Page 128 of Fall Into Temptation
“Hey! Where are our coffees?”
Summer and Joey sauntered into the backyard. Summer was lugging a carpet steamer while Joey manhandled a drink carrier of what looked like tomato juices.
“Let’s get this cleaning party started, bitches,” Joey announced. “Julia whipped up some of her famous Bloody Mary mixers, and I’ve got vodka in my bag.”
“You guys don’t have to do this,” Eva said, feeling insanely lucky and just a little embarrassed that she hadn’t thought to ask them. “I mean, my sisters do because it’s required by biology. But you two really don’t have to spend your Halloween morning cleaning up someone else’s mess.”
Joey snorted. “That’s not what Summer said.”
Summer threw an elbow into Joey’s ribs. “What Joey means to say is that we’re happy that we can help out.”
“Who’s taking care of the magazine? The horses?” Eva asked.
“Minions,” Joey shot back. “Now, if you’re done with your ‘woe-is-me internal monologue’ moment can we go inside and start pouring this vodka?”
They did just that. Until Summer’s eagle eye saw Emma passing up the vodka.
“What’s this?” Summer demanded, pointing at Emma’s straight tomato juice.
“What’s what?” Emma asked innocently.
“Holy shit, you’re pregnant!” Joey dropped her broom, flipped a barstool upright, and plopped down on it.
“I am neither confirming nor denying until I tell the father of the hypothetical baby,” Emma snapped back with a steely-eyed glare. “So, you better keep that trap shut!”
Joey held up her hands in surrender. “My lips are sealed, but you better make sure no one outside this room catches wind. It’ll be another special edition ofThe Weekly Monthly Moon.”
“Are you serious, right now? You’re going to have a baby?” Summer’s high-pitched squeal threatened to rupture ear drums within a one-block radius.
“Geez! Keep it down,” Emma said, looking furtively over her shoulder. “I’m going to surprise Niko and not by having my stepsister-in-law shriek it all over town.”
“This calls for more booze,” Gia said, opening Eva’s cabinets.
“Nice try. Our mother took it all,” Eva pointed out.
Gia rolled her eyes and whipped out her phone. “I’ve got it covered.”
“The first lady of Blue Moon is having booze delivered,” Joey snickered.
“Have you decided how to do it?” Gia demanded, dumping a dust pan of broken glass into the trash bag and snagging her Bloody Mary.
“Well, you know I like to have a plan.”
Eva snorted. Emma was nothing if not ruthlessly organized.
“Anyway,” Emma said, shooting her a dirty look. “I’m having Niko’s parents come in from the city for the Halloween Carnival. They’re staying at Phoebe and Franklin’s so Niko doesn’t spot them around town.”
“And then, what? Yell ‘surprise, we made a baby’?” Summer asked.
Emma gave her a dry look. “No! I’ve got a plan. A real one.”
“I don’t know, Em. I mean, he bought you a house and rescued a puppy to propose to you. I hope you’re kicking it up a notch,” Eva warned her.
Gia snapped her fingers. “Are you telling him with your Halloween costume?”
“Like what? Go as a whale, which is what I’ll be next summer?” Emma asked, a soft, dreamy look belying her words.
“Don’t be an ass. Pregnancy is beautiful. Even if you’re gigantic,” Summer interjected.
