AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Beginner mistake.” Ellery snorts. “You always go out of town for pregnancy tests and condoms.”
“Why would you go out of town for condoms?” Mom asks. “You know I have everyone in town covered with regard to prophylactics.”
This is true. My mother is on a mission to ensure the entire world practices safe sex.
“Do you want me to knock on your door at 3 a.m.?” Ellery asks and Cole groans.
Mom’s brow wrinkles. “Why would you knock? You know the door isn’t locked and you know where I keep my stockpile.”
Every West daughter knows where Mom keeps her supply of condoms since she began showing us where it was before we were teenagers. While my sisters are embarrassed whenever Mom mentions condoms to them, I appreciate our mother’s pragmatism.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Can you stop talking about your sex life now?” Ashlyn asks Mom.
“She wasn’t talking about her sex life,” I point out. “And why does this freak you out? You’re pregnant. Everyone knows you’ve had sex, but we’re not pretending to gag like we’re teenagers.”
“You… you …you…”
While Ashlyn searches for words, I decide it’s time to finish this meeting before the chaos takes over. I have more work I want to finish after this since my boss still believes I’m incompetent. I don’t know why I’m trying to prove my worth to him. Everyone else in the company is aware of how dedicated and hardworking I am.
I consult the agenda and realize the only remaining item is the Litha festival. Since I’m the chairperson of the festival committee and we have a meeting scheduled for later this week, I decide we can skip the item.
“This meeting is adjourned,” I announce.
I watch to ensure the town secretary, River, makes a note of the end of the meeting. River is Lyric’s brother and does all kinds of odd jobs for the town. He’s a part-time volunteer firefighter, a deputy when needed, and the note taker at these meetings.
I gather my things and proceed toward the exit.
“You can’t go,” Sage hollers at me from across the room.
“Of course, I can.”
“But—”
“Have a lovely evening,” I shout over whatever plea she was planning on making.
I know better than to allow myself to be cornered by Sage or any of the other gossip gals. They believe it’s their duty as gossipmongers to interrogate you until they learn all of your secrets.
Normally, I don’t mind their interference. After all, I usually don’t have any secrets. Or, at least, no secrets about my private life. They’re not interested in my work secrets.
But not now. Beckett isn’t exactly a secret, but the way my body yearns for him is. It’s not a yearning I plan to act on, but it is a yearning I don’t need anyone else knowing about. Especially not the five women who have their sights on matchmaking me.
I scurry out of the room. I’ve studied history. I know when a retreat is my best option.
