Page 58 of Kiss Me Ever After
Unsurprisingly, a queue snaked out of the door of the Ladies and I joined the end, hoping it wouldn’t take too long. I wanted to get back to Justin. The queue moved relatively quickly. Before long, I was at the front, and it was my turn.
When I came out, Candace Barkley stood at the front of the line.
“Honestly, you’d think they’d have special facilities for those of us who are with child,” she said, fixing her gaze on me, while her friends giggled. “When you’ve gotta pee, you’ve gotta pee.”
My eyes fell to her stomach. The tight dress she wore emphasised a small, perfectly formed baby bump.
“Congratulations.” I offered. “I had no idea.” Why she felt the need to tell me, I didn’t know.
“I was waiting for the right time to tell the father too.”
“Right.” I nodded and turned my back to her so I could wash my hands.
Candace left the front of the queue and stood directly behind me, so I could see her reflection in the mirror. Nestled in the hollow of her neck was a silver feather necklace, identical to the one Justin had bought me. “I’m sure it will come as a surprise, but he’ll do the right thing. He’ll always support someone he cares about.”
Shaking the water off my hands, I faced her. “Why are you telling me, Candace? We’re not friends.”
“You’re right, we aren’t. And once I’ve told Justin the news, I doubt we’ll ever be anything other than enemies.” Her grey eyes radiated victory.
It took a few seconds for her words to sink in. I blinked slowly.
Justin was the father?
How was that possible?
We’d been together all summer, barely apart, playing house.
Did he know Candace was pregnant and he’d kept it from me? I recalled her veiled threats at the party. Was this what she’d been going on about?
Fuck.
Everything I thought I knew and trusted about Justin started to crack right in front of me.
How could he?
I pushed my way past another girl to get into the cubicle before the contents of my stomach reappeared.
Candace’s voice floated over the top of the door. “Shall I wait for you and we can tell Justin together? I think I’d like that.”
Personally, I couldn’t think of anything worse. I screwed up my eyes, resting my forehead against the cool tile on the wall and tried to breathe.
But I needed to see his face when she told him, needed to gauge his reaction to the news, see whether he denied it.
He had to deny it.
Shehadto be lying.
“Sure, give me a minute?” I forced the words out. Exhaling deeply, I concentrated on my breathing to steady the nausea swirling around.
“No problem, hon, you take as long as you need.”
I hated the singsong tone of her voice, the fake sweetness she injected.
I hated her.
But I wasn’t giving her the satisfaction of running away, tail between my legs, prepared to accept every word she said. Besides, I wanted to see the look on her face when Justin denied everything.
Clutching my handbag like a shield, I left the cubicle and faced Candace. She slipped her arm through mine and we went back into the club.
