Page 7 of Agony of Our Regret (Sorcerer’s Society #11)

SEVEN

Luca opened the front door, and I rushed inside looking for Renea. I asked the guys to be ready early so we could get to the Castellos’ house before the rest of the guests. Gavin thought that meant thirty-minutes. I clarified two hours, although I wasted one of those changing a dozen times.

My bump was getting bigger now, I still fit in my clothes, but I had to get creative in covering it without being obvious. The guys tried to convince me only I or someone who knew could see the change, but I didn’t believe them.

I felt like a whale.

The only thing that made me feel better was giving myself time to settle in and speak with both of their moms before everyone else arrived.

Okay, just Sky and Noah.

“Well, hello,” Bruce greeted, as I paused in the open living area.

“Hi.” I gave him a quick hug. “Where’s your wife?”

He chuckled. “Where’s that enthusiasm for seeing me?”

“Don’t take it personally, Dad. She’s on a mission.” Luca patted Bruce’s shoulder as he moved past us and opened the fridge.

“She’s still getting ready,” his dad finally explained.

“Thanks.” I turned to find her, but Gavin blocked me.

“Don’t we have something to tell Bruce first?”

My shoulders slumped, and I spun around. “We’re pregnant,” I blurted in a deadpan voice.

Bruce laughed again. “No, please. Keep the excitement down.”

I sucked in a breath and calmed myself. “Sorry, I was so focused on making sure we got here before anyone else that I kind of slipped into a one-track mind.”

“She’s nervous,” Luca clarified, and handed me a glass of water and sliced limes.

“About telling me or about seeing the guys?” Bruce asked.

I stared into my drink. “Both.”

“Well, Renae told me about the baby, and we couldn’t be happier for you all. He or she will be the most spoiled—and loved—child ever.”

I blinked several times. “You’re going to make me cry.”

His face fell. “What did I say?”

Gavin side eyed me. “She cries at everything lately. A commercial had her sobbing this morning, and it wasn’t even the ones with sad animals or sick kids. It was for arthritis medication.”

“They were in pain, and now they’re not!” I defended.

Bruce grinned. “I remember the mood swings all too well.”

The guys chuckled with each other while I glared.

“Are you going to make the big announcement tonight?” he asked me.

I shook my head. “No. Absolutely not.”

“But Chris and Wes know. Don’t you think they’ve shared the news?”

“I asked them not to.” Of course, that didn’t mean they honored my wishes.

“It’s one thing for them to keep it from their sons while they were abroad. It will be a lot harder now that they’re back.”

I sat my glass on the counter. “I’m not ready to tell Noah and Sky.”

“And that’s your decision to make.” Renae appeared in the kitchen and swept me into a hug. I squeezed her tight before stepping back. She gave me a warm smile. “I spoke with Chris and Wes yesterday. Neither of them told anyone else. They agree it’s your choice, but both wished that you would tell the boys sooner rather than later.”

I sighed and nodded. “I just don’t want it to be the first thing I say to them. They might be here now, but it's by force. They didn’t return to be with us.”

Bruce tilted his head, studying me.

“We understand.” Renae squeezed my arm, then went to Luca and kissed his cheek. “Tonight is a chance to reunite and catch up. Not just for you three, but for everyone. We’ve all been off in a million directions. We haven’t seen anyone other than Tessa and Daniel in quite a while.”

That reminder lightened the load tensing my neck. Just because I carried a huge secret didn’t mean tonight was about that.

Catching up with some of the parents for the first time since moving back would be nice.

“So, what did you need to see Renae so urgently about?” Bruce asked, reminding me of my primary task.

I turned to her, then glanced back at Bruce. “I could use your help too.”

They both nodded.

“If you see me cornered with Noah or Sky, or both of them,” I began, cringing at the thought, “rescue me?”

Renae offered an understanding smile. “I will.”

Bruce didn’t immediately respond, so I waited. “You will tell them eventually? As I understand it, there’s a chance the baby is biologically one of theirs as well.”

“Yes and yes.”

“Then I’ll keep an eye on you.”

I exhaled, feeling some of the weight slip off me. “Thank you.”

Dropping a bomb like this on the guys the first time we were all together felt more than a little wrong. Not only was my pride bruised since they weren’t coming back for me and Luca and Gavin, but I simply wasn’t ready.

