Page 32 of Secrets of the Past (Secrets of Mustang Island #3)

T he bathroom door rattled as Crystal knocked for the third time.

“Paige? Are you done in there?”

That morning, Crystal had sent out an urgent call for all of them to meet at Paige’s rental. Emergency gatherings were rare, almost unheard of, but today, every one of them had come.

From inside came a groan. “Would you quit rushing me? This is not like baking a pie. You can’t just open the oven door every five seconds!”

Nicole, leaning against the hallway wall with Amanda and Jennifer, lifted her brows. “Should we be worried?”

Amanda smirked. “Depends. If she’s in there with a bottle of tequila, yes.”

Jennifer crossed her arms. “I told you. She’s taking a pregnancy test.”

Nicole’s mouth fell open. “What? Who’s the father?”

Crystal rolled her eyes at the group. “Yes, Sherlock. And, apparently, the apocalypse happens at the three-minute mark because she’s been moaning about it the whole time.”

Inside the bathroom, Paige snapped, “I can hear you, you know!”

Amanda grinned wickedly. “Good. We’re judging you out here.”

Nicole pressed a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing.

The nerves in her stomach churned, not for herself but for her friend.

She knew Paige well enough to know that control was her gospel, except when it came to men.

There, she’d always flown by the seat of her stilettos, chasing freedom and living the single life to the fullest. But even Paige couldn’t outmaneuver two little pink lines on a stick.

“Don’t know,” Crystal said. “I don’t think it’s anyone around here. Have you heard or seen her talking to anyone?”

“Just the pizza delivery boy, but he’s way too young,” Amanda said.

“Hey, I don’t do youngsters,” she replied from behind the door. “I like my men to know what they’re doing.”

They all laughed.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the door creaked open. Paige’s face was pale, her eyes wide, and she held the plastic stick in her trembling hand. She looked at Crystal first, like she couldn’t bring herself to face the others yet.

“Um,” Paige said, her voice squeaky. “What does it mean when there’s a pink plus sign?”

Crystal’s grin spread slow and certain. “It means you’re pregnant.”

Paige’s mouth fell open. “Oh crap.”

Amanda whooped. “Called it!”

Jennifer’s eyes widened. “Holy hell. Paige, are you serious?”

Nicole stepped forward gently, her heart squeezing at the sight of her usually unflappable friend looking so lost. “Oh, Paige…”

“I can’t be pregnant!” Paige blurted, pacing the narrow hall. “I have a career. I have plans. I have… I have a yoga retreat booked in Tulum! Pregnant women don’t sip cocktails in infinity pools!”

Amanda snorted. “Correction: pregnant women shouldn’t sip cocktails in infinity pools. I’ve known some who tried.”

“Not funny!” Paige snapped, though her voice wobbled. She pressed a hand to her forehead. “I don’t even like children. They’re sticky and loud, and they ruin throw pillows.”

Crystal leaned against the doorframe, hands on her belly. “Yeah, I had doubts when one moved into my body and started practicing karate at two a.m. You get used to it.”

Paige glared at her. “You are not helping.”

Jennifer stepped closer, her tone calmer, steadier. “Paige. Breathe. You’re not in this alone. Whatever you decide, you have us.”

Nicole nodded. “Always.”

Paige looked around at their faces: Crystal, glowing and maternal; Amanda, smirking but soft-eyed; Jennifer, steady as bedrock; Nicole, glowing from her recent wedding. Her throat tightened.

“Why do you all look so happy?” she demanded. “This is not happy news. This is terrifying. I’d rather face a boardroom full of stuffy old white men than go through nine months of my body being inhabited by a tiny person.”

Amanda grinned. “Because watching you lose your cool is the best entertainment I’ve had in weeks.”

Nicole elbowed her. “Amanda!”

“What?” Amanda shrugged. “I’m being honest.”

Crystal softened her voice. “Paige, listen. It’s scary, yes. It changes everything. But it doesn’t have to be bad. Sometimes the things we don’t plan are the ones we end up being most grateful for.” She rubbed her belly with a small smile. “Trust me. I didn’t plan on a second one so quick.”

Paige’s lower lip trembled. She sank onto the hallway bench, clutching the test like it might bite her.

“Pregnant,” she whispered. Paige threw her hands in the air.

“Pregnant. Me. Of all people. I’ve spent my whole life avoiding this exact scenario, careers, adventures, late nights, bad dates, you name it.

And now, when I’m finally hitting my stride, two stupid pink lines show up and decide my entire future for me.

God, I wasn’t made for diapers and midnight feedings. I can’t even keep a houseplant alive!”

Nicole crouched in front of her, laying a hand over hers. “You don’t have to figure it all out tonight. But you also don’t have to do it alone. We’ll be here. Every step.”

Paige’s eyes shimmered with tears she refused to let fall. She huffed out a laugh, shaking her head. “God help this kid if Aunt Amanda is in charge of babysitting.”

Amanda gasped in mock offense. “Excuse me, I am excellent with children. They love me. I teach them how to make faces at their parents. And I can’t wait to teach yours.”

She gave an almost evil laugh.

Jennifer sighed. “Exactly why you should never be in charge.”

The laughter that broke out was shaky, but it loosened something in Paige’s chest. For the first time since she saw the plus sign appear, she let herself smile, small, nervous, but real.

“No, I won’t be marrying the father. He’s already married. I won’t even be telling him about the baby. And I guess this means I’m moving back to Mustang Island. Fort Collins would not be a good place for us to continue to reside if I want to keep this little secret.”

“Yay,” they all said together.

“We’re so glad,” Nicole replied.

“We can trade baby clothes,” Crystal said.

“Don’t look at me. My kids are grown,” Jennifer replied.

“I can be your birthing coach,” Amanda said with a grin. “We can start practicing your breathing exercises.”

Paige shook her head in disbelief. “Dear God. I’m pregnant. How did this happen?”

“I think you had sex,” Crystal said with a laugh. “I hope it was a good time.”

With a sigh, Paige gazed at the women standing around her. “What am I going to do?”

“Have a baby,” Nicole said.

Paige dropped her head into her hands. “Oh crap. There goes my carefree, single lifestyle.”

“You’re getting a little too old to be acting like you’re still twenty,” Jennifer said.

“It keeps me young,” she said.

“Not anymore,” Amanda said. “Welcome to motherhood.”

Secrets of a Reckless Life Coming February 2026

Thank you for reading Nicole and Tripp’s story. Mustang Island is quickly becoming some of my favorite stories. Next up will be Paige’s story. Why do I think she’s reckless? Because she has lived a wild life up until she learns she’s pregnant. Oops!