Page 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

SHOCKER

POPPY

I pull into the driveway, heart hammering harder than I’d like. I hadn’t planned on coming tonight since Bowie didn’t invite me himself, but the girls insisted that I come. I want to be here—I need to see for myself how Bowie and Becca are doing—but it’ll be so embarrassing if he doesn’t want me here.

Sadie opens the door when I knock and envelops me in a hug.

“I was hoping that was you,” she says. “Everyone’s back here.”

She leads me to the solarium and I immediately find Bowie. He’s standing by the pool, listening intently to the beautiful woman beside him. She’s tall and elegant, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders and her perfect body encased in a red bikini. My chest tightens and I’m tempted to back out of here right now, but I’m trying to be a good friend, whether Bowie wants my friendship or not. Lately I’ve thought we might actually be forming a tentative friendship, but…now all the insecurities are flooding back.

I straighten my shoulders. Bowie is free to be with whoever he wants, and if that gorgeous woman is the one who can make him smile, today of all days, I have no right to be jealous about it. But it stings.

“Poppy!” Becca yells from the pool. “Come swim!”

“Hi!” I wave back and nod. “I will.”

Sadie looks over at me and her eyes widen when she sees my face. “You okay?”

“Fine,” I say, shaking my head and laughing slightly. “Just feeling a little weird being here…”

“Bowie wanted you to come,” Sadie whispers.

“He did? Are you sure?”

“Positive! He told me and Tru to make sure you were invited.” She follows my gaze. “Oh, have you met Amelie yet? She’s Bowie’s cousin from Austria. Isn’t she gorgeous?”

“His cousin.” I laugh as relief courses through me. Get it together, I tell myself. “No, I haven’t met her yet, but yes, I was just thinking about how gorgeous she is.”

Sadie gives me a knowing look and loops her arm through mine. “Let’s go change.” Under her breath she adds, “You’re gorgeous too, by the way.”

I roll my eyes. “Am I that obvious? ”

Sadie presses her lips together. “The utter dismay when you thought Amelie might be into Bowie? Don’t worry, I don’t think he noticed.”

“Because he doesn’t care, you mean,” I moan quietly and go into the bathroom that Sadie points out.

“Trust me, he very much cares where you’re concerned,” she says from the other side of the door.

I want to ask why she thinks that, but remind myself that I’m not interested in anything more than friendship with Bowie.

My eyes roll as I put on my swimsuit.

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that,” I whisper to my reflection in the mirror.

Elle is standing by Sadie when I walk out of the bathroom and they both light up when they see me.

“Hot damn,” Elle says. “You look smoking hot, Poppy.”

My cheeks flush. “Thank you. It’s the only bathing suit I own. Too much?”

My bikini is a unique purpley-navy material that sparkles…not obnoxiously so, but it’s prettier than a solid color. At least I thought so when I bought it. It fits well and is flattering, but I feel a little self-conscious now.

“Not at all. You look amazing,” Sadie says.

She slips into the bathroom to change and Elle undoes the zipper on her dress and steps out of it, already in her white bikini.

“Hello, you’re the one who looks smoking hot,” I tell her, laughing. “Miss Mustangs Cheerleader.”

“Not a cheerleader anymore,” Elle sings, laughing. Her eyes light up and I turn to see Tru in her bikini and her little baby bump. “Oh my God, I die,” Elle says, rushing to Tru. “That is the cutest baby bump ever.”

Tru rubs her stomach proudly. “I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it, but I kinda love it now that I’m showing. Makes the morning sickness feel like it’s productive instead of just a giant pain in my ass.” She laughs.

“Is that getting any better?” Sadie asks, coming out of the bathroom.

“I still have my moments, but as long as I eat something salty before it gets too bad, I’m okay.”

“I can’t wait to meet this little one,” Elle says, leaning her head on Tru’s.

“Neither can I,” Tru smiles and it’s true what they say about pregnant women being radiant.

I pile my hair in a high, messy bun, and we walk back to the pool together. I feel Bowie’s eyes on me before I even see him and turn to find him checking me out. His eyes are heated when they meet mine again. I swallow hard and wave, smiling slightly. He tilts his head up, acknowledging me in that way he has that’s neither rude nor overly friendly. Coming from anyone else it wouldn’t work, but with him, it just does.

