Page 34 of Fumbled Love

I wasn’t sure what the hell we were thinking showing up like this. In fact, based on the reaction from everyone in this room, it was a terrible idea.

Maverick swiped a hand over the top of his lip and let out a slow breath. “I’m sorry we’ve taken you guys by surprise here, but we wanted to have this conversation face-to-face.”

“We?” One of Rylee’s eyebrows lifted slowly. “Can you repeat that, please?” Beth elbowed her in the side and shushed her. I wrung my nervous hands in front of me and willed the contents in my stomach to stay where they belonged and not unleash the bagel and cream cheese I had for breakfast all over Beth’s beautiful tiled floor.

Vinny cleared his throat. He was probably itching for a cigarette, and for the first time in my life, I was starting to see the appeal of nicotine. “Son, whatever you have to say will be fine.” He winked at me, but it did nothing to calm the eruption in my stomach.

Please, Dear God, do not let me vomit.

Rylee slumped down on one of the stools at the counter, her eyes darting back and forth between us. “Am I missing something here?”

Other than things being uncomfortable, I had no idea what to expect, but damn, this was worse than I imagined. Heat crept up the back of my neck at the thought of how blindsided they would be. Hopefully, once the shock wore off, they would consider it good news.

“We have something to tell you.” His jaw worked back and forth, mulling over his words before he spoke. I wasn’t sure how he would handle it if his family disapproved. Just thinking about it was enough to send me into a panic attack. “Kinley and I are having a baby together.”

His mother’s hand flew to her mouth in a gasp. His father’s face turned white, and it felt like someone had turned up the thermostat to a hundred and fifty degrees.

“I’m going to assume this wasn’t planned,” Declan said, his eyes drifting between the two of us.

“No, it wasn’t. We were both surprised by the news.”

“Oh, my goodness.” Beth stepped forward with tears brimming in her eyes.

“What the hell is happening right now?” Rylee’s tone had my back going straight.

Maverick’s hand landed on my shoulder in silent support. “I know this is a shock right now,” he said, shooting his sister a death glare. “But Kinley and I would like to take some time to figure things out and we would appreciate y’alls support.”

Vinny leaned forward; his hands landed on his hips. “Are the two of you a couple?”

A pang of unease hit me, and I did my best to push it aside. It reminded me how much shit we still had to hash out.

“We are just having a baby together,” I said, finally finding my voice. Maverick’s hand tensed on my shoulder.

Vinny nodded his head, looking disappointed. “So, what’s the plan?” He kept his focus on me. “Are you moving back to Georgia?”

I wasn’t expecting that question, although I probably should have. Beth and Vinny were old-fashioned. They weren’t as strict as most southern parents, but they held their children to certain standards.

“Dad, we haven’t gotten that far ahead yet.”

Rylee stalked over to refill her wineglass. “I’d like a word with both of you.”

I nodded my head because refusing her would only make matters worse. We followed her through the house and onto the back patio. Rylee’s sleek, dark-brown hair swayed across her shoulders. The scent of familiar Marc Jacobs perfume floated in the air. It was the same one she wore in high school. It had only been a few months since we last spoke, but it seemed like forever. My stomach twisted in guilt, and that tightness in my chest kept growing with each passing second. Would she hate me? Would she feel betrayed?

Worry and doubt seemed to fill my head as I started to imagine every worst-case scenario.

“Let me get this straight.” She sat down, and the wine in her glass swished as she set it on the table between the two chairs. “You guys are having a baby together?”

Maverick rubbed the back of his neck and unleashed a grin. “What are the chances, huh?”

She smacked his injured knee. “Are you kidding me right now? A joke?” Then she turned her hard, suspicious eyes on me. “And you, I can’t believe you kept this from me. I know we don’t talk often, but you’re one of my oldest friends. We’ve been through a lot together. We’ve never kept secrets from each other.”

I was transported back to when we would have sleepovers and stay up all night crying over broken hearts and hurt feelings. She never knew that I had a crush on her older brother. I hid it from her. But then again, it was one-sided, so I hid it from everyone.

“I’m sorry you’re just finding out about this now.”

She didn’t seem mad, but I wouldn’t say she was happy either.

“How long has this been going on?”

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