Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
TRINITY
I stroll into the resort’s spa with a smile on my face, feeling more relaxed than I have in years.
Last night was...well, I don’t really have words for what last night was.
It’s hard not to fixate on what happened with Kyren.
Not just the physical part, though that was incredible.
It was his vulnerability, his confession about why he’d disappeared after our heat-breaking session, that left me feeling strangely liberated.
For once, I’m not overthinking everything.
That newfound confidence carries me through the double doors, past the aromatherapy waterfall, and into the manicure room where a half-circle of pedicure chairs awaits. My smile doesn’t falter even when I’m greeted by the stone-faced expressions of Amelia and Isabelle.
“You’re late,” Amelia says, not looking up from where a technician is filing her nails into perfect ovals.
“By three minutes,” I reply cheerfully, setting my bag down. “The resort is pretty big. It took longer than I thought to walk over here. ”
Isabelle’s eyes narrow as she takes in my relaxed demeanor. “You seem different today.”
I’m sure I do.
I’ve stopped taking my suppressants, for one thing. Two missed doses as of today, and I already feel a difference. It’s crazy to realize how much the damn things affected my mood.
Waking up surrounded by a pack this morning, able to get the slightest hint of their combined scents, made me want to snuggle deeper in those covers and never leave.
The chemical dulling might have made it easier to ignore my omega, but that didn’t make her go away. Now I realize the malaise and melancholy I’ve been experiencing for months directly result from trying so hard to hide from my true self.
I want this. I want them. And not just for the rest of the week.
But I have no idea if they feel the same way.
Fortunately, that’s a worry for another day. Today, I’m going to face Egret’s bitchy sisters with a smile on my face and a glass of champagne in my hand because I have a villa of gorgeous men to go back to.
I slide into the empty seat next to Josephine. Her roommate, Holly, is on the other side, and I’m happier than I expected to see another friendly face. A beta and one of Josie’s oldest friends, Holly has always struck me as a levelheaded counterpoint to my sister’s adorable chaos.
Josie squeezes my hand as I sit down next to her. “I was worried you might skip. You’ve been so busy with wedding stuff.”
“And wouldn’t that be tragic,” Isabelle mutters, loud enough for everyone to hear.
“It totally would, wouldn’t it,” Holly drawls, rolling her eyes when Isabelle glares back down at her nails to inspect the shape. She turns to me with a knowing smile. “Sorry, I’m just getting here. Final exams wait for no wedding, not even my best friend’s.”
“Holly just finished her first year of med school,” Josie explains. “This is the only time I’ve seen her without a textbook covering her face in months.”
“Well, my dad loves to remind me that my college tuition could have bought them a whole apartment building in Fujian if he thinks I’m slacking off on the school stuff too much,” Holly laughs, the obvious affection in her voice colored by some chagrin.
“They try really hard not to be tiger parents, but I know how much they’ve always wanted me to become a doctor. ”
Holly’s parents packed up and moved across the world specifically for her educational opportunities. It’s hard to imagine a more different upbringing than Josie’s and mine.
“Our mom was always more interested in whether I’d met someone than how class was going,” I tell her. “A tiger mom might be better than an omega one who was really hoping that you would graduate with a husband instead of a degree.”
“You say that until you’re twenty-three years old and your mom still uses Find My Device to make sure you’re at study sessions,” Holly counters, shaking her head. “I really just need to stop sharing my location.”
“Or get a second phone and leave your main one at home when you go out to the clubs,” Josie suggests.
Holly considers that for a moment. “That…is a really good idea. How did I not think of that already?”
Josie laughs. “Book smarts can only take you so far.”
“That’s fair,” Holly agrees with a smile.
I’d forgotten how much I liked Holly. And I’m also just glad that the entire bridal party isn’t made up exclusively of Egret’s sisters.
Holly leans forward, brushing the long fall jet-black hair over her shoulder as she lowers her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
“So, Josie tells me you’ve got not one, not two, but four gorgeous men at your beck and call.
” She fans herself dramatically. “And here I thought I was doing well when that cute barista at the coffee shop gave me a free muffin yesterday.”
I laugh, surprising myself with how easily it comes. “It’s still new.”
“God, can we not?” Amelia interjects, her voice dripping with disdain. “Some of us are trying to relax, not listen to silly girl-talk about men.”
“This entire conversation is boring me to tears,” Isabelle adds, examining her nails. “Speaking of relaxing, aren’t we supposed to be having champagne?”
One of the spa attendants hurries off to comply.
Holly raises an eyebrow at me, murmuring as she settles back in her chair. “Charming, aren’t they?”
By the second round of champagne, I’m feeling pleasantly buzzed enough to actually be enjoying myself. The spa’s ambient music and the sound of rushing water from the jets of my foot bath create a cocoon of relaxation that even Amelia and Isabelle’s occasional snide remarks can’t penetrate.
“Another round, ladies?” The attendant approaches with a tray of fresh glasses filled with golden bubbles.
I reach for one with a smile, noticing that Isabelle is watching Josie with narrowed eyes.
“Josie, is that still your first one,” Isabelle asks, eyebrow raised. “The bachelorette party is tonight. Please don’t tell me you’re planning to stay sober. ”
I turn to look at her at just the right time to see the suddenly stricken look on Josie’s face—there and gone so quick that a blink at the wrong time would have made me miss it.
