A Million Little Things (Mischief Bay, #3)

She waited for a second, wondering if emotion would appear. There was nothing. It was like asking herself how she would feel if she lived in an African village that just got its first clean water well. She could imagine. She could pretend. She could fake it but she couldn’t actually know. Because it hadn’t happened. At least not yet.

She touched her stomach. From what she could tell, there weren’t a lot of changes in her body. Her breasts might be a little more tender and she felt more bloated than usual. But other than that, she was who she had always been. At least on the outside. On the inside, she had something the size of a lima bean that was going to change her forever.

She hugged her arms to her chest, trying to find comfort in Minnie, then stood when she saw Jen approaching. She’d texted her friend and asked if they could meet. She was surprised when Jen had suggested midafternoon. It was usually Jack’s nap time. Even more startling, Jen didn’t have her son with her.

“Hi,” Jen said as she hugged her. “Are you okay? What’s going on? You said you needed to talk.”

That was exactly what Zoe had said because announcing she was pregnant via smartphone seemed tacky.

“Where’s Jack?” The question was more delay tactic than a request for information.

Jen sat next to her and wrinkled her nose. “You’re not going to believe it. I barely believe it.” She paused dramatically. “I left him home with Lucas.”

“What?”

“I know. It’s incredible. But he’s down for his nap and they adore each other. Lucas is getting around okay and swears he can get him up from his nap. I told Jack so he wouldn’t be surprised and he was fine with it.”

“Lucas? The same Lucas who dates twenty-year-olds and just got shot?”

“That’s the one.” Her expression softened. “I’m going to continue to shock you by saying I’m starting to like him. He’s really a good guy hiding under his bad boy facade. He took two bullets for Kirk. I will owe him forever.”

Jen looked like she was going to say more, then shook her head. “Enough about me. What’s going on?”

Zoe angled toward her friend and drew a knee to her chest. There was no good way to say this. “A little over two months ago I had sex with Chad.” She held up her hand. “I know it was stupid and I have no one to blame but myself. It was over, I got lonely and I caved. Which would have been okay, except I got a call from my doctor’s office last week and there was a problem with the batch of birth control shots I use.” She looked Jen in the eye. “I’m pregnant.”

Her friend stared at her. “Oh, God.”

“I know. I’ve had an ultrasound. I’m two months along.”

Jen blanched. “Oh, God. Pregnant! With Chad’s baby. Who knows? Have you told Steven? Are you okay?”

“Yes, and I don’t know.” When her friend looked confused, Zoe clarified. “I’m okay. Sort of. I’m still in shock and trying to take it all in. Steven knows. He’s not running, which I would do if I were him. He still might, but for now he’s thinking about what this all means.”

A fact that made her grateful—and on edge. Because every time her phone rang, she wondered if it was him, breaking up with her. So far, he hadn’t. She wasn’t sure if the passage of time was good or if he was simply putting off the inevitable.

“Does my mom know?”

Zoe shook her head. “Steven’s going to tell her.”

Jen grimaced. “That’s not going to go well.”

That was what Zoe was afraid of, too. She considered Pam a friend, but with Steven involved, she had a feeling that all bets were off.

“Pregnant,” Jen breathed. “Are you keeping the baby?”

“I have to.” She drew in a breath. “I know I could have an abortion, but it doesn’t feel right. Not for me. There’s no reason I can’t have a child on my own.”

“What about Chad?”

“I haven’t talked to him yet. I know I have to tell him, but it’s not like he can do anything until it’s born. I don’t want him involved at all. In a perfect world, he would simply go away.”

“Do you think that’s going to happen?”

Zoe dropped her head to her chest. “My luck isn’t that good. I wish it were. I briefly thought about giving up the baby for adoption, but I doubt he would go for that. So here I am, unexpectedly expecting.” She looked at her friend. “What are you thinking? Are you mad?”

Jen hugged her tight. “I love you. Why would I be mad?” She drew back and smiled. “I know this isn’t about me, but I’m super thrilled that you’re going to have a baby. I’ve been the only one of my friends with a kid. I think it will be fun to have that to share. I can tell you all about pregnancy and a newborn. I want to help however I can.”

Zoe wasn’t ready for any actual information, but knowing she had a supporter was a big help.

“What’s next?” Jen asked.

“I’m going to go see my dad. Then I have to suck it up and tell Chad. I’m not looking forward to that.”

“You think he’s going to want to be involved with the baby?”

Zoe glanced toward the carousel and back. “I know he is. He has a lot of flaws, but he loves his kids. Of course, maybe he just loves those two. Maybe he’ll want to ignore mine. Wouldn’t that be great.” Not having to deal with Chad would make things much easier. “I’m going to look online and find out what’s involved with a father letting go of his parental rights.”

“If he doesn’t want to do that, he’s going to have to pay child support,” Jen pointed out. “That might scare him into going away. If that’s what you really want.”

Zoe held up a hand. “I’m totally over him. I swear. I would like nothing more than to have him gone.” She would rather have to deal with her child on her own than have to work things out with Chad.

“I’ll keep my fingers crossed,” Jen promised. “Let me know how I can help. Lucas might know a good lawyer who can help, if it comes to that. Or some of my mom’s friends. She knows a lot of people.”

Jen hugged her again. “Poor you. What a mess. Just know that once you have your baby, it’s all worth it.”

Zoe hugged her back and hoped she was telling the truth.

*