Page 67 of One Pucking Surprise
Chloe smirks, leaning forward. “I guess now we know Ms. Independent sleeps with anyone.”
“Hey, not anyone,” Janelle chimes in, her mock-serious tone pulling a laugh out of me.
“I’m not judging,” Chloe says, her hands raised in surrender.
I can’t stop the laughter bubbling up, relief washing over me at their humor. “I haven’t laughed this hard in a while. Thanks, Janelle. You just made my morning.”
“I’m glad to be of service.” Janelle grins, getting up and walking over to give me a quick hug. “I guess this is congratulations then.”
Chloe follows, wrapping me in a warm embrace. “Congrats, bestie. I’m going to be number one best auntie.”“You’ll have to fight Anna for that title. She put dibs on it already,” I say, smiling at the memory of my sister’s excitement.
“Anna’sin another state,” Chloe argues. “I can be the best auntie here, and she can be the best auntie there.”
“I guess that makes me the cool auntie,” Janelle adds with a grin, earning a chuckle from all of us.
Chloe’s curiosity gets the better of her, and she settles back into her chair. “Okay, I have to ask, Lainey—and I’m sure we’re all thinking it. How did this happen?”
I sigh, my cheeks heating again. “Long story short, Zach used my lucky condom.”
Chloe gasps. “You mean the one with the sticker?”
“Yep. The one and only.”
Janelle shakes her head in disbelief. “I guess Zach was in too much of a hurry to check the expiration date.”
“Zach said that too,” I admit, grinning despite myself.
As Chloe and Janelle exchange a knowing look, I can’t help but think about the absurdity of it all. I’d kept that condom for years, half as a joke and half because of what it symbolized. Every time I’d had it with me, the guy I was with ended up being incredible in bed—not Mr. Perfect, but memorable enough to make me believe in its so-called luck.
Chloe’s smile fades slightly as she tilts her head. “Is Zach blaming you for this?”
Before I can respond, Janelle adds, “Yeah, do we need to handle Zach for you?”
“Ladies, stop,” I say firmly, holding up my hands. “No one is blaming anyone. We’re both grown adults.”
“So,” Chloe presses, her tone softening. “What’s the plan? Zach’s a sweet guy, but we all know he doesn’t do relationships.”
I hesitate, my heart twisting as Zach’s words from the ER replay in my mind. “I don’t know,” I admit. “He… he said he’s not ready for commitment. That was one of the reasons for our fake dating arrangement.”
The room falls silent, the weight of my confession settling over us. Chloe and Janelle exchange a look, their expressions softening with sympathy.
Janelle reaches out, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Whatever happens, you’ve got us.”
“Yeah,” Chloe agrees, her voice warm. “We’ll figure this out together.”
Their support wraps around me like a safety net, and for the first time in days, I feel like I can breathe a little easier. Whatever comes next, I won’t have to face it alone.
Chapter 24
Zach
Thesoundofskatescutting across ice echoes through the rink, blending with the sharp cracks of pucks hitting sticks. Normally, this is my sanctuary. The place where everything else fades away, leaving just the rhythm of the game. But not today.
“Focus, Darling!” Coach’s bark cuts through the air like a slap. I’ve fumbled another drill, the puck slipping off my stick and gliding harmlessly into the corner.
“Get it together,” I mutter under my breath, shaking off the mistake. I’m the captain of this team, for Christ’s sake. If I can’t keep my head in the game, how can I expect anyone else to?
But no matter how hard I try, my mind keeps slipping back to Lainey. To the news. To her hand resting protectively over her stomach that night in the ER. I haven’t talked to her since then. I figured she needed space—and honestly,I did, too. Time to process the fact that my fake girlfriend is pregnant with my baby.