Maybe it’s the lubricating effect of the alcohol that makes the pieces suddenly slide into place. Or maybe, I’m finally emotionally ready to face the evidence that has been flashing in my face like a neon sign for the past few weeks.
One look at Holly’s expression—the sudden panic she tries to hide—confirms it. They’re roommates and best friends, Josie wouldn’t be able to hide anything from her for long.
Josie’s occasional bouts of nausea. The apple juice that should have been whiskey on the boat cruise. Her sudden aversion to seafood when I’ve seen the way she usually attacks a good shrimp cocktail.
My sister is pregnant.
I reach for the full glass and pull it closer to me. “Actually, this one is mine. That empty one is Josie’s.”
Josie shifts uncomfortably, her fingers fidgeting as she takes the empty glass that I not-so-subtly push closer to her. “Oh, yeah. You can take this.”
Holly clears her throat. “I think I’ll switch to sparkling water, actually. I haven’t eaten yet today, and the champagne is going to my head a bit.”
“Me too,” Josie says too quickly. “Sparkling water sounds perfect.”
If Egret’s sisters notice the sudden tension in the room, they don’t comment on it.
“We have massages scheduled,” Amelia announces, standing. “We’ll see you tonight for the bachelorette.”
As they sashay away, I wait until they’re completely out of earshot before turning to Josie .
“Is there something you want to tell me?” I ask quietly.
Josie’s eyes widen, panic flickering across her face. “What do you mean?”
Holly suddenly becomes very interested in her cuticles, avoiding eye contact with both of us.
“Josie,” I say, keeping my voice gentle. “You’re not drinking alcohol. You’ve been nauseous. You practically turned green when I ordered seafood yesterday.”
“I was going to tell you after the wedding,” she whispers. Her lower lip trembles. “I didn’t want to steal focus from the ceremony.”
“How far along are you?” I ask, reaching for her hand.
“Eight weeks,” she admits, tears welling in her eyes. “I found out right before we got engaged. My alphas are so excited, Trin. They’ve always wanted a family.”
My heart twists with conflicting feelings. Joy for my sister clashes with obvious concerns about the rushed wedding and the nagging question of whether my exes are truly marrying her for love or because she’s carrying their child.
And I can’t voice a single one.
Looking at the cautious happiness in her expression as she waits for my reaction, I decide right then and there that I will never tell her about my history with her mates.
They seem just as happy to pretend that the past never happened, and I’m willing to endure a lifetime of awkward family events if it keeps that look on her face.
“I’m happy for you,” I say, squeezing her hand. “Really, I am. I’m going to be the best aunt ever.”
Josie’s face breaks into a relieved smile. “You’re not mad I kept it from you? I know how you feel about secrets.”
“Of course not,” I reassure her, even as guilt worms in my belly. “It’s your baby and your announcement timeline. Although I assume you haven’t told Mom yet. There is no way she would have been able to keep it a secret.”
Josie makes a face. “I’m planning to tell her after the wedding. You know how she gets.”
I can easily imagine how our mom would react to the pregnancy news.
She’d be thrilled, of course—but the wedding would instantly become secondary.
Everything would become about the baby. Dress alteration discussions would turn into debates about maternity wear.
The reception menu would be scrutinized for foods safe during pregnancy.
Josie would spend the rest of the week fielding questions about baby names and parenting styles.
And the attention? All on Josie’s still-flat belly instead of Josie herself.
Mom might even suggest postponing the wedding until after the baby arrives so they could have those perfect family photos with their newborn. She’d start knitting little booties during the ceremony and make the toast about her future grandchild rather than the new happy pack.
That’s exactly why Josie’s waiting to tell her. This wedding is her moment, pregnancy and all. She deserves to be the bride, not just the incubator.
I squeeze her hand reassuringly. “Your secret’s safe with me. For what it’s worth, I think you made the right choice in waiting to tell Mom. She’d completely hijack your wedding.”
Josie laughs with visible relief. “Remember when our cousin, Angela, got pregnant? Mom showed up at her baby shower with a real estate agent to discuss houses for sale in better school districts.”
“Poor Angela hadn’t even picked out a preschool yet,” I add, shaking my head.
We share a knowing smile, that special understanding that only comes from growing up with the same parent. For all the ways Josie and I are different, we’re united in our intimate knowledge of Hurricane Margaret.
While Josie and Holly continue to chat, I take a slow sip of my champagne, savoring the bubbles that dance across my tongue.
The conversation fades to background noise as I contemplate the tangled web of secrets we’re all trapped at the center of.
I’m keeping Josie’s pregnancy secret from our mother, keeping my history with her fiancés secret from Josie, and pretending my fake pack is real to everyone else.
Guilt prickles at the edges of my conscience, but I push it away. What good would telling Josie do now? She’s glowing with happiness, one hand absently resting on her stomach as she laughs at something Holly says.
Her alphas—my exes—are providing for her, excited about the baby, planning a future together. All the things I didn’t want, she does. Our history shouldn’t stand in the way of that.
I take another sip, longer this time, letting the alcohol warm my veins. The truth would only shatter her world, and for what? So I can get the truth off my chest to make myself feel better?
No, some secrets are meant to be kept. Some truths need to stay buried.
Whatever happens after this week, whatever choices I make about my future, I know one thing with absolute certainty—protecting Josie’s happiness is worth any price I have to pay.