Chapter 21

WILLOW

I turnmy head and everyone is running down the hallway.

Mac. Violet. Villi. Gabriel. Ruby. Jax. Mila.

I slap at Knox’s hands.

So he’s not touching me. And so he hides the ultrasound pictures.

My brain obviously hasn’t caught up to the moment yet.

There’s only one reason why they would all be here.

They know.

They know I’m pregnant.

“Willow!” Mila cries out. “You’re pregnant?”

“Yeah, sure, announce it to the world,” I say.

“You slept with Knox?” Ruby asks.

“Why is that surprising?” I ask.

“So this it all real?” Gabriel asks.

“I’m so excited I might cry,” Violet says.

“Let me see the pics,” Villi orders.

Knox and I look at each other.

I guess there’s no point in trying to deny anything now…

I nod at him.

He hands off the ultrasound picture to Villi.

“Holy shit,” Villi says.

“I want to see,” Violet says.

Villi pulls his hands away. “Yeah? Well, you know what I want to see, Violet. Can’t always get what we want, right?”

“This is a special moment for Willow and Knox and you’re worried about my breasts?” Violet asks.

“If anything, worry about Willow’s boobs,” Mac says. “They’re going to get huge.”

Villi looks at me.

“Stop it,” I say. “All of you.”

I cover my chest with my left hand as though I’m topless.

“Wait a second,” Mila says. “Pregnant? You two? Together? Like… for real?”

“No, it’s a fake pregnancy,” I say.

“She didn’t mean it like that,” Jax says.

“Then what?” Knox asks.

“Dude,” Villi says. “Are you two together? Or did you just get drunk and fuck once?”

“Wow,” I say.

“Leave them alone,” Violet says. “This is such a big moment.”

“Wait a second,” I say. “How in the world do you all know?”

Everyone falls silent.

They all look at each other.

Like they can’t figure out or remember how they all know.

“You know, Mac, you’re a real asshole,” Knox finally says.

“Me?” Mac asks. “What did I do?”

“You know what you did,” Knox says.

“You told Mac?” I ask.

“I didn’t tell him a thing,” Knox says. “He saw.”

“Whoa, wait a second,” Mac says.

“What did you see?” Violet asks Mac.

“Hold on a second,” Mac says. Now he’s nervous.

“Mac saw me with a pregnancy test,” Knox says. “In the locker room.”

“That was yours?” Gabriel asks.

“Guys don’t take pregnancy tests,” Jax says.

“Willow put it in my gym bag,” Knox says.

“Wait,” I say. “How did…”

Knox looks at me. “You snuck the pregnancy test into my bag. And it fell out onto the floor in the locker room. Everyone saw it. Then it got thrown out. I took it out of the trash to keep it and Mac caught me.”

“You really kept it?” I ask.

“Aw, that’s the sweetest thing ever,” Mila says.

“Digging through the trash?” Ruby asks.

“Hey, wait a second,” Mac says. “Look at me, Knox. I didn’t say a word to anyone. Not even Violet!”

“So you knew all along?” Violet asks Mac.

Before he can respond, she slaps him across the face.

“Nice shot,” Villi says.

“I kept to my word!” Mac cries out as he rubs his cheek.

“You’re not supposed to keep anything from me,” Violet says to him. “Ever.”

“She has a point,” I say.

“Agreed,” Knox adds.

“What the hell?” Mac asks.

“Everyone back up a minute,” Jax says. “So that pregnancy test… that was from Willow…”

“Yes,” I say.

“I still can’t believe you two screwed,” Gabriel says.

“What’s the big deal?” Knox growls. “Can’t two people enjoy each other?”

“No protection though?” Ruby asks.

“Are we done yet?” I ask.

“No,” Knox says. “Mac was the only one who knew. And he didn’t tell anyone. Yet everyone is here…”

“Good point,” I say. “Let’s get this all out in the open then. Once and for all. I’m pregnant. With Knox’s baby.”

I can’t say I feel relief.

It’s more like a controlled panic that ripples throughout my body.

I haven’t even had the chance to process the appointment I just had!

“Congrats,” Mac says. “Seriously. This is nuts.”

“Before everyone starts cheering,” Knox says. “You all know. Somehow, you all know. I didn’t say a word to anyone. Willow didn’t say a word to anyone either. Mac knew by accident but he kept his mouth shut.”

They all look at each other again.

I mean, it’s a valid point or question or thought or whatever.

How the heck did they all find out I was pregnant?