Breaking Even(34)

“Brin!” Tria calls, waving at me from a restaurant patio. As I move toward her, I see a red-cheeked Ash sitting beside her, sipping from a teacup.

Rain sits down with them just as I near, and then I see Raya Capperton right behind her, a bitter scowl on her usually sweet face. What’s going on? And why do they all look pissed?

“Are you guys okay?” I ask sincerely, and Ash starts crying into her napkin.

Oh no.

“We hate men,” Raya says while crossing her arms under her chest, her eyes the saddest I’ve ever seen them. I really thought things would be better between her and Kade by now.

“I can’t be in public,” Ash says, wiping her eyes as her tears pour uncontrollably.

I stand on the sidewalk as they sit behind the rod iron-fence separating us, and I remain dumbfounded and completely useless.

“We can’t go to my place,” Tria grumbles.

“Mine either,” Raya growls.

“Certainly not mine,” Rain says, sighing... oddly.

Shit. I really, really, really wanted to hang out with Rye tonight. I have so much fun when he’s around, but... Ah, hell. I have to do the right thing.

“You can come to my place. Maggie has a date tonight, so my house will be empty.”

I won’t cancel on him until I know for sure they are staying for a long period of time.

Apparently all hell has broken loose in the fairytale lives of the Sterling Sparklers.

***

BRIN

When I open the door, I hear a rustling motion in my room, as though there’s a struggle. What the hell? Did he set up a prank that moves?

“I can’t believe he did this,” Ash groans.

I still have no idea what’s going on with all of the girls. They rode with me, but they were bashing men without details as to why they were ranting.

Instead of going to my room to find what prank Rye has left behind, I move to the kitchen and decide to make margaritas instead.

“What happened?” I ask as Rain gives Ash another tissue.

“He didn’t tell me. He kept it from me, and now... now... I’m going to kill him,” Ash growls, her fury sweeping in quickly.

The rustling in my room turns to silence, and I realize that jackass is in there right now. I’m going to kill him before Ash kills Tag. That’s why he asked me what I was doing. He wanted to make sure I was going to be out of the house, and like an idiot, I even gave him a timeframe to plot his attack. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

“Why are you killing Tag?” I ask softly, serving her the first strong glass of margarita.

“Because I’m pregnant and he didn’t tell me!” she barks, and I slide the margarita away from her. Obviously she can’t drink that in her condition.

Everyone at the table goes still and silent. Apparently no one knew. But... isn’t that something the girl tells the guy? Not the other way around?

“It’s payback. For Trip. I know it is. I’m going to kill him,” she groans, dropping her head to her hands.

“I thought you were on the pill,” Rain says quietly.

“I am. But I had to change my prescription two months ago. Whenever you change your pills, there’s a major possibility that you can get pregnant. So, we used condoms during that period of time. One of the condoms broke the last time I got drunk. My fertile son of a bitch husband knew it, but he kept it a secret.

“For two months he’s acted differently. He has constantly stopped me from drinking alcohol, limited my caffeine intake, and has even made me eat healthy shit. And he did it all with stealth so that I didn’t notice. He’s crafty like that. It’s one of the things I love and hate about him. But you have to tell a girl there’s another body growing inside of her if you’re suspicious!”

Whoa.

“You’re sure you’re pregnant?” Tria asks.

“Positive. I took ten tests. Not one of them said negative. My bladder has shriveled up in fear because I tried to take more tests. One time—the condom only broke one time.”

She scrubs her face with her hands and glances down to her stomach while we all search for the right thing to say.

“Wow. He really is fertile. Or maybe it’s the two of you combined, considering you’re the first and only girl he’s ever gotten pregnant,” Rain says, looking just as shocked as I feel.

Ash’s eyes change, anger fleeing as regret fills them. “I’m so sorry, Rain. This is... I’m an insensitive bitch for griping about this in front of you.”

I forgot Rain can’t have children, and I’m sure this is hard for her to sit in on.

Rain smiles warmly and rubs Ash’s hand in hers. “You’re not an insensitive bitch. I don’t think you know how to be. You were surprised, then a little freaked out, and now you’re venting. It’s allowed.”