She was courageous, actually courageous. Elizabeth supported us, however I used to be actually uncertain how she was going to really feel in regards to the bomb that was about to be dropped on her. I circled my thumb round Maddie’s shoulder. A bit gesture to let her know she wasn’t alone.

“I don’t know precisely methods to say this, so I’m going to simply be blunt.” Her shoulders rose and fell. “I really simply took a being pregnant check earlier than you bought right here.”

Elizabeth’s eyeballs seemed like they had been about to come out of her head, however she didn’t look mad. “Oh my God.”

Maddie nodded, exchanging a fast look with me earlier than returning her consideration to Elizabeth. “Yeah… yeah.”

“You’re pregnant?!”

She nodded. “Please don’t hate me, I—”

Elizabeth did one thing I by no means thought she’d do. She leapt from her chair, sitting subsequent to Maddie on the sofa, pulling her in for a hug. “Oh, my freaking God!” She sat again, her eyes nonetheless broad. “Wait. Dad, are you the daddy, or is another person?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m.”

“Okay,” she snickered, “as bizarre because it sounds, I am tremendous relieved as a result of I do know she and Antonio had been… you recognize what? Not essential.”

Maddie shook her head. “We have not been collectively because the evening earlier than he and I went to Grand Cayman.”

“Elizabeth,” I interjected, utilizing the identify I solely referred to as her when it was critical, “Are you certain you are okay with this as a result of we perceive if you happen to want extra time.”

She provided a teary smile. “Yeah. I am good with this. And Vinny did not drive me to be okay with it. He simply talked a bit sense into me. He put issues into perspective in a approach I could not see earlier than. I miss the closeness of my household, and by household, I imply you two being in my life. Not my mom.”

“We had been discussing having a household dinner tonight at our home. Are you guys accessible to come back over?”

“I do know Vinny has to exit for about an hour, however after that, we will come over round 6:30?”

“Sounds good,” Maddie beamed earlier than groaning. “Nice, now we have now to name my mother and father and invite the fam. I haven’t spoken to them since—” her voice trailed off.

17

FAMILY

MADDIE

James and I returned to the home with luggage of groceries. Lucas had run out for some time to seize just a few issues and decide up his girlfriend whereas James and I ready dinner. My household had agreed to come back, and Isaac texted me to let me know my mother and father had been past weirded out however had been keen to hear.

My household wasn’t good, however they had been at all times supportive of most of our choices. My father was a agency believer that when we turned eighteen, we had been all adults, even when he insisted on paying a few of our payments. I’d at all times had no matter freedom I needed inside cause. I knew my mother and father had been in all probability extra upset that they hadn’t heard from me than they had been about my precise relationship.

I used to be scrubbing small, spherical potatoes on the sink when James stepped behind me, snaking his arms round me. Lacing his fingers collectively over my abdomen, he pressed his lips to the again of my neck. I paused for a second, smiling as my pores and skin prickled with goosebumps at his contact.

“Are you nervous about tonight?”

“Probably not. You’ve got been associates with my mother and father lengthy sufficient to know they’re fairly supportive of the whole lot.”

“Yeah,” he stepped to the facet, dumping salt into his palm, and sprinkling it over the sliced eggplant, “that is true, however I hope they don’t flip a swap once we inform them you’re pregnant.”

Oh crap. I turned off the water and dried my arms on the hand towel. “If it goes dangerous tonight, can we simply wait till we make the official announcement to folks outdoors the household at Christmas?”

“Child woman,” he put his arms on my hips, “I’m good at diffusing most conditions however we will’t proceed to be untruthful with our households if we’re going to ask them to assist our relationship.”

He was proper. He was at all times proper. I nodded. “I do know.”

“So,” he kissed my brow, then rested his towards mine, “tonight we begin recent. Get all of it out within the open.”

“All of it?” I snickered.

“Effectively, perhaps we will miss how I ate your pussy within the very room we’re making ready meals.”

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