Page 68 of Jain

“Why?” Harley demanded, pushing his hair back from his face. He frowned, and Kate chewed on her lip before muttering something inaudible that Harley brushed off. “Oh god, just tell them already. I’m too excited.”

Sarah came back, dropping four pints of beer onto the table.

“Here we are, four pints of the strongest ale they have.”

Kate shifted uncomfortably, and Harley grinned.

“You’re pregnant,” I gasped, and Harley almost leapt up with excitement.

“Yes! We are!”

“Harley, sit down.” Kate laughed as he kissed her hard on the lips.

“No, I won’t. I love you, Kate. I fucking love you, and Anya, and our baby. I want the world to know.”

Tears pricked my eyes again before Sarah elbowed me. “That is not a surprise. Harley has banged on about a football team of kids since we have known him. The sadness in your eyes when you tried that beautiful dress on? That was a surprise. Not a good one, either.”

I opened my mouth to protest when she pushed the two pints towards me.

“You’re not pregnant, are you?” she checked, and I shook my head firmly.

“Good. Now drink up and start at the beginning. No bullshit either.”

Sarah began to down her pint, and I sipped mine gingerly.

Kate and Harley were oblivious to us, lost in their world of adoration and parenting. I gazed at them when I felt another jab in the ribs.

“Am I going to have to start guessing?” Sarah hissed, sliding her empty glass on the table as I stared at it in disbelief.

“Guessing?” I repeated, knowing I was playing a loser’s game.

“You’re either fucking terrified, or you’re not in love with him.”

I reached for my pint, quickly drinking it despite my stomach warning me to slow down.

“Sarah, please don’t ask questions I can’t answer. You, on the other hand, look the happiest I’ve ever seen you. What gives?”

“Fuck that,” she snorted, standing up to get another drink. “You tell me, and I’ll tell you, honeybunch.”

Sarah smirked as she walked up to the bar, ordering another round of drinks. I noticed this time there was one soft drink, and I smiled. I was happy for Kate and Harley, but my secret was weighing heavily on my shoulders. Maybe it would do me good to tell Sarah, but not here.

When she sat back down, Harley began asking about work, and we all joked about how weird it was that I would be working at our old school. Sarah made eye contact with me a few times but didn’t seem to press the issue.

“Oh my god, Mr Silver still works there!” Kate gasped as Harley made a face. “He’s gorgeous and only thirty. He’s with Vada!”

“What?!” Sarah scoffed as she ripped open a packet of crisps. I noticed she didn’t offer them out, and it made me smile. “God, she hounded him. He never seemed interested.”

“Lack of options, I bet,” Harley drawled as Kate yawned. “Maybe his girlfriend got bored of him, and he ended up with big ‘ole tits. Hardly girlfriend material.”

“Harley!” Kate scolded as he held his hands up in apology.

“I’m just saying...” Harley muttered, and it was then that Sarah spoke.

“How do you feel about it? Working back at school?”

I shrugged, trying to ignore the well of panic that was growing in my stomach.

“It is what it is. It will probably be a bit weird—”