Page 69 of Redeeming 6

Meanwhile, Casey was fully kitted out in her training gear which consisted of a jersey, white GAA shorts, socks, and boots. She had her hurley in one hand and her pink helmet—something I hadn’t realized they sold in that color—in the other.

“I’ve tried to keep my nose out,” she added, planting her hands on her hips. “Really, I have. I figured that you’d tell me when you were ready, but it’s starting to get obvious now.”

“I’m a little lost here, Case,” I admitted, adjusting my football socks before reaching for my hurling helmet—a staple item in every school-going Irish person’s cupboard.

“Listen.” Sliding onto the bench alongside me, she set her hurley and helmet down before reaching for my hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You know that I love you, right?” She gave me one of those supportive smiles. “And there’s nothing on this planet that you can’t tell me.”

“Obviously.”

“Good.” Another hand squeeze. “So, if there was anything that you wanted to get off your chest, you would tell me, right?”

“What’s this about, Case?” I asked, brow furrowed in confusion.

“You tell me.”

I stared blankly back at her. “I have no idea.”

“Come on, Aoife,” she urged, eyeballing me with what I presumed was meant to be a meaningful stare, but only made her look psychotic. “It’s okay. I’m your best friend. I won’t turn my back on you in your hour of need.”

“Turn your back on me for what?” I laughed, at a loss but finding her amusing just the same.

“Does your mother know?” she demanded, huffing out a breath. “I presume Joe knows. That’s a given— Oh my god, does Katie know? Because I can understand your mam and Joey knowing, but I swear if you told Katie Wilmot before me, then I’m going to be seriously pissed. I don’t care if she’s your next-door neighbor. I’m the one who’s had your back from the dawn of time, bitch.”

“Case, you’re going to need to tell me what the hell you’re talking about, because I’m genuinely lost here, babe.”

Casey stared at me for the longest moment before her blue eyes widened and her brows shot up. “Of course they don’t know,” she mumbled, pressing a hand to her brow like she had a sudden migraine. “Because you don’t know.”

“Don’t know what?”

“Aoife .” My best friend shrugged helplessly before saying, “I think you might be in the family way.”

I took in the sight of her comical expression and burst out laughing.

“Aoife , I’m being totally serious here.”

“I know you are,” I agreed, still laughing. “That’s what makes it so funny.”

“Aoife.”

“Oh my god, no. I’m not pregnant, Case,” I choked out, trying to sober my features. “Why would you even think that?”

“When was your last period?”

I gaped at her. “What?”

“Your last period,” she urged, tone serious. “When was that exactly?”

“I’m due on,” I told her.

“No.” She shook her head. “No, you’re not.”

“I think I’d know when my period is due,” I replied, tone defensive now, as the funny side of this conversation quickly faded.

“You would think,” she muttered, pressing her fingers to her temples. “Listen to me. Since first year, we’ve always been in sync. The third week of the month. Like clockwork.”

“So?”

“So, you’re either two weeks late on last month’s one, or two weeks early for this month’s one.”

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