the place. For whatever reason, Bristol had always thought Bianca would be the sort to want a monstrous Victorian mansion, something as big and grandiose as her personality, so it had been a complete surprise when Bianca had bought this little two-bedroom bungalow.
But oddly enough, it suited Bianca with its rustic charm and down-home sweetness. Even the white rocking chairs on the front porch.
Taking a deep breath, Bristol knocked on the door, waited. Of course she feared Bianca would ignore her, but she knew she had to do this. After her conversation with Kylie, Bristol had realized that Bianca was right. Bristol had been making herself the center of the universe. Everything she did, everything she said, how she treated the people she loved, it all revolved around how she wanted others to see her. And since that was in direct contradiction to what she really wanted, she understood how she had hurt so many people in her quest to keep a low profile and not rock the boat, so to speak.
She was going to make amends.
Bristol heard the knