Page 70 of Wish I Might
“What does three fire emojis mean?”
She looked down at him, sitting on her mattress, holding her beer, with concern sharp in his eyes.“It means something’s really fucking wrong, and I have to go.”
She shoved her phone back into her purse, slung it over her shoulder, then looked around for her shoes before she remembered she’d taken them upstairs.
“Fuck it, I’ll go barefoot,” she decided and headed for the front door.
“Bay?”
Distracted, she turned back, her hand on the doorknob.“Yeah?”
“If there’s anything I can do—”
“I’ll let you know,” she said and was out the door.
The drive didn’t take long, but parking was a nightmare.The pub’s expansion was bringing in a lot of new business, and she had to squeeze into a street spot a block and a half away.By the time she was letting herself into Chloe’s apartment over the pub, she was deeply regretting not going back upstairs for her shoes.
“I’m here,” she called out and hurried down the hallway on aching feet.
Gwen, coming out of the kitchen with two coffee mugs, looked down at her feet.“Where are your shoes?”
“Long story.”Bailey slung her purse onto the counter.“Where is she?”
“Bathroom,” Gwen said, and Bailey could hear the water running through the closed door.
“She tell you what’s up?”
Gwen shook her head and set the mugs on the counter.“She said she only wanted to tell it once.But she looks like hell.”
“Heartbroken hell, or sick hell?”
“She’s not heartbroken.”Gwen went back into the kitchen, pulled down another mug, and filled it from the coffee pot.“She was on the phone with Knox when I got here, lots of I love yous.Whatever’s wrong, it’s not about them.”
“That’s not exactly true,” Chloe said from behind them, and Bailey turned.
Looks like hellwas an understatement.Chloe was pale, her face red and blotchy from crying.She had circles under her eyes like bruises, and she looked like a strong wind would push her over.
“Jesus, Chloe.You look like shit.”
“Helpful,” Gwen said drily, brushing past Bailey.She put one of the mugs she carried in Chloe’s hands, then pointed to the sofa.“Sit.”
“I’m okay,” Chloe said, but she sat, her hands wrapped around the mug so tightly her knuckles were white.“I’ve just been crying, and I can’t seem to eat anything.”
Bailey exchanged looks with Gwen as they sat down, Bailey next to Chloe on the sofa and Gwen in the chair opposite.“Are you sick?”
Chloe shook her head, her eyes on the mug in her hands.
“Do we have to bury a dead body?”Gwen asked calmly.“Because if we do, we need to get Bailey some shoes first.”
Chloe let out a watery laugh, and Bailey sent Gwen a look of fierce approval.
Chloe swiped at her cheeks, damp with fresh tears.“No, nothing like that.”
“You’re starting to scare me, Chlo.”Bailey set her mug down on the coffee table, then plucked Chloe’s gently from her grip.She set it next to hers, then laid a gentle hand over Chloe’s.“Tell us what’s wrong, and we’ll figure out how deal with it.”
Chloe turned her hand under Bailey’s to cling, then lifted drenched, devastated eyes.“I’m pregnant.”
Chapter Ten
