I was so sure my plan would work.
Naïvely, I hadn’t even considered another outcome.
I can’t get into details about Alaric. Mia is my best friend, but there’s far too much at stake right now. After the media event, I imagine she suspects there’s something going on, but she understands that it can take a while for me to process things.
Pathetically, I whisper, “Yes. Luca. He got a woman pregnant. Nine months ago.”
Mia emits a feral, high-pitched growl. “What the actual fuck?”
“Whoa, there.”
Heart lurching, I straighten.
Kenji strolls through the door behind me, late as usual, giving me a placating smile, and heads straight for the massive spread of snacks and refreshments on the island.
He scoops up a bag of popcorn and a box of Coco Crunchies, Saint’s favorites. “Did I hear you say Luca got someone pregnant?”
I press my lips together and lock my arms across my chest.
“While you were together?” he clarifies.
My stomach twists into a knot. “Yes. I’d tell you to keep it quiet, but I don’t give a shit about his reputation anymore, so…” I shrug.
“Do you want a hug?” he asks.
I appreciate the question, because no, I don’t want a hug. Having another man’s arms wrapped around me is the last thing I want right now. So I shake my head, and when he nods once and moves on to the drink station, I let out a relieved breath.
“Come on.” Mia takes my hand and leads me to the living area of the suite.
“Finally. Did you bring my Coco Crunchies?” Saint yells, clearly expecting Kenji instead of Mia and me. But when he sees us, he rises to his feet. “Oh. Shit. Had a change of heart, Evan?”
Every eye zeroes in on me, and heat rushes up my neck.
“Wait. Why are you wearing a dress?” he asks, frowning. “That’s not part of the approved attire for?—”
“Leave it, Lavoy.” Mia grips my hand harder as we wind through the sea of bodies lounging around the room.
Thankfully, he snaps his mouth shut and drops back to his spot on the floor.
I make a concerted effort to avoid eye contact with any of myfriends. I’m too emotionally raw. Even a pitying look or curious stare could send me spiraling. Maybe I shouldn’t have come after all.
Prince rises from one of the overstuffed couches when we get closer.
“Here,” he insists, tipping his head toward the space he just vacated.
Lips pressed together, I shake my head. “You went seventy-eight laps today.”
He mutters, “true,” then adds, “but I could use a stretch.” He lowers himself to the floor, and Mia tugs on my hand again.
I curl up against the armrest as she settles by my side.
When Prince turns around and locks eyes with my best friend, I don’t miss the silent conversation passing between them. I stow the information away so I can ask about it when I have the bandwidth.
Kenji finally appears with snacks in hand, and Saint hits play on the remote.
I chuckle quietly to myself when, on screen, two dogs and a cat struggle to scale a mountain. He would pickHomeward Boundas a secretly soft lover boy cosplaying as an extroverted fuckboy.
“Saint. Put on the captions,” Lincoln reminds him.
