Page 35 of Cross Me

“What’s there to tell?” She shrugged. “She’s not thrilled at the thought of being a grandmother. Aunt Jane is over the moon, though. Baby Price will have one sane relative.”

She rubbed a circle over her belly lovingly, and I smiled. Belle looked curvier these days, but not pregnant yet. Her cheeks were fuller, her eyes brighter. She was actually glowing.

“What about Smith’s family?”

Belle shook her head, gloominess descending over her instantly. “He doesn’t have anyone. Georgia is the closest person he has to family.”

I bit back unkind words. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have Georgia as my only family. No wonder Smith was so inscrutable.

“I know, right?” Belle said as if she was reading my mind. “She’s not so bad once you figure out whether or not she wants to kill you.”

I goggled at her. It sounded like there was a story there, but she didn’t share.

“Plus, once you share,” she said, switching topics, “I can hook you up with killer maternity clothes.”

“I didn’t think Bless offered anything like that.” I’d had an unofficial subscription to Bless, Belle’s fashion start-up, since day one. It was a perk of being the CEO’s best friend and her business partner’s sister. I hadn’t bothered taking out any items in weeks, though, thanks to my ever-larger bump.

“We’re expanding.” She patted her stomach and added, “in more ways than one. We’re about to launch Blessings, a maternity subscription service.”

“That’s a great idea.”

“I figured that pregnancy is one time in a woman’s life where she constantly needs new clothes to wear, because”—she pantomimed a big, round belly—“she deserves to feel fabulous.”

“I will happily be your test subject,” I promised. “But for now, we’re stuck hiding this little prince or princess under a coat. I just want to wait until after the first rounds of the games are over,” I told her. “I don’t want my pregnancy announcement to overshadow the events. Let them all bet on the races.”

There was a knock on the door, and Edward’s curly head poked inside the room. “Mind if I join you?”

“Don’t you have anything better to do?” I asked him.

“Yeah,” Belle said, crossing her arms over her chest and staring him down. “I thought you were a newlywed.”

“Not all of us shag like rabbits,” he said dryly. “David and I have known each other for years. We aren’t quite the slaves to our hormones some of you are.”

“That’s sad.” Belle and I exchanged a glance.

“Don’t do that.” He shook his head, wagging a finger at us. “There’s nothing wrong with my marriage. I’ll have you know we shagged twice this morning.”

“That’s better,” she said with a satisfied smile.

“I can’t believe you didn’t have me come help you pack,” he whined. He picked up the sweater I’d abandoned and looked me over. “What are we going for? Cold weather chic? Down to earth, mom-to-be?”

“We’re going for hide the bump at all costs.” I plucked the sweater from his hands.

“Really?” He scratched his cheek as he digested this. “I thought…”

“She doesn’t want to tell anyone yet, so thank God for coats,” Belle said.

“There are more important things than my wardrobe,” I reminded them. Both stopped to stare at me and I groaned in frustration.

“My job is to dress women so they feel fabulous,” Belle said. “Furthermore, it’s my duty as your best friend. What will people think of me? Of my company?”

“And since I came out of the closet, there are certain stereotypical expectations I have to uphold,” Edward teased.

“I get it. Wardrobe is important.” I threw my hands in the air. These two would be the death of me. “Buy me some time, okay? Let’s keep the betting on the games for now instead of a due date.”

“About that…” Edward blew air through his lips.

He had something to tell me, but I couldn’t fathom what. We didn’t keep secrets from each other. What did he need to confess?