Page 96 of Rockstar Baby

“Well, that’s never going to change.” Maggie set the clothes down and moved to the box of wine on the refreshment station. “But alcohol helps.”

Zoe sighed and rubbed the side of her belly. “Soon, my body won’t be an incubator for the footballer I’m carrying. Ian’s words, not mine. I’d say soccer, but then he…” Her cheeks flushed. “Well, let’s just say he reminds me why I enjoy the British side of him.”

I laughed. “Can’t say the Irish in Rory is a detriment.” I slid on the floor next to Kinleigh and crossed my legs. The makeshift button expander on my pants pinched. “Ugh, I’m going to have to have to alter my damn clothes.”

“Guys have it so easy, they just push their belts lower.” Zoe leaned back on her elbows with a sigh. “There you go, little one. Stretch out a little.”

“Is your metabolism finally slowing?” Kinleigh asked me. “I thought for sure it was permanently set on high.”

“I suck at dieting, but maybe I’m going to have to start. Nothing fits right.”

Zoe rolled onto her side on the hassock. “Bra?”

“Ugh, definitely the bra. I swear, my boobs grew a whole size. Where was that when I was in high school?”

Maggie paused before she held out the glass of rosé. “Super sensitive?”

I blushed. The last time I was with Rory, that had definitely been a factor. Everything felt over-sensitive.

Maggie swung her hand to Kinleigh and handed her the wine instead.

I frowned and sat up straighter. “Oh, no.”

“Oh, shit.” Kinleigh’s eyes widened and she downed her wine like a shot.

Digging out my phone, I flicked open my medical app. I was never regular so my gynecologist convinced me to track my period just to make sure nothing was too out of whack. I’d forgotten about it between shifts at the diner and the ice cream thing.

I swiped back two screens. “Oh, no.”

I was two months late—at least.

Seventeen

“Areyou sure you want to go all the way—”

“Yes. God, yes.”

Two towns over, maybe even four. God, buying a pregnancy test in the Cove was asking for my damn name to be on the front of the newspaper by morning. Not to mention The Cove Facebook group. I’d seen exactly how that had worked with Vee from Brewed Awakening. And she wasn’t even pregnant at the time.

The viral gossip-fest heated up the minute someone had the stomach flu, for God’s sake. Flu or baby flu? The whispers started immediately. Even more than a few years ago.

Now it was a near pandemic in this town. And I was pretty sure I had it.

My hand slid over my still very flat belly. Yes, I’d gained a few pounds, but it was more of a…suck it in in and zip those pants a la high school. Okay, so I’d done the button expander thing, but it wasn’t like I had to buy a whole new wardrobe.

Yet.

That little voice needed to be squashed.

Zoe and Maggie had been very understanding—especially Zoe. She even told me I could ask any questions I had.

And more importantly, she said she wouldn’t tell Ian or Rory.

It might be a false alarm.

It might be gas.

It might be ice cream.