Page 144

Kit told me he went over to his parents’ to talk to his dad. And that he told his mom about the baby. And Lili since she was there. There was no mention of any yelling in his recap.
“Yeah. But don’t worry. Mom and I peeped on them hugging it out on the sidewalk after. They both have quick rebound rates. Although …” Lili tilts her head. “I’d never seen Kit that mad—reallymad—before. So, that was interesting.”
I bite my bottom lip hard. “Do your parents hate me?”
“Hateyou? Why?”
“I mean, are they mad about the pregnancy?”
Lili doesn’t reply right away, which rachets up my anxiety. “Are they mad Kit didn’t tell them sooner? Most definitely. Charlie and I didn’t get much sleep—and not for any fun reasons. We’re staying in the room next to Dad’s office, and he and Mom had a long,loudconversation after Kit left last night. But mad about the pregnancy? No. Dad hauled the rocking chair that was in our nurseries down from storage this morning. Pretty sure he’s planning to bring it over here. Mom went into work at seven a.m. so she could sketch clothes for a possible children’s line. They’re excited. Probably still processing—I know I am—but excited.”
I release a relieved sigh. “Okay. Good.”
“How did your folks take it?”
“Uh … concerned at first. I’d just started working at Kensington Consolidated, so?—”
“You’djuststarted working at Kensington Consolidated?”
I chew on the inside of my cheek. “Yes.”
“Okay, now I get why Mom and Dad were freaking out so much. You’repregnant, pregnant.”
I take a seat next to Lili, back against the wall, and unbelt the wrap coat that’s one of the few items of clothing that still fits me. “Twenty-two weeks.”
“Wow.” She’s staring at my bloated stomach.
The structured blazer I’m wearing disguises the curve a little bit, but the way I’m sitting makes my bump more noticeable. No clothes from my wardrobe, no matter how big or boxy, are going to cover it soon.
“Can I …” Her hand hovers hesitantly, which is rare for Lili. A reassuring reminder that this is as new for her as it is for me.
“Yeah. Of course. Here.” I open my blazer and unbutton the bottom few buttons of the blouse I’m wearing under it. “You might feel a kick. Eggplant tends to be more active at night.”
“Eggplant?” she questions.
“Yeah. We decided to keep the gender a surprise, sowe refer to the baby in food terms. Last week, it was a cantaloupe.”
Gently, Lili places her palm against my bump. “Wow,” she whispers again, rubbing her hand in a small circle.
“Right?” I whisper back. “It’s pretty cool. Crazy and scary sometimes, but also cool.”
Lili withdraws her hand, and I tug my shirt back down.
“So, how’d you and Kit wind up …”
I glance at the penthouse door. “The hard liquor’s inside.”
Lili laughs, then sighs. “I’m too exhausted to move right now. Jet lag isn’t always a choice. Just tell me.”
“You’retired? I’m the one with an eggplant in my uterus.”
“Yeah, and how’d it get there?” She lifts an eyebrow.
“Tequila.”
“You were drunk?”
I chew on the inside of my cheek. Lili and I have shared stories about guys before, but this is different. This is her brother.