33. Nina
Nina
T he secluded lake Elodie and Hunter chose for their post-elopement party is stunning.
It’s a perfect summer night for the intimate party with only a few of their closest friends.
Stella, Aria, Elodie, and I stand under the willow trees, next to the tables she decorated with wildflowers and candles.
It’s late into the party, and her mom and the other guests have left already.
All that remains is us girls and Evren, Hunter, Jake, and Zeki, standing near the long, wooden dock illuminated with lanterns.
“How long do you think,” Aria says, nodding over to the guys, “until someone gets pushed into the lake?”
“Twenty minutes, tops,” Stella says.
“I bet someone will jump in for the hell of it,” I say, “in ten.”
“At least we got the pictures,” Elodie says .
I refill everyone’s champagne glasses, but Elodie’s is still full.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“My stomach is feeling off. I think it’s the nerves.”
“You sure it’s nerves,” I joke, “and not because you’re pregnant?”
“What?!” Stella whisper-shouts.
“I don’t know,” Elodie whispers, looking lost. “Maybe?”
“Shit,” I say, “I was joking. Do you really think you’re pregnant?”
“I have a test in my purse,” Aria says. “If you want to take one now.”
“Why the hell do you have a test in your purse?” I ask.
“I like to be prepared,” Aria says easily and pats her bag.
“That’s not being prepared,” Stella says. “Your purse is like a portal to another dimension.”
Aria chuckles, but then glances at Elodie. “So? Do you want to do it?”
“Oh, fuck it, yes, I want to know,” she says. “But we all can’t go, that’ll be too obvious.”
“Like hell we aren’t,” I say. “I need to know if I’m going to be an aunt. Quick, let’s run to the house.”
“Like that’s not obvious at all,” Aria says, laughing.
“That’s the point,” I say. “They’ll be all left stupefied, wondering what we’re doing, and while they’re debating, we can get an answer.”
Elodie giggles. “Okay, on three.”
“Wait,” Stella says. “Do you mean one-two-three and then go or go on three?”
“Go on three,” Elodie says. “One, two, three!”
We all take off, our heels periodically sinking into the grass like they’re trying to take root.
Giggling and clinging to each other for balance, we make a chaotic dash toward the rustic house.
Once inside, Aria leads us to the master bathroom.
I have no idea how she knows where it is, but I’m happy to follow.
Stella slams the door shut and locks us inside. Aria already has the test out and is handing it to Elodie in the next instant. Elodie grabs it and then pauses.
“What if I’m pregnant?” Elodie asks quietly. “I’m not ready to have kids.”
“Whatever happens,” I say, “we’ll be here for you, supporting you every step of the way. And I don’t know about them.” I wave a hand toward Aria and Stella. “But I know I’ll be the coolest aunt in the fucking world.”
“Hey now,” Aria says. “I’d be the coolest aunt out of all of us.”
“Pfft,” Stella says. “I’m the one who can write them into my songs. I’m definitely the one who will hold that title, thank you very much.”
Elodie grins and I nudge her toward the toilet. She sighs and says, “Okay, okay, I’ll take the test.”
We turn our backs to give her privacy and I say, “Try not to pee on the dress. ”
“Fuck off,” Elodie says, laughing. “I’m more likely to pee on my hand than on the dress.”
“I dare you,” Aria says to Elodie, “to touch one of the guys on the arm without washing your hands and please make that man Jake.”
“I don’t know what Jake ever did to you.” I glance at Aria. “But I’m here for the pettiness.”
Aria grins, and before she can say anything else, Elodie says, “Done and I’m happy to report that I didn’t pee on my hands or on the dress.” She places the test on the counter. “What do we do now?”
“Wait,” Stella says. “I’ll set a timer for you for three minutes.”
We all look at each other in silence before Elodie paces the length of the bathroom. “Why the hell does three minutes feel like forever and a day? Quick, someone say something to distract me.”
“All right,” I say. “We’ll all say something shocking to distract you, okay?
” I shoot Aria and Stella a look and they both nod.
“But no one is allowed to comment. Ready, I’ll go first. I cut my mom off for good.
I had a powwow with my father’s ex-wife and my half-brother.
Oh, and I started therapy to deal with the clusterfuck that is everything. ”
Stella and Aria stare at me with their mouths agape, and Elodie looks at me with pride shining in her eyes.
“Okay,” Stella says slowly. “That was a lot . Umm…Kai walked in on me masturbating and now I can never look at him in the eye ever again. ”
Now it’s our turn to face her with shocked expressions on our faces.
“Nope, no comments,” Stella says, crossing her arms. “That’s the rule. Aria, quick say yours to distract everyone.”
