Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

KATE

O n Saturday afternoon, I push through the door to Luigi's Italian. It's our group's favorite place to eat, and as I locate a very smiley Luna and a very tanned Felicity, I can't help wondering if this was the place Jensen booked.

"I'm sorry I'm late," I say to my two besties. "I overslept."

Felicity throws me a look like I'm from another planet. "First, you're running late, and then you tell me you've overslept. Okay, who are you, and what have you done with my friend?"

I snort a laugh. "I couldn't sleep for some reason."

That reason being the unborn child I'm carrying from the man I can't stand, and somehow, I need to tell you both about it, probably in the next half hour.

"I thought British people didn't tan?" I ask, deflecting my own thoughts.

On instinct, I take the wine list when Luna hands it to me. There's quite literally nothing I can have on here. I'm going to murder Jensen Jones.

Felicity spins her forearm around in front of her, admiring her olive glow. "Trust me, this baby took work. Jon sits there for an hour and looks like he's been away for three weeks."

"I'm sorry, but are you really complaining about struggling to tan." Luna flicks the page in the menu. "I have never tanned in my life, only burned. And I'm from Florida!"

"Babe, no one needs to tan with a complexion like yours," Felicity croons. "It's flawless."

"Are you ready to order?" The waitress approaches our table. "I can take drinks first."

"I'll have a glass of your Italian Pinot, please." Felicity glances around our table and tips her chin. "Make that three glasses, nine ounces, thank you."

"No!" Both Luna and I shout in unison.

Felicity's head whips to me, and then Luna in surprise, along with a couple more in the restaurant. Luna eyes me carefully, and I can tell Felicity is waiting for my explanation. I clear my throat. "I've been feeling a little off lately." I close the wine list and hand it back to the waitress. "I'll take an orange juice, please."

"Kate."

"Yes, Felicity?" I reply.

"Are you okay?"

I don't answer, but look to Luna. "We both said no. Sometimes we just don't feel like it, right babe?"

Luna's face flashes with excitement. "Well, actually," she giggles. "I'm off alcohol completely."

"Wait, what?!" Felicity announces, turning more heads our way.

"I can't hold it in any longer. I'm pregnant!" Luna squeaks. "Zach and I are pregnant!" She wipes under her eye. "Happy tears."

Standing from her chair, Felicity gathers Luna in her arms. "Oh my goodness! I know how much you have both wanted this, how hard Zach's tried." She laughs. "You are going to make the best mummy in the world."

My heart implodes, curling in on itself as tears begin to tumble down my cheeks. In desperation to hide my reaction to such incredible news for my friends, I snatch at the napkin underneath my knife and fork, sending them crashing to the floor with a clatter. "Oh, shit."

Luna leaps from her seat. "Kate, what's wrong?!"

"I'm good. I'm great." Quickly, I swipe everything from the floor and set my knife and fork back down on the table. "Everything is just…great."

"Talk to us." Felicity sits back down and pins me with a serious, no shit taken glare.

"Can we just concentrate on Luna's news for a moment?" I say, holding my hand out for her to take. "I'm truly so happy for you, friend. I know how much you've both wanted to start a family. You will make the best mommy." Tears continue to stream from my eyes.

She smiles but holds concern for me in her gaze. "What is it, Kate?"

"When are you due?" I ask.

"March twentieth," she confirms.

Almost the same date as me.

Silence descends on our table, and I look from Luna to Felicity and back to Luna, both of them waiting for me to share what's going on.

Relaxing my shoulders, I take in a deep gulp of air. "I'm due March twenty-third."

Audible gasps ring from both of my best friends.

"Kate, are you being serious?" Felicity eventually speaks first.

I nod, looking down, trying to hide my damp eyes. "Yep."

"Have you been in touch with Tom?" Luna asks.

I shake my head. "No, and I don't intend to, either."

"Babe, I know this is a shock and will take time to process, but he really needs to know as soon as possible," Felicity says.

Finally, I look at them both. I squeeze my eyes shut for a second, readying to drop the next bombshell. "He's not the dad."

"Okay, I have two juices and a large wine." Our server stands next to us with an expectant look on her face.

Felicity doesn't take her eyes off me when she replies, "Just leave them on the table, and we'll sort, thanks."

"Sure! Are you ready to order?"

"Nowhere near," Luna says, equally dazed.

"Oh, okay. I'll give you guys another few minutes."

"It's Jensen's."

Luna's jaw hits the floor as her dainty hand flies up to cover her mouth. "As in Jones? Jensen Jones, the goalie, our goalie…ohmygod, Jensen?!"

Offering a pathetic smile, I nod slowly.

"How much for the entire bottle?" Felicity begins searching through her wine list once more.

