Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Clove
The clubhouse had started to feel… tight. Too many walls. Too many eyes. Too many reminders that something bad had happened, and everyone was waiting for it to happen again.
Here at the Social Club, I felt like I could breathe.
I sat at the bar with a glass of ice water in front of me and just relaxed.
Adley was behind the bar, already in motion, wiping things down, setting out napkins, and flipping stools upright.
She moved like she belonged there, which she did.
It didn’t even feel like she had been in Chicago for years.
I knew it had been hard for her coming back home, but if you asked me, it couldn’t have turned out better for her.
She finally got her man, and I had never seen her happier.
“You want something stronger?” she asked, nodding at my glass.
I laughed and shook my head. “Only if you’re drinking with me.”
She froze just for a split second. Barely noticeable if you didn’t know her. Then her eyes widened, and she glanced around like someone had just yelled surprise in a quiet room.
I leaned forward on my elbows. “Are you pregnant, Adley?”
She reached for a glass she didn’t need and set it down too hard. Didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“Is it Mason’s?” I asked quietly.
Her face dropped into a glare so sharp it could’ve cut glass. “Of freakin’ course it’s Mason’s,” she hissed. “What do you think I am? Some kind of hussy that moved back home and lost her damn mind?” She leaned closer to me. “That man has had my heart for years.”
I smiled. “I know. I just needed to say something to get you to open your mouth.”
She stared at me for a long beat, then scoffed. “You tricked me.”
I shrugged and took a sip of my water. “Yes. But now I know. I figured it out at the Dairy Bar, but I didn’t want to say anything.”
She sighed, resting her palms on the bar. “Yeah. Not my brightest moment. Of course everyone was gonna get boozy shakes and expect me to join in.”
“Does Mason know?”
She nodded. “As if I could keep anything from that man.”
“When did you find out?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“Nine weeks?” I guessed.
She blinked. “How—”
“Lucky guess,” I said quickly, grinning. “You guys didn’t waste any time.”
She laughed softly. “We’ve got years to make up for, girl. Years.”
“So when are you telling everyone?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I was gonna do it at girls’ night.”
We both went quiet.
“…yeah,” I said gently. “And then I got kidnapped.”
She reached out and squeezed my hand. “I’m just glad you’re here now.”
Before I could respond, arms slid around her waist from behind, pulling her back into a solid chest.
Mason pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “What are you two laughing about?”
I glanced at Adley.
She glanced at me.
“Uh,” I said, panicking. “Pickles.”
“Pickles?” Mason repeated.
“I like bread and butter,” I added quickly. “She likes dill.”
Adley stared at me like she might murder me.
Mason frowned. “That’s… weird.”
“Do you think we have any?” Adley asked sweetly, turning in his arms and looping hers around his neck. “I could go for a snack before we open.”
He studied her like she’d grown a second head, then shrugged and kissed her lips. “I’ll check.”
The second he disappeared toward the kitchen, Adley burst out laughing.
“Pickles?” she whispered.
“I panicked,” I hissed. “You wanted me to tell him that you told me you’re pregnant?”
“No, but I didn’t expect you to say pickles.”
The crack of pool balls echoed across the room.
I turned to see Ender at the pool table with Oliver, lining up a shot. He glanced over, and our eyes met. Just for a second.
Heat crept up my neck.
“So,” Adley said casually. “You know my secret, so now you can tell me what’s going on there.”
“They’re playing pool,” I said.
She snorted. “Not that. You and Ender.”
I turned back to her. “What do you mean, me and Ender?”
She snapped her fingers. “You would have to be blind to miss it.”
“We’re not—” I stopped when her eyebrow shot up. “He’s keeping an eye on me.”
“Does that involve kissing?”
My eyes widened.
She grinned. “I knew it.”
“I didn’t admit anything,” I hissed.
“Your face did,” she said smugly. “And for the record? I like it.”
Mason came back with a plate of pickles, set it down, and looked at me. “She ask you about Ender?”
I stared. “Even you know?”
He laughed. “He’s not subtle.”
Adley danced. “I was right.”
“We both were,” Mason said.
I shook my head, smiling despite myself. “There is no Ender and me.”
Adley met my eyes. “Yes, there is.”
“Shh,” Mason said gently. “They’ll get there.”
I pointed at him. “Listen to the father of your baby.”
She smirked. “Deal. As long as you keep my secret.”
I held out my hand. “Deal.”
We shook.
“You told her about the baby?” Mason asked, surprised.
Adley sighed. “She figured it out when I didn’t have a boozy shake the other day,” Adley confessed. “We need to tell everyone because I have almost let it slip at least fifty times since we found out.”
“Not until we get things figured out with the Northbound Reapers,” Mason said.
“And when is that going to be?” Adley asked.
He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Soon. So until then, both of you need to keep your lips sealed.”
I held up my hands. “I will not tell a soul.”
Adley leaned into Mason and sighed. “Fine, but it would be great if you guys could put the pedal to the metal, yeah?”
“Working on it.”