Page 46 of Gold Rush

“People say the second one is easier,” Kit says hopefully.

I’ve never heard that adage, but I don’t disagree even though it sounds like twice as much work to me.

“I loved being close in age to my siblings,” he continues. “So, we agreed this was the right time.”

“Oh, so this pregnancy was planned?”

“You’re such a dick,” Kit tells me, tearing open his bag of chips. “We haven’t even told our families yet. Thanks for making this tender moment special for me.”

I roll my eyes. “Please. You knew exactly what I’d say.”

Kit pops a chip in his mouth. “I had some idea,” he agrees after swallowing. “Being best friends with you was actually great prep for having kids. Same maturity level.”

I scoff. “And I’m the dick? Please.”

Kit grins. “What about you?”

“No, I’m not pregnant.”

He tosses a chip at me. It bounces off my shoulder and falls to the ground; three pigeons waddle over a few seconds later to fight over it.

“Are you seeing anyone?”

“Uh …”

Kit groans. “Fuck. Did you get back together with Molly?”

“No. No, I—definitely not.”

I haven’t spoken to Molly since we broke up the day after Rory’s graduation party. No chance of reconciliation there. Our breakup was a traumatic experience. I’m extra glad Rory ended up agreeing to this plan and I wasn’t desperate enough to approach a random woman to receive my inheritance. That could have gotten very messy, even more constrictive than my prior relationships. No chance of lines blurring with Rory, who doesn’t even think I earned my job. Maybe I should “accidentally” leave one of my old blue books lying around the apartment. I got a perfect score on my Secured Transactions final this past spring.

“So, who?”

I set down my sandwich and wipe my fingers on a napkin.

Rory is going to be pissed about this. But it’s not like I can mention another woman to Kit now, then drop a just kidding, I’m marrying your cousin whenever we decide to manufacture a proposal. I meant to mention to her that I was having lunch with Kit today, but she got home late last night, and then there was that awkward moment where she inferred nepotism was the only reason I was employed. By the time I returned from the gym, she’d gone to bed.

This will be good practice for telling everyone else. Kit is my best friend. He’s who I’d call if I needed help burying a body, and my dating his cousin isn’t illegal.

I sip some water. “Promise me you’ll keep an open mind. That you won’t … freak out.”

Kit’s eyebrows fly up his forehead. “Shit. She’s married?”

I glower at him. “Seriously?”

“What? You’ve never told me to keep an open mind about who you’re dating before. Also, I’ve seen plenty of wives hit on you.”

“She’s not married. She’s single. Well, she was single, until we started dating.” I’m rambling. And sweating. Not a great start.

I know Kit didn’t like Carson—deservedly. And I don’t think he has a high opinion of me as a boyfriend—also deservedly.

Kit pauses with a chip halfway to his mouth. “Dude, I’m totally open-minded. Just spit it out.”

“It’s Rory.”

He doesn’t unfreeze. He just continues staring at me like one of those street artists who wears silver paint and pretends to be a statue. I’m not even certain he’s blinking.

“Did you hear⁠—”