of panic weaves its way through my veins but I shove it away. I refuse to panic about Sprog’s chance of survival during Chloe’s surprise party.
“Here, we go.” Sophia arrives with a bottle of champagne and four glasses.
I hold up my hand when she tries to hand a glass to me. “I’m driving.”
“And she hasn’t been feeling well,” Maya adds.
I smile to hide my annoyance. She’s not supposed to tell anyone I haven’t been feeling well. Although I didn’t make her promise to keep quiet. Maybe I should have.
Sophia hands me a glass of ginger ale. “Here you go, spoilsport.”
“I’m not a spoilsport.”
“No, she’s not.” Paisley points to my stomach. “She’s pregnant.”
I gasp. “How do you know?”
Sophia slams her glass on the table. “It’s true? Why does Paisley know and I don’t?”
Maya holds up her hand. “I didn’t know either. I mean, I suspected. But I didn’t actually know.”
Sophia narrows her eyes on Maya. “You suspected?”
Maya motions to me. “She’s been throwing up every morning at work. Haven’t you noticed?”
And here I thought I was keeping my morning vomiting sessions a secret. I guess not.
“I have,” Paisley says. “I also noticed she hasn’t been drinking. Not even champagne to celebrate our friend’s marriage, which could only mean one thing.”
I might as well admit it. “I’m pregnant.”
“Yes.” She nods. “The question I want to know the answer to is who is the father of your baby.”
“You’re pregnant! Who the fuck is the father?” Hudson shouts, and I cringe. Where did he come from? “Were you fucking him when we were together?”
I stand to face him. “Can you please stop shouting the f-word?”
He gets in my face. “Who is the father of your baby?”
I push him away. “Do not shout in my face.”
“Fuck. Sorry.”
I glare at him. “Do you know any words besides the f-word?”
“Do you know who the father of your baby is?”
He can’t be serious. Does he think I’m a slut? Before I know what’s happening, my hand is slapping his face.
“You are, you jerk. I don’t sleep around.”
He captures my hand. “Let’s go.”
“Go? I’m not going anywhere with you.”
He leans down to whisper in my ear. “Do you want to discuss how you’re carrying my baby in front of the entire island?”
I scan the room. Sure enough. Everyone in the place is watching and listening. Even Chloe is making her way across the room with a smirk on her face.
“Fine. We’ll discuss this in private. But I don’t need you to drag me.” I wrench my hand from his hold.
“Follow me.” He leads the way to a door marked private.
I wasn’t planning on revealing my pregnancy to my friends let alone discussing the situation with the father of the baby today but I no longer have a choice. I eye the patio door leading to the deck and pool area. Unless I decide to make a run for it.
Nope. I’m not a runner.
I straighten my back. I can do this. I’ve survived much worse.