Page 11 of Dubious Secrets

Stassie frowns. “Wait, what’s going on?”

“I may have to go away for a few weeks, maybe months. Before you asked to move in, I’d been applying for traveling contracts. One I really wanted just opened…and I’m going to take it,” Mary explains, glancing back at me for support. I give her a small smile and nod.

Stassie stares at her sister and then grins, though I can see the fakeness of it. “That’s amazing, Mary! Don’t worry about me. We’ll have all the time in the world when you come back.”

Mary hugs her and then stands up. “God, I was so nervous to tell you. I figured you’d be upset about me leaving you so soon after you moved in.”

Stassie’s face pales and she blinks at her sister, her smile slipping a bit. “I could never be mad at you.”

I clear my throat. “Dinner is about ready. If you want to shower and join us.”

Mary nods, walking back over to me and hugging me too. “Thank you for being so great. I know my sister is in capable hands with you.”

It’s like a punch to my gut but I smile down at her, reluctantly hugging her back. Mary skips off to the bedroom to shower, and I watch Stassie as she pushes off the couch, walking toward me. If she’s feeling as shitty as I am, it’s going to be painful to eat a bite of anything.

I pour the pasta in a bowl and grab two slices of bread, then hand it over to Stassie. She takes it from me, but doesn’t move away.

“I think we should wait until she gets back.”

My stomach twists, even though I agree with her. When her bright eyes look up at me, I can see the desperation to hold on to some sense of normalcy a little longer.

I sigh, leaning against the counter. “Or if we tell her now, she’ll have weeks to process with some distance between us all.”

Stassie shakes her head. “No. It could mess with her performance at work, and then everything would be twice as worse.”

My jaw clenches but I nod. “Alright, we'll wait then.”

Her eyes study my face. “And we should probably try not to have a repeat of that…kiss.”

A flush works over my cheeks and I glance away from her. “Right, of course.”

It doesn’t help that it’s all I’ve thought about over the past few days. But Stassie is right, we should try to limit interaction between each other. Obviously, we both feel a pull we can’t control.

Chapter 7

Stassie

Mary doesn’t leavefor her traveling contract for another six weeks. The first couple of weeks I still go in and work at the coffee shop before Ryker brings me a new laptop to begin working for his brother at their company. I’d been resistant at first, but after a couple of days, I can’t lie about how nice it is to not have to be on my feet all day. I started small walks in the evening for exercise.

I glance at the clock on the dashboard of Ryker’s car. We’re cutting it pretty close, but he’s the dummy who scheduled our first ultrasound the day we drop Mary off at the airport.

Climbing out of the backseat, I watch them hug and ignore the slight jealousy I always feel when I see them interact. I’ve been thankful I haven’t seen or heard anything past a brief kiss in the weeks since we confirmed my pregnancy. Not that I have a right to feel jealous, but I don’t know if Ryker is just being considerate of my feelings.

Mary turns to me and pulls me into her arms. “Text me whenever you want, okay? Thanks for being so cool about this.”

I shrug. “Why wouldn’t I be? It’s your career. I understand.”

She smiles. “I know, but I feel bad. We haven’t spent much time together. Now I’m leaving you with Ryker.”

My eyes catch his and I look away, waving off my sister. “I’m fine, Mary. Don’t worry about me.”

“Don’t want to miss your flight,” Ryker says gently and Mary sighs, pulling her suitcase closer to her as she takes a step back.

“You’re right. Miss you. Love you. Give my cat cuddles!”

I scowl. “That demon would suffocate me in my sleep.”

She laughs, waving me off as if I’m joking and heads into the airport.

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