I giggle when I see Martha sitting at the edge of the pool, on alert as she watches Becca swim. Becca spots me and calls me in and I step into the pool. The water is the perfect temperature and Becca swims over.

“You’re such a good swimmer,” I tell her.

She beams. “We race?”

“Sure.” I laugh.

We do several laps, but as I turn to do another, I feel dizzy and frown.

“My head feels funny,” I try to explain to Becca quickly. “I think I need a break.”

“Okay,” she says.

I climb out of the pool and a towel appears in front of me. I turn and see Bowie holding it out for me. His hair is pulled back and his chest glistens from being in the water too.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for coming tonight,” he says, drying off his chest. I try to not be obvious with my staring.

“I almost didn’t,” I admit, then flush when his brow arches slightly.

“I’m glad you did. I needed this,” he says, gesturing to the laughing and splashing in the pool behind us. “People I actually want to be around.”

My face heats at the thought that he might want me around and I inwardly groan, telling myself to get a grip once again. I turn sharply to look at everyone again so he doesn’t see me blushing, and that dizziness hits me again.

I reach out and grab his arm, trying to steady myself.

“Poppy? Are you okay?”

I nod, but dots line my vision and I blink. “I’m not feeling so well,” I say.

“Oh.” He leans in and then leads me to a chair. “You went pale all of a sudden. Have you eaten enough today?”

I make a face as I sit down and try to remember what I’ve eaten. “You know what? No. I haven’t had much of an appetite today.” My stomach churns and I swallow hard. “I…I better go.” I stand up and rush back to the room where I changed.

I splash cold water over my face, and it helps, but not enough. I have a sudden urgency to get home. I don’t necessarily think I’ll throw up, but I’m not positive I won’t…and I don’t want to be here if I do.

Tru walks in and pauses when she sees me. “Bowie said you’re not feeling well. He wanted me to check on you.”

“No, I’m not.” I scrunch up my nose and put my clothes on over my swimsuit. “Can you let everyone know I’m heading home? I hate to leave, but ugh.”

“Aw, yeah, I’ll tell them. Get better. Let me know if you need anything. I can bring soup or something by tomorrow. Are you okay to drive home?”

“Yes. I’ll be okay. Hopefully this will pass quickly.”

I wave at her and go out the back door. When I get home, I strip and get under the covers. Exhaustion pulls at me, but as I nestle into my pillow, my stomach twists again. I groan, pressing a hand to my abdomen.

It must be my period. My cycles are so unpredictable, and occasionally, the cramps are awful. It’s good that I got home before that starts.

I stare at the ceiling, thinking about Bowie and how sweet he was tonight. My heart clenches thinking about the way his eyes lingered on me when he first saw me. I should text him and let him know I’m?—

Wait a minute.

I bolt upright in bed, my pulse pounding in my ears. I scramble for my phone on my nightstand, pulling up my calendar with trembling hands. My fingers hover over the dates as realization hits me with a heavy blow.

Even with unpredictable periods, I should have had my period by now.

“Oh my God, oh my God, ” I groan.

How did I miss this? Between work, hanging out with Becca, loving my new friendships with the girls, and daydreaming about Bowie— freaking Bowie Fox —I hadn’t even realized I was late.

My hands are shaking as I count the days again, just to be sure.

“Shit.” I throw back the covers and throw on my sweats and a baggy sweatshirt .

It’s ironic that the dizziness and funky stomach feel better now. All that feels weird is my heart hammering in my chest. The lights in Aurora’s are harsh as I scan the shelves, grabbing two boxes of pregnancy tests, just to be sure. I avoid the cashier’s eyes as I pay and hurry home.

Once I’m home and have aimed on the stick, I sit on the edge of the tub, clutching the instructions tightly in my hands as I wait for the result.

When the line appears, I stare at it, my breath catching between a gasp and a sob.

“Oh my God,” I say again, the realization nearly taking me under.

I sink to the floor, clutching the test to my chest.

How in the world did this happen? Scratch that—I know exactly when and where…and technically, how this happened…but we used protection!

What am I going to do ?

I bury my face in my knees and bawl.

And then I stand up, wipe my face and blow my nose, and crawl back into bed, pulling the covers to my chin as I blink in the dark.

I’m having Bowie Fox’s baby.