I’d only had a couple of weeks to soak in the news, and while the morning sickness kicking in certainly made it feel more real, I wasn’t ready to share. Too many people knew as it was. People I hadn’t chosen to tell. I couldn’t hold it against Wes, Chris, and Tessa that they worried about me and my health. Having so many care about me was a blessing, but I was still getting used to that, even after all these years.

Growing up with a cold, distant mother and a workaholic dad meant I only had my brother, Spencer, and best friend, Becca. Losing them devastated me. Then leaving the only home I knew and learning the woman who raised me, barely, wasn’t my biological mother only made the isolation I felt worse.

I might spend the rest of my life adjusting to having a such a large family, but knowing my child would never grow up like I did was an immense comfort. They would be surrounded by amazing, supportive people with more love than they could ever want.

“What can I help with?” Luca asked his mom, leaning against the counter.

“I ordered several trays. They’re in the outside fridge.” She directed him outside with a pointed finger.

Gavin leaned in. “Hopefully, they aren’t all the fancy kind.”

Bruce ducked in between us. “I slipped in one with nachos and another with deli sandwiches.”

I burst out laughing, and Gavin looked like he’d been caught doing something wrong.

Bruce smirked. “What? You think I don’t know how pretentious some of her picks are? If I ever eat another slice of manchego cheese thinking it’s gouda, I will revolt. There’s no recovering from sheep’s milk that tastes like funky BO. Your taste buds are done for the night.”

I snickered but covered it with a cough when Renae came back with Luca and trays of food.

Bruce lifted a brow and walked away.

“Why don’t you sit and rest while we get the rest set up?” Gavin kissed my temple and guided me to the couch as if I’d protest.

My energy levels were dropping by the day. I wasn’t sure how I’d make it another twenty-six weeks at this rate. Hopefully, if I relaxed or managed a nap now, I’d get through the night without drawing attention.

I woke to voices. I shot up but relaxed when I only saw Tessa and Daniel.

“There you are.” Tessa sat next to me and pulled me in for a hug.

I laughed and squeezed her back. “We saw each other yesterday.”

“Yes, but that was before I realized how stressful this night was going to be for you. I’m sorry I didn’t make the connection before.”

I waved her off. “As long as you and the others keep an eye out for me and make sure they can’t corner me, it will be fine. If Sky catches me in a lie, he won’t let it go.”

She nodded. “Of course. You haven’t had much time to process this on top of recovering from the accident. I understand wanting to take things one step at a time. Seeing them is going to be enough.”

“Exactly.”

She helped me stand, and I went to the bathroom to freshen up and make sure it didn’t look like I just woke up. By the time I reentered the living room, more people had arrived. I kept a smile in place and waved and hugged person after person, all the while keeping an eye on the hall leading to the front door.

Finally, Gwen showed up, and we linked elbows.

“You are mine for the rest of the night,” I said.

She laughed but didn’t argue. “I get to be one of your lovers?”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure. I need a blocker just in case.”

“In case?”

“I have allies keeping an eye out for me, but I want to make sure I don’t end up alone with Noah or Sky.”

“Allies?” She giggled. “Are we in battle?”

“Not yet.” But who knew what would happen when the truth came out?

She waved off my dramatics. “You’re being ridiculous. I get Sky, but why Noah?”

I shrugged. “To be safe. I’m not sure what will come out of my mouth when I see them.”

“You guys are all good, though?”

“Yeah, but he used to be able to tell if something was going on with me or if I was keeping a secret. I can’t let that happen.”

“Got it.”

She was the best.

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.” I led her to the kitchen island covered with half a dozen or so trays. How had I slept through them setting all this up?

“Oh, yum.” Gwen set a ham sandwich on a plate before picking it up and then handing me an empty one.

Nachos had been calling my name since Bruce mentioned them earlier, and by the look of the towering pile of chips, meat, and toppings, I would not be disappointed.

My friend and I both loaded up with food before claiming two seats at the smaller dining table in the kitchen rather than the one in the attached dining room. I ate, listening to her update on Steph and CeeCee’s move to Orlando, but my focus stayed on the new arrivals.

