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“Wait,” I tell her. My next words pain me more than I knew was possible. “Can you make it a decaf?” Oh, sweet baby Jesus in a manger. How am I supposed to give up caffeine?
Side note: Sabrina’s right, and her favorite saying is rather satisfying.
Amelia turns to me, a suspicious look on her face. “Decaf?” she asks, knowing something’s up.
Shit. Think fast. “Yeah. With everything that’s happened in the last twenty-four hours, I’ve inhaled a ton of caffeine. I think it’s throwing my stomach off. I might need to cut back a little today.” I’m a terrible liar, and I know it, but Amelia doesn’t push me on it if she suspects anything.
“You doing okay with all the press stuff?”
“I’m okay.”
Amelia lifts an eyebrow as if she doesn’t believe me before turning back to make my wannabe coffee.
“Fine. So maybe I’m not okay yet, but I’m working on it. Safe to say, yesterday sucked, but I really don’t want to talk about it.”
She holds up the whipped cream, and I nod. “So, what the hell’s going on with the studio? Your text yesterday was pretty vague, sister.”
I made sure to give her a heads-up in case whoever hit my studio was looking at other places along Main Street, especially since Amelia lives above her shop. “I haven’t heard anything else yet. I might swing by the police department after I leave here just to see if they have any updates.”
The chimes ring above the door, and I turn to see Leah stroll in, looking as pretty as ever. Her long brown hair is curled today and hanging down around her shoulders. A tight pink puffer jacket and matching hat cover her up with another pair of killer knee-high leather boots making her legs look miles long.
Damn. And I’m gonna be as big as a house soon.
“Hey, Amelia. Hey, Annabelle.” She waves a hand at the two of us before pulling off what looks like a cashmere glove. “What’s going on, ladies?” She’s bouncy and cheerful and everything I’m not feeling right now.
“Hi, Leah. What can I get you today?” Amelia motions toward the coffees.
Leah stands next to me and sniffs my coffee. What the hell? “I’ll take whatever Annabelle has. It smells delish.”
“Yeah. If it wasn’t decaf,” I mutter.
“Decaf doesn’t taste any different, Belles. Get over it. I’ll make sure to add a shot of espresso next time you come in to make up for it.” She hands Leah her drink.
“Cheers.” Leah holds her cup up to toast mine.
This chick is goofy, but I go with it. “Cheers.”
Lightning fast, she grabs my hand and screams. Actually screams. “Oh. My. God. Is that an engagement ring?”
I didn’t think about it when I put my ring on today.
Actually, yes I did. I wanted that ring on my finger when I went to the ob-gyn. I wanted Declan with me but instead, had to settle for his ring because I couldn’t take him from football practice without being sure I was pregnant. And after the way I treated him last night, I really didn’t deserve to have him with me.
“Umm, yes?” I haven’t even told Amelia yet. Dec and I were enjoying keeping it to ourselves for now. We weren’t in a rush for the media to catch wind of it. I lock eyes with Amelia, who’s glaring at me.
“I guess I don’t rank, huh? When did you get engaged?” she asks, a hurt look flashing across her face.
Damn it.
I have to remember to somehow fix this later.
Let’s see how many relationships I can fuck up in a day.
I glance from her back to Leah. “We got engaged last week. But ladies, please don’t say anything. We were waiting for Declan’s brother to come home from Navy bootcamp this week before we tell his family. He wanted them all together when we broke the news.” My phone rings, and I see it’s Dec. “I’m sorry, ladies, I’ve got to go. See you later, Amelia.” I wave at the two of them and hurry out of the shop before answering the phone.
“Hi, Dec.”
“Hey, baby. How are you feeling?”
