Page 64 of The Puck Bunny

“Never mind that. Let’s get to the paternity test results.”

“Not yet. We’re waiting until Lola gets here,” Sheila says, squeezing her friend’s hand.

Mindy nods while I light up with surprise.

I quickly subdue my reaction because what the hell?

Mindy slides a grainy picture of a tiny curled-up baby across the table toward Jonas.

He doesn’t look at it.

“Lola?” Jonas snorts and I nudge him. “Don’t you dare say fucking anything that will give her away as Sara. Got it?”

He nods and starts bouncing his knee, his anxiety level amped up.

I glance at Sheila.

She wanted Lola-Sara to be here to act as a super conscience.

And it’s working before she’s even here because Jonas’s anxiety just skyrocketed.

He picks up the photo of his baby and stares, trying to be disinterested, but I can see that he is.

“There’s Lola now.” Sheila waves in the direction of the door.

It takes everything in me to not turn around, but when she arrives at our table, I stand to help her into the seat next to me.

“We meet again,” I say.

She gives a nervous smile. “Sorry I’m late. I was at the game with my family and—well you know.” She waves a hand, stopping herself from telling the no-doubt funny story about how she escaped from her family to come here.

I want to encourage her to go on, but I don’t.

“Are we ready?” I ask Mindy.

Jonas’ hand shakes as he returns the photo of the baby to Mindy. “I’m ready,” he says, deadly serious, no smirk.

Mindy pulls her bag onto her lap and rummages through it.

Jonas bounces his knee up faster.

Sara watches Mindy like she’s a magician about to pull a rabbit from her bag and Sheila wraps a protective arm around her friend.

Finally, Mindy pulls an envelope from the bag and puts it on the table in front of her.

Jonas snatches it. “Let me open this. You’re taking too long.”

“No way.” Mindy pulls the envelope back from him and holds it against her chest. “This is my baby and it may—or may not be—yours.”

“I thought you said—”

“Of course I did. I know it’s your baby. You’re the only one who doesn’t believe it. So, as far as you’re concerned, it’s my baby until after the reveal.”

Jonas glares at her.

“She has a point.” I say it at the same time Sara does, too. We look at each other and laugh. Some of the tension eases, or, at least, some of my tension.

Jonas sits back and folds his arms over his chest looking like he’s waiting for his sentencing.