Page 21 of Accidentally in Love
“I want to keep it.” My mouth betrays my whim before my brain has gotten a grip on what I’m saying. It’s true that the lawsuit has been gnawing at me since I first read the complaint. It’s not the kind of work we handle at the firm, but…
“Tessa Demille for the defense. Citing hundred-year-old case law in California regarding water rights and eminent domain, I assert that the case brought against us is meritless and should be dismissed.”
The judge, serious and intimidating in dark robes, bangs his gavel and rules in our favor, sending the bloviating neighbor scurrying away…
“And obviously, I’d handle whatever legal issues come up. Easy. Totally in my wheelhouse. My schedule is predictable. I can drive back and forth on my days off. I’ll oversee it myself. I think we should give the place a chance. See if it can give us the future family bonding Gramps is talking about. Even if we end up selling one day.”
The words won’t stop, and I search the faces in the room to see who said them. Looking from one sister to the next, I see each has her mouth hanging open at my sudden willingness to take this on.
My grandparents, on the other hand, look like they’ve seen this coming from a mile away. Like they knew all they had to do was dangle the idea of tradition, heritage, and family obligation in front of my nose and I’d leap. Not to mention the challenge of a legal case that just might snap me out of my work doldrums.
I barely make it to the powder room before throwing up. One look in the mirror at my face betrays the truth. I’m in way over my head.
CHAPTER 9
Tessa
Weirdly,no one seems to notice that I haven’t said a word for over an hour in the car, where I’m sandwiched between Hazel and Callie. Hannah is driving, and Dylan is sitting in front, telling Hannah to change lanes and pass slower cars every five seconds.
Yes, it would make more sense for her to drive, but at least with Hannah behind the wheel, we have a better chance of survival.
Throughout our drive, most of the discussion has been about whether Benson Boone should get rid of his mustache. Callie acted personally offended at the suggestion, which led to a long discussion about facial hair in general.
That brought my mind back to Fitz and the way his two-day scruff felt under my fingertips. Even though it was a month ago, I can feel the sensory overload like it’s happening right now, and a ripple of goose bumps tickles my skin.
Now that I’ve had some time to rethink my proposal to oversee the renovation of the ranch, I wonder if a part of mehopes to run into Fitz again if I spend time at Loveland Ranch. Hannah hits a bump, and a new slosh of nausea reminds me that I have a bigger issue at hand.
“Did you all eat Grandma Ann’s tuna?” I ask, putting a hand on my stomach to encourage its contents to stay inside me until we can stop at a restroom.
“I did,” Hannah says. “Did she do something different this time? I swear, it used to have a crunch to it. Celery, right? This time, I think she used pickle relish.”
I immediately regret the question because the discussion of pickle anything makes me feel worse. “Could we pull off for a quick bathroom break?”
My sisters groan the same way they did when we were little, and we tried to take a road trip. No sooner had we left a rest stop than one of us would need a bathroom.
“Hold it,” Dylan barks from the back.
“Not healthy,” Callie singsongs next to me. “Haven’t you heard of a UTI?”
“Oh yeah. And I know exactly how you get one. Tessa, you having sex with a new dude?”
My face gets hot, and I look out the window. “Please, guys. I’ll be quick,” I beg, fighting a feeling of dread. The nausea has been getting worse. I didn’t think much two days ago, when the smell of a bagel made me gag, but now…the thudding of my heart coincides with my stomach flipping over itself.
No, it can’t be…
The night with Fitz…
When was that…exactly?
I start doing a little mental calculation of the date when we were at the ranch for my birthday, which was a month ago. My mouth goes dry, and my pulse goes into overdrive.
Fitz and I used protection. I’d know if something went awry…wouldn’t I?
It’s day twenty-nine without a period. I know, I know. Who gets to day twenty-nine without worrying about an accidental pregnancy? Me. I’m the one with the irregular cycle and the not-regular sex life who doesn’t usually give it a thought.
Only I’m thinking about it plenty right now, calculating when I may have been ovulating. The weekend at the ranch is pretty much right on the money.
As soon as we pull into a mini mall near the freeway, I race inside a Starbucks and rid myself of Grandma Ann’s tuna, along with any thought that this is plain old food poisoning. My hands shake, and my stomach gurgles with an uncomfortable queasiness. It’s not just my stomach that’s upset.
