Page 9 of Holly Jolly Rebel

He didn’t follow me inside, and immediately I felt a sense of regret. I hadn’t asked him a single thing about his life, how he was settling into Chicago, about his holiday plans. I hadn’t even wished him a Merry Christmas, little or otherwise, in return. Instead, I made it all about me.

Good job, Adeline.

Five

Elle

I checked my phone again.Still no response to my message, but then came a text in all caps.

I’M HERE!!!

Like a safecracker, I opened the bathroom door a smidge and peeked through the gap. Pulling back the door, I bundled Jordan inside, who looked gorgeous in a hunter green dress threaded with silver. Very festive, it made a lovely contrast with her auburn hair.

“What took you so long? I texted ages ago.”

“I had to say hi to Pepper and then I ran into Mia and she had some gossip about the Athenas and?—”

“Okay, gotcha. Did anyone see you coming up here?”

Jordan pursed her lips and got that look, the one she used when a player she was interviewing said something she didn’t approve of.

“Well, for some reason you arranged this secret rendezvous in the bathroom on the third floor, which happens to be furthest away from the party. I did have to skirt by Harper, who would definitely wonder why I’m sneaking around her manor like I’m snooping for a story. But I’m pretty sure I wasn’t followed.” She chuckled. “This scenario reminds me of that night I was summoned to your place when you were living above the Empty Net, the night you found out you were—oh!”

Jordan’s mouth dropped to the floor, a very pretty Moroccan blue tile. If I was to discover I was about to become a mother for the fourth time, then these were distinctly classier surroundings than those of my maiden voyage.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Have you taken it yet?” My friend’s gaze whipped over the vanity where the pregnancy test was waiting for input, so to speak.

“No, I bought one at the drug store this afternoon, but Theo was home by the time I got back, and Landon cut his hand with a bread knife. Nothing major but you know these boys, it’s like the sky is falling. I haven’t had a spare minute. When you and I were talking this morning and I had to interrupt regular programming so I could throw up, it occurred to me that this feeling is not unfamiliar.”

“But Theo put in the work here, right? As in, did the deed so he can’t get you in trouble?”

“Yes? But it might have failed. It happens. He did it four months ago after I told him I didn’t want to be responsible for birth control anymore. So if it didn’t work, we’ve been playing Russian Roulette this whole time!”

Jordan mouthed “wow” and tucked both hands under my elbows. “Let’s sit you down, G-Mama.”

“G-Mama?” I let myself be led to a nice bench.

“Geriatric Mama.” Jordan grinned. “At your age, that’s what they call these pregnancies.”

“Charming,” I muttered, feeling more curmudgeon than geriatric.

“So, I think it’s time to do this, don’t you?” Jordan cast a querying look toward the pregnancy test. “If I recall correctly, last time you had already peed on the stick by the time I got here. I can step outside?—”

“No, no. After twenty years, we’re beyond all that.”

Two minutes later I had placed the test on the vanity. While we waited, I touched each of the charms on my bracelet, the one Theo had given me during my first pregnancy. Those original charms were still linked: dog tags to signify my military service, hockey sticks shaped in a heart, adorable baby feet, a tiny dinosaur because of Theo’s T-rex obsession and its significance to our first night together. Over the years, he’d added more. A diploma for my online business degree, an Eiffel tower for a magical trip to Paris, a letter for each of our children. I had wondered if the milestones were at an end, but it looked like life might have more surprises in store.

The door opened. Violet St. James, one of the Rebels co-owners and youngest of the Chase sisters, blinked in confusion.

“I was looking for a tampon and well, no one ever uses this bath—shit, what’s happening here? Should I go?”

Jordan drew her inside and shut the door. “We’re waiting on … this.” She gestured at the test, now sitting on the vanity. I’d have to clean up afterwards. Good guests typically don’t stain their hosts’ countertops with pee.

Violet’s dark eyes went wide. “Oh, wow! And you decided to find out … here?”

“Long story, but here we are.” I nibbled my lip.

Violet placed an arm around my shoulder. “I take it this is not planned.”

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