Page 77 of Hate To Be Mine

“No.” She took a defiant bite. “Maybe. Mind your own business.”

I stared at her. At the pickles. At the ice cream. At the way she was absolutely demolishing this bizarre combination like it was the best thing she’d ever tasted. The pieces clicked into place.

“Holy shit,” I breathed. “Are you pregnant?”

Elizabeth’s face went through several emotions. Panic, defiance, and ultimately resignation. Then she pointed the pickle spear at me threateningly.

“Shut your damn mouth. I haven’t told Adrian yet.”

“You’re pregnant!” I forgot about Bernadette and my own problems. I forgot about everything except the fact that my brother was going to be a dad. Shit, I was going to be an uncle. “Elizabeth, that’s amazing!”

I crossed to her in three strides and pulled her into a hug, careful not to squish her or the mysterious life growing inside her.

“Congratulations,” I said into her hair. “This is incredible.”

She hugged me back, and I felt her relax slightly. “You can’t tell anyone. Especially not Adrian. I want to tell him myself.”

“My lips are sealed.” I pulled back, grinning like an idiot. “But holy shit. A baby. A little Blackwell.”

She laughed. “Let’s hope it takes after my size and not one of you giants.”

“I’m going to be the fun uncle.” My mind was already racing ahead. “I’m going to spoil this kid so much. Designer onesies from day one. This is going to be the best-dressed child in history.”

Elizabeth laughed, her eyes getting a little misty. “You’re going to be a great uncle.”

“Damn right I am.” I sat down across from her, still grinning. “When are you telling Adrian?”

“When he gets here in two days. I wanted to tell him in person, not over the phone.” She took another pickle-ice-cream bite. “So you have to keep this a secret until then. Can you do that?”

“Of course. Scout’s honor.”

“You were never a scout.”

“Fine. Blackwell’s honor. Which is basically the same thing.” I reached over and stole one of her pickles, earning a glare. “How are you feeling? Morning sickness? Cravings, obviously. Should you be here? Is it safe to fly?”

I suddenly felt responsible for her. She was here for me. And Adrian didn’t know. When he found out, I knew he was going to be freaking out as well. He was going to be pissed at me if she got so much as a hangnail.

“The morning sickness was terrible the first few weeks, but it’s getting better. And yes, the cravings are weird. I wanted to hate this combination but it’s so good right now. I used to think people that ate this were crazy, but oh my God. I so need it. The craving woke me up. How crazy is that?”

“That’s disgusting.”

“You’re disgusting.” But she was smiling.

I watched Elizabeth eating her bizarre snack and tried to process the fact that I was going to be an uncle. The family was growing. Dad would have been so happy about this.

“So,” Elizabeth said, licking ice cream off her spoon. “What brings you to the munchie tent so late, my snack buddy? Stress eating again?”

And just like that, my good mood evaporated. “Maybe.”

I got up and went to see what I could find.

“Bernadette?” she asked.

I turned around, a donut in hand. “How did you know?”

“Please. Everyone knows something’s going on between you two. The way you look at each other isn’t exactly subtle.” She set down her spoon. “What happened?”

“I don’t know.” I grabbed a carton of milk and took my donut back to the table. “We slept together again tonight. And it was… it was perfect. But then she panicked and ran off, and I don’t know what to do.”