It’s not fair to her. I need to keep it together.

  I don’t have a choice.

  My phone buzzes, notifying me of a message, and when I see my brother’s name flash across the screen, my heart clenches.

  Foregoing a text, I hit the call button.

  It rings for three seconds before my brother’s familiar voice echoes through the speaker.

  “Hey, Soph! What’s up?”

  “Hi,” I whisper shakily.

  I can almost see his spine straighten as he assesses my voice.

  “What’s wrong?” he growls. Protective Brother is threatening to take over so that he can battle all of my demons, just like when I was a little girl. I smile softly at the sound as memories of my childhood flood my thoughts.

  I used to crawl into his bed every night because of my nightmares, and he’d let me cuddle into his side, whispering soothing words about rainbows and butterflies. Promising to fight any monster who’d dare touch a hair on my head.

  Sarcastically, I reply through a fresh wave of tears, “Umm…everything?”

  Something crashes on his end of the phone before his gruff voice makes another appearance. “Gonna have to give me a little more to go off of, Soph.”

  I chew on my lower lip for about thirty seconds before deciding against it. Pretty sure he’d fly all the way here to beat the hell out of Nathan.

  And that would not be good.

  He might be a nerdy gamer, but the guy’s ripped and would be out for blood if he knew I was pregnant...and that the dad has made it clear he doesn’t want kids.

  Taking a deep breath, I lie straight through my teeth. “Nothing. I’m being dramatic. I just miss you. That’s all.”

  “Sophie….” He lets my name hang in the air, quietly begging me to fill the silence with a confession.

  By some miracle, I stay strong and refuse to give in.

  After a few tense seconds go by, Marcus grunts his annoyance. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”

  I sigh as another tear slides down my cheek. “Yeah. I know.”

  “Where’s Natalie? She there with you?” he asks with concern.

  “Not right now. I’m kind of hiding in the girl’s bathroom,” I confess, cringing at my admission.

  He laughs dryly. “And you’re trying to tell me that nothing’s wrong? That you simply miss your big bro, and that’s why you’re in tears?”

  I chuckle softly, amused by the fact that he can read me so well. “Maybe.”

  He scoffs. “Maybe? Soph. Talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  I release a shaky breath before shaking my head in protest. “We can talk when I get home, okay? I don’t think I can handle anything else right now.”

  He doesn’t reply, and I’d bet a hundred bucks he’s trying to keep his frustration in check. “When do you get home?”

  “Tomorrow’s the wedding then we come home the day after.”

  “K. I’m booking my ticket right now. See you when you get there.” His voice brooks no argument, so I don’t bother protesting.

  He lives in California and is referring to meeting me in New York in two more days. His promise is enough to settle my nerves, and I’m grateful for the respite.

  “K,” I reply simply.

  “Love you, Tink.”

  His unconditional love for me seems to soothe the ache in my chest, and I hold on to his words like a lifeline.

  “Love you too, Marc,” I whisper before disconnecting the call.

  I drop my arm that’s holding the phone to my side, the weight feeling like a hundred pounds.

  Going to the sink, I splash some cold water on my face then pat it dry with a paper towel.

  My eyes scan my complexion in the mirror while looking for any clues that could possibly give away my pregnancy. Turning to the side, I press the fabric of my dress against the non-existent curve of my stomach and am grateful to find it still as flat as ever.

  For now, anyway.

  Once I’ve soaked up as much silence as I can, I notice the time on my phone and straighten my shoulders with sheer determination before swinging open the door and finding Nathan on the other side.

  Taken by surprise, I jump back and put my hand on my racing heart.

  “Nathan! You scared the crap out of me!” I practically yell.

  Sheepishly, he looks to the ground before glancing over at me. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I wanted to give you some space for a minute...but I think we need to talk.”

  His words are like an icy bucket of water being thrown my way.

  “Umm….” My gaze searches for Natalie. Please tell me she didn’t say anything to him while I was hiding in the bathroom.

  She’s nowhere in sight. I can only assume she’s helping Indie with something, and she didn’t get a chance to spill the beans to Nathan. Hopefully.

  “What do you want to talk about?” I try to act casual when I know without a doubt that he can see right through me.

  Cautiously, he takes a slow step forward. His sexy bare feet almost touch my sandal-clad ones.

  How can feet be sexy?

  Nathan links our fingers before pulling my hand to his mouth and placing a gentle kiss on the back. His lips linger on my sensitive skin as his eyes explore my face, looking for any clues about why I’m freaking out.

  I break our gaze. My eyelids slowly close and stay glued shut as I try to keep my shit together and not break down sobbing. Again.

  “Soph,” he whispers. His familiar voice gives me the courage to open them.

  “Yeah?” I breathe.

  “I think I’m in love with you.”

  I gasp. The sound of my sharp intake of breath is the only response he receives before he continues.

  “I know it’s scary, Soph. I’m scared too. But I want to give this a real shot. I want you. I want us. When I think of leaving you and going back to Cali….” He pauses, as if in physical pain. “It hurts, babe. It hurts so damn much.”