“I’m pretty sure,” Aria says, “that my parents are talking about an arranged marriage for me, and nope, we’re not going to talk about that either.”
“Wait,” Elodie says. “Y’all can’t drop those bombs on me without allowing me to ask questions.”
“Now is not the time,” Stella says.
“You’re right,” I say, holding up the test. “Because you’re pregnant.”
“Preg—”
“What—”
“Holy shit,” Elodie says, grabbing the test and staring at it. “How?”
“Well,” I drawl. “If you don’t know how babies are made, we really should’ve given you the sex talk before you got married.”
Elodie bursts into laughter, her joy spilling over, but then her eyes glisten with tears that threaten to spill down her cheeks.
And then she’s caught in a mix of emotions, laughing and crying all at once.
Aria, Stella, and I become a whirlwind of hugs and squeals, each of us fighting to be the first to congratulate her.
A bang sounds on the bathroom door.
“Elodie?” Hunter calls out. “Are you okay? ”
I whip open the door, pull him inside, and close the door on Evren’s, Jake’s, and Zeki’s faces with a wink.
Hunter sees Elodie’s tearstained face and immediately rushes to her. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Are these happy tears?”
“Yes,” Elodie says and holds up the test.
Hunter takes the pregnancy test in his hand, his gaze darting between Elodie and the little stick, as if trying to process the reality before him.
Then, a huge smile bursts across his face, lighting up his entire being.
“Seriously?” he asks, his voice filled with disbelief and wonder. “I’m going to be a dad?”
“Surprise,” Elodie says, a little unsure, a little wobbly.
Hunter picks her up and spins her around. “This is the best fucking surprise I’ve ever received.”
“Yeah?”
“Of course.” He places her on the ground and touches her abdomen. “I can’t wait to be a dad.”
Someone bangs on the bathroom door, again.
“Nina,” Evren says, “if you don’t open this door right now, I’m going to break it down.”
“That’s hot.” Aria whistles, impressed, staring at the door.
“I’d like to see that happen.” Stella also turns her attention to the door, as if waiting for him to actually break through.
“He’d do it too,” I say, opening it. “But I don’t want Elodie to lose her deposit on this place. ”
“What is going on in here?” Evren demands, looking me over. “Are you okay?”
“I’m great,” I say. “Elodie is pregnant, and Hunter just found out.”
Another round of hugs and congratulations happens from the guys before we find our way back outside and onto the dock. With our legs hanging over the edge, we all watch Elodie and Hunter give each other secret looks when they think we aren’t looking.
“Do you want to join us for a drink next week?” Hunter asks Evren and Zeki.
“Where there’s alcohol,” Zeki says, “there’s me.”
Hunter grins and asks Evren, “And you?”
“Sure,” Evren says easily and Hunter stares at him in disbelief. “What?”
“It’s just you’ve never said yes,” Hunter says slowly, like it’s obvious.
“I guess you’ve worn me down with your constant invitations.”
Hunter grins and then says, “Pay up, sucker.”
Jake groans before taking out his phone and sending Hunter money.
Jake glares at Evren. “Couldn’t you have waited another month before accepting?”
“Did you seriously,” Evren says, “make a bet about me joining your weekly nights out?”
“Maybe,” Hunter says. “But to be clear, we’ve always wanted you to come. I guess I started the bet to make it easier to accept your refusals. ”
Evren frowns and I squeeze his hand in support. He glances at me and gives me a soft smile.
“Sorry,” Evren says. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I guess I just wasn’t ready to agree yet.”
“It’s all good,” Jake says. “We’re looking forward to seeing you next week.”
When the conversation moves on, I whisper to Evren, “I’ll be right back, need to pee.”
I hurry into the house, bypassing the bathroom, and head to one of the bedrooms to get the bag I asked Aria to bring for me.
As I step into the hallway, a strong hand grips my waist and pushes me back against the wall.
My gasp is swallowed by Evren’s lips as he crashes into me, kissing me with a fierce, unrelenting intensity.
His body presses close as his hand slides up to my throat, deepening the kiss. I can’t think, can’t breathe—everything is him. My world narrows to the press of his lips against mine, his rough touch, and the way he’s claiming me in this stolen moment.
When he pulls back, breath ragged, eyes smoldering, he smirks. “I couldn’t wait another second without tasting you.”
“Hold on a minute, I’m waiting for my brain to start working again.”
He chuckles and nuzzles my neck. “Have I told you today how fucking gorgeous you look?”
“I don’t know,” I say playfully, arching into him. “Remind me.”
His fingers skim my shoulders, over the sleeves of my navy dress. I toned it down concerning color today to not take away from Elodie. But I do have puffy, three-quarter sleeves and triangular cutouts on my ribs before the skirt ends below my knee, swishing every time I take a step.