Despite everything, I snort a laugh. "Well, you might as well have one for me since I can't drink."

"Yeah, me too," Luna adds.

Felicity takes a deep breath, matched by her long sip of wine. "So if you're due at the same time as Luna, that must mean…" she pauses, mentally calculating a possible timeline. "Around the time of our wedding?"

"Yeah," I confirm.

"How long have you known?" Felicity asks.

I look at both my friends. "Couple of days. But you're both the first people I've told. No one knows but my doctor. I needed a minute to try and process everything and calm down."

Not that its worked.

"Not even your parents?"

I look at Luna and smirk. "They're the last people I plan on telling."

Felicity nods in understanding. "Violet is quite possibly the biggest hypocrite I've ever met—the woman who expects her daughter to have zero personal life and focus entirely on work yet has two children herself."

"I wondered why you never mentioned her. She sounds delightful. Perhaps we can compare notes on supportive moms one day." Luna takes a sip of juice and sets the glass back down. "Was it just one time with him?"

Flutters float through my body as that same memory of him behind comes racing back. "It was the night of the wedding." I flick my hair over my shoulder. "It's like I hate him and the way he seems able to crawl under my skin and call me out. The sexual tension has been building for ages?—"

"Mmm-hmm," Felicity says around her glass.

I drop my shoulders and raise a brow at her. "As I was saying, it's been building for a while, and, well, on the day of the wedding, he asked me to spend a night with him. He said I would be back for more."

"And obviously, you took him up on his offer."

I look at Luna and trace a circle over my stomach. "Obviously."

"I'm sorry, but I have to ask. Was it good, and therefore, will you be ‘back for more?'"

I throw her an incredulous look. "What do you think, Felicity?"

"I think you went all night long with him, and despite the current conditions, you will, in fact, be ‘back for more.' But you hate the fact you want to." She sets down her wine glass. "Let's be real for a second, though; more sex with Jensen Jones is low on the list of priorities."

"No kidding," I agree sarcastically.

"You need to tell him, like yesterday."

"Seconded," Luna declares.

I sit back in my chair and cross my legs over at the knee. "Are we forgetting he's a dickhead who doesn't do commitment? The moment I tell him I'm carrying his child, he's going to run so fast in the opposite direction that the Scorpions will be looking for a new goalie."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. Also, can I just point out that you are more alike than you care to admit? And I think that's why you clash. You don't do commitment, but I don't see you running away from your responsibilities, ever." Felicity points out.

"He is your doppelganger," Luna nods.

"What?"

"Deny it all you want, babe, but that's why he's under your skin so much and likely you under his. You both infuriate each other, but you're also like magnets, physically attracted to one another." Felicity makes yet another accurate statement.

I drop my head between my shoulders, my hair falling in front of my face as I let out a low groan. "I'm not built to be a mom, and I can't see him relishing being a dad, especially to the baby of a ‘spoiled princess.'" I hold up my fingers and air quote the last two words.

"He said that?" Luna exclaims.

"He doesn't mean it," Felicity quickly counters.

My head whips up. "Why are you defending him?"

She leans forward, clasping her hands together on the table. "Like it or not, babe, you're now having a baby with him. I'm not saying fall madly in love with the guy, but I am saying you need to get along, for both of your sakes. I'm also saying you need to give him a chance because I think he might just surprise you."

I purse my lips together and nod. "I agree with you, apart from the last bit. I just don't see him stepping up."

"Also, you're going to be a great mom, and you know why? Because everything you set your mind to, you do with determination and heart. Yes, this isn't where you expected to be, but you will nail it, and you have us to support you." Felicity gestures between herself and Luna.

"We can share our pregnancy journeys!" Luna squeaks with excitement.

I smile sweetly at her. "Other than our gestation period and due dates, I don't think our journeys will look very similar."

Reaching across, Luna places her hand over mine. "Talk to him. Let him support you. I think Felicity's right."

"I will," I say, looking at the menu to finally decide what I want. "As soon as possible."

"Today," Felicity insists. "Right after this lunch. He's at home packing and relaxing before he heads to Alberta."

A wave of disappointment hits me, and I hate it. "He's heading out of town?"

I swear she notices and smirks at the way I try to hide my reaction. "Yes. He leaves in a day or two—I can't remember exactly when Jon said—but he's at home. He's been more withdrawn lately. Not the same Jensen."

"He has?"

"Especially since you stormed out of his room and flew back to Seattle." Luna winces. "I'm guessing I walked in on the morning after?"

"Yep." I pop my p.

"Today, babe," Felicity repeats.

I roll my eyes, knowing she's right.

"Okay, are we all set?"

Felicity closes her menu and smiles at the waitress. "Yes. Never been clearer."