  Another tear slides down my cheek at his confession, and I lick my lips to keep from full-on sobbing.

  Am I dreaming?

  “Talk to me, Soph. What are you thinking? What’s wrong? I left you this morning after one of the best nights of my life. I feel like we were both happy, that we were both on the same page. Then you ignore my texts all morning, you wouldn’t even look at me during the rehearsal, and I find you hiding in the girl’s bathroom. Talk to me. Please?”

  His pleading tears my heart in two, but I can’t find the words to tell him the truth. No matter how hard I try.

  I’m a coward.

  He leans forward, closing the distance between his mouth and mine until we’re only a breath apart. “Please?” he repeats as his lips brush against mine in the most deliciously torturous way possible.

  I take advantage of the opportunity presented to me by standing on my tiptoes and closing the short distance. With my hands against his broad chest, I soak up the heat from beneath his button-up shirt in hopes of it warming my soul too.

  My lips open slightly, allowing him to deepen the kiss, and he does exactly that. Our tongues battle for dominance while he lets me work out my frustration with our mouths as our weapons, until we’re both panting from the need pulsing between us. A soft whimper escapes my throat before I can stop it.

  Nathan pulls away as another tear follows the same trail as the last.

  “Please talk to me. Please let me in,” he begs.

  I shake my head forcefully. “I need some time to think, okay?”

  I push past him without waiting for his response, and my feet pound against the cement then against the sand as I race back to the beach where the rehearsal was held.

  I just…I can’t do this.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Sophie

  They’ve added a few banquet tables for the dinner, and some have large serving trays of food, while others hold plates and silverware for seating.

  When I spot Natalie, I race over to her. A chair to her left is currently vacant, so I take a seat with as much poise as I can muster.

  She turns to me, looking guilty as hell. Casually, she flips her phone over so that the screen is against the white linen tablecloth.

  I watch her hand make the motions as she eyes me warily.

  “What?” I ask bluntly as my gaze bounces between my best friend and her cell that’s obviously hiding a secret.

  She looks down sheepishly, which only encourages me to reach for her phone when it buzzes against the table.

  She doesn’t stop me as I scan the conversation between her and Marcus.

  M: Spill

  Natalie: About what?

  M: Natalie….

  Natalie: I have no idea what you’re talking about.

  M: Yes, you do. You know her better than anyone.

  Natalie: If she didn’t tell you then there’s a reason, Marcus.

  M: That’s bullshit, and you know it.

  Natalie: Despite what you may think, you don’t need to stick your nose in places it doesn’t belong.

  M: She’s my sister.

  Natalie: And what’s your excuse for me?

  M: Don’t start this, Nat. Tell me what’s going on with Sophie, or so help me, I will fly down there and make you.

  Natalie: She’s not ready to tell people yet.

  M: You’re deflecting.

  Natalie: I’m being honest.

  M: Why are you always so damn frustrating?!

  Natalie: Guess it just comes naturally.

  M: Natalie. Please. She’s my sister, and she’s hurting. I could hear it in her voice.

  M: Please.

  Natalie: …She’s pregnant.

  M: What the fuck?!

  Gently, I put the phone back down as I remember my conversation with Nathan only moments before. And now I need to process the fact that my brother knows about the tiny baby growing in my stomach.

  Speak of the devil, I think to myself as Nathan comes around the corner.

  He appears distraught as he walks over to Rhett and Indie. It’s pretty damn apparent that he’s asking about me when three sets of eyes glance in my direction, followed by lots of head shaking on their parts.

  Subtle, guys. Really subtle.

  Awkwardly, I turn my attention to the neatly folded linen napkin that’s resting on the table like it’s the most fascinating object in the world.

  “Say something,” Natalie whispers anxiously to me. “Anything.”

  I shrug one shoulder before releasing the pent-up oxygen in my lungs.

  “It wasn’t my place, Soph. But he’s your brother.”

  I look over at her. “I know.” Her eyes silently plead with me to voice my forgiveness, so I do exactly that. “It’s okay that you told him, Noogie. In a way, you ripped off the band-aid for me. It’s just…telling people makes it real. And I’m not ready for it to be real.”

  I bite my inner cheek to keep the tears at bay. My gaze catches on Indie as she makes her way to our table. Thankfully, she’s alone, though I have no doubt she was sent to gather intel.

  “Hey, guys! What’s up?”

  Carefully, I look around to see that we’ve been given a wide berth and an ounce of privacy from our fellow guests. I take advantage of the opportunity and decide to follow Natalie’s lead. Time to rip it off like it’s a Band-Aid.

  “I’m pregnant, and Nathan’s the father, but he has no idea, and I’m absolutely clueless if I should tell him...let alone how I should do it. Oh, and we slept together last night on the beach. And did I mention he professed his love to me a few minutes ago? And instead of mentioning the fact that I’m pretty sure I love him too, I kissed him then walked off like a crazy person. Yup. I think that pretty much catches you up.” I reach for the glass of water in front of me then take a long sip.

  An awkward silence ensues.

  “Well…. Shit,” Indie says, and it’s obvious she’s shocked by my revelation.