I tensed when Chris, Michael, Robert, and Jolene walked in, but Sky wasn’t with them. I waved with my free hand, the other guiding a chip to my mouth. Gwen twisted and greeted them before facing me again.

“Chris knows, right?”

I nodded. “But Renae checked with him yesterday, and he hasn’t told anyone else.”

His partners didn’t glare at me or do much more than offer a normal hello, so I believed him.

“How long will that last?” she asked, but I didn’t answer.

He and Wes wanted me to tell their sons as soon as possible, but I refused to let that pressure me into doing anything before I was ready.

“Oh!” Gwen exclaimed, eyes wide.

It was all the warning I got before I was lifted off the ground.

“There’s my Sweets!” Sky’s voice boomed through the room, and I let out a nervous laugh.“Did I surprise you? I came in through the side door!”

He sat me down, and I spun in his arms, gazing up at his much more rugged and hairy face. He smiled and rubbed his beard. “How do you like the new look?”

I tried to hide my initial disgust, but he caught it.

“Don’t worry. I just wanted to shock my parents and get your reactions. It will come off tomorrow.” He stroked several inches long patch of hair covering the lower part of his face. I liked the scruffy look from his graduation, but this was far too much.

And unruly as if it could be a hiding spot for foreign creatures.

He’d tied his hair back in a bun, and I had a bad feeling about it too.

“Maybe a trip to a barber is in your future?”

He grinned, making his eyes sparkle. “If that’s what my girl wants.”

His girl?

I stepped back, and another arm slid around my shoulders. “Wow, you look like you’ve been living in the jungle for three months,” Luca teased.

“Yeah, pretty much,” Sky chuckled.

Gwen observed us from a few feet away. My eyes went wide, and she mouthed “my girl” with a lifted brow.

Sky and I were on good terms. We spoke often, and I understood his decision to stay with Noah. Still, a distance had definitely grown between us—even greater than since I last saw him. The contradiction was confusing and not quite fair. Maybe I could blame the hormones, but things had changed.

Did he think we’d simply go back to normal, whatever that was?

“So, how was it?” I didn’t know what else to say or where to start. Should we wait for Noah so they could tell us about their adventures together? Where was Gavin? Why did I suddenly want to cry?

Sky was here. I could touch him.

But it didn’t feel real. Or right.

“Great, we took plenty of photos and videos to show you all.”

“Should we hook up your phone to the projector in the theater room? We can go through the slides like back in the day when someone got home from vacation,” Luca suggested.

Sky grimaced. “I doubt everyone here wants to see.”

“Yet you think we do.” Luca laughed like he was teasing, but resentment weaved through his voice.

“Yeah, you’re right. It’s lame.” Sky glanced around. “Where’s Gavin?”

I looked around, and Gwen had disappeared. She probably sensed the tension and bailed. Lucky.

“Over there.” Luca pointed across the room. He was talking to Aaron, who I hadn’t seen arrive.

“Oh, man! I haven’t seen him in years!” Sky kissed my cheek. “I’m going to say hi.” Then he hurried over to join them.

I rested my head on Luca’s shoulder. “This feels weird.”

“Yup.”

I stepped back to look up at him. “You feel it too?”

He nodded and sighed. “I’m glad they’re back. It’s good to see him, and I know he didn’t abandon us the same way Noah and Vince did. I did forgive them for that, but it’s weird. I thought I’d be more excited to see him.”

“Exactly,” I agreed. “Maybe it will take a few days.”

He frowned. “Maybe if we knew he wouldn’t disappear again.”

That too.

“And maybe if we weren’t hiding something huge from them,” I reminded him and myself, then bit my lip.

“We’ll tell them eventually.”

Luca hugged me and kissed my forehead. “I know, love. I’m not rushing you. The right time will come.”

I appreciated his support and relaxed into him, closing my eyes and taking a moment to collect myself.

I sensed him before I saw him.

I turned just as he stepped into the kitchen and immediately found me watching him. The corner of his lips quirked.

He took one step forward before he froze.

His gaze dropped to the floor, and he swayed a bit before his dad, Stanley, caught him and held him up.

Only a few seconds passed before the vision ended, and Noah’s head snapped up.

His eyes locked on mine, filled with something like anger.

Shit.