Page 45 of Secret Pucking Unicorn

“OMG, you’re together?” Daphne bounces excitedly while holding her baby bump with both hands. “Yay!”

Sophie gives her a look like she’s daft and turns back to me. I love my sister, but she’s pissing me off.

“I was in bed with my girlfriend, not that it’s any of your business. Why would you barge into someone’s bedroom when the door was closed? Ma would make you weed her garden for that.”

Our mother doesn’t believe in spanking her children. If we were to be punished, then it would be mucking stalls or weeding her gardens.

“I wanted to surprise my best friend.”

“You certainly did,” Miranda says with a laugh, walking out of our apartment. “Sophie, I’m so happy to see you!”

She rushes over and gives my sister a tight hug, winking at me over Sophie’s shoulder. Miranda is four or five inches taller than Sophie, her black hair a sharp contrast to Sophie’s blond. Even their personalities are opposite. Where Miranda is calm and serene, Sophie is energetic and in your face. They balance each other.

“I thought you were in New Zealand?” Sophie says while they are still hugging.

“I was. My contract ended, and I got a job with the Devil Birds. Started last week. What are you doing here? Visiting Dec?”

She pulls out of the hug with Sophie, and I see what’s she’s wearing. She’s put on black yoga pants and has a pink hoodie with a black unicorn head on it and the words “Feeling Horny” emblazoned across it. I damn near swallow my tongue.

Sophie notices her shirt too and turns to me with a smile. “You told her? Great!”

“Told me what?” Miranda asks. Her forehead wrinkles in confusion as she looks at me.

“About the unicorn,” Sophie says.

The look of confusion on Miranda’s face deepens as she looks down at her shirt and then looks back up, and I see the others in the room trading glances.

“What about the unicorn? I’ve always loved unicorns since I was a little girl. Especially the black ones. That’s why I got this shirt. It’s one of my favorites.”

“She’s always had unicorn trinkets,” Kendall says. “She didn’t have a lot of personal stuff in our room in college but she had her unicorn collection.”

Sophie looks at me, and I shake my head. I haven’t told anyone. I guess that’s about to change.

“You have to tell her,” Sophie insists.

“Tell me what?” Miranda asks, caution creeping into her voice. I hate to hear that. Today is supposed to be a wonderful day. The first day of the rest of our lives together. There’s no room for caution or worry. Damn it. Why does this have to happen now?

I glance down and see Miranda is wearing thick socks. Good enough. I grab her hand and head for the door leading downstairs. “Come on.”

“Okay.” She keeps up with my long strides. “Do I need shoes or my coat?”

“No, we won’t be outside long.”

As we descend the stairs, hand in hand, me leading the way, she whispers, “Dec, I’m scared.”

Me too. But I say, “Don’t be. Everything’s fine.”

I pray with all my heart I’m not lying to her.

19

MIRANDA

I follow Dec down the stairs, Sophie and the others following us. What in the world is going on? What is Sophie doing here? It doesn’t seem like Dec was expecting her. A feeling of dread settles in my stomach. Today started off perfectly. The future I dreamed of was in front of me. I knew it was too good to be true. I don’t know what Dec is going to say or show me when we get outside, but I’m betting it isn’t good. It never is.

Opening the door, he leads me outside. Then he turns to me and gently squeezes my hands before letting go. The kiss he presses to my lips is brief, too brief. What if this is the last kiss he ever gives me? My stomach is churning.

He strides away, his long legs taking him about fifty feet from the patio. Suddenly those legs transform from gray cotton to sleek black with a fringe of black hair above glistening black hooves. Where Declan stood a moment ago now stands a strong black unicorn stallion with a flowing mane and tail. Proud and regal, his twisted silver horn reflects brightly in the sun. It’s beautiful but also looks like a deadly weapon. He rears up on his hind legs and…yeah.

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