  “Yup,” Natalie states, clinking her glass against the one in my hand in a silent cheers gesture.

  I laugh dryly at the position I’m in, which feels good, considering the circumstances.

  Only a few hours ago, I was positive I’d never laugh again.

  Indie joins in before sobering slightly. She voices the one question I’ve been dreading. “When are you going to tell him?”

  I know who she’s referring to. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. My gaze searches for him in the sea of people, only to find him standing next to Rhett with his sole focus on me.

  Surprise.

  I chew on my lower lip, terrified that I don’t have an answer for Indie’s question.

  “Well that sounds promising,” she notes dryly.

  I roll my eyes before breaking my connection with Nathan and looking at Indie. “Look. I just found out, and despite how this conversation is going, I didn’t want to steal the limelight from the bride-to-be, so can we leave it at that until after the wedding? Please?” I beg, as my gaze bounces between my two best friends.

  They both hesitate for a few seconds while internally debating whether they should keep it quiet or not. After a long moment, they nod their heads.

  “Fine.”

  “Okay.”

  I release a deep breath. “Thank you.”

  Indie stands from her chair before leaning over me and wrapping me in a hug. “Love you, Tink. If you need anything from me, let me know, okay?”

  “K.”

  “Good. Now I get to go talk to the boys, who are not-so-subtly scrutinizing this entire conversation from a distance. Yay me!” she says sarcastically before sauntering off.

  I giggle at her dry sense of humor then turn to Natalie and beg her for a change of subject. And because she’s the best friend a girl could ever ask for, she complies.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Nathan

  The entire night, I’m ignored. Completely, one-hundred percent, straight-up ignored. It’s like I’m invisible, which really only makes me want to do something completely irrational. Like throw her over my shoulder and tie her to my bed where I can torture her in the best way possible until she reveals what she’s hiding from me.

  When Indie came over after her little chat with Sophie, she turned into a steel vault, refusing to answer a single question.

  “It’s nothing,” she said.

  “Don’t worry about it,” she said.

  “She’ll tell you when she’s ready,” she said.

  My nostrils flare in frustration.

  Dammit!

  I toss and turn all night long, hating the way things were left between us and wishing on everything that’s holy that she’ll open up to me.

  That she’ll tell me what’s bothering her, and how I can fix it.

  Angrily, I rub my hand over my face before finally throwing in the towel and walking over to her villa.

  It’s late, and I can’t guarantee she’s awake, but I’m dying here.

  She’s got to give me something.

  I pace on her front step like a caged bull. The entire time, I debate whether or not I should risk waking her up when the door swings open and reveals a very frustrated Natalie.

  “You.”

  I smirk. “Me.”

  She grits her teeth. It’s obvious she’s annoyed with my presence for the evening. “Why are you here?”

  “I need to talk to Soph.”

  “You can’t.”

  I scoff. “Excuse me? Why the hell not?”

  I can almost see her inner battle as she deliberates with herself. After a moment, she sighs in defeat before licking her lips. “She’s asleep.” Her tone is apologetic and makes me wonder if Sophie being unavailable is the only thing she’s sorry for.

  I curse under my breath before pushing for details. “So? What the hell’s going on, Natalie? I’m in love with that girl, and the moment I admit it, she starts acting weird. I’m kind of freaking out here. Will you please throw me a bone and tell me what the hell is happening?”

  She bounces on the balls of her feet for about five seconds before finally giving me a break. “Look. Sophie cares about you. A lot. But she was just given a piece of new…” she hesitates, searching for the right word, “...information that she’s trying to process right now. She’ll tell you when she’s ready.”

  I quirk my brow. “Will she?”

  Natalie breaks eye contact, choosing to stare down at my feet instead of looking me in the eye, which makes me question whether she’s telling the truth or not.

  “Will she?” I repeat. My tone is laced with frustration.

  “She has to,” Natalie whispers.

  “Natalie….”

  She shakes her head in return. “Look, Nathan. I’m still not sure if I like you after what you did to her, so I think it’s best if you go, okay? Get some rest, and you’ll see Sophie in the morning.”

  She goes to close the door, but I stick my foot between it and the frame, barring her from locking me out. “Natalie, I screwed up. Big time. Leaving Sophie that night was the hardest and dumbest thing I’ve ever done. It’s the biggest regret I’ve ever made, and it won’t happen again. I apologized to her, and now I’ve apologized to you. But, please. Tell me what’s going on. I can’t fix it if I don’t know what the problem is in the first place.”

  Natalie releases a sigh of defeat. “Nathan. It’s not my place. You need to go. Now.”

  And with that, she looks down at my shoe, pointedly, and waits for me to remove it so she can close the door.

  Her strange riddle is enough to make me step away and give her the space she needs in order to do so.

  “Night, Nathan,” she whispers sadly.

  Before I can return the gesture, the lock clicks into place.

  “Night,” I mutter to the closed door.

  I spend the next few hours on the beach, with only the moon’s distant light guiding me.

  I can only assume Sophie’s information, as Natalie put it, has something to do with me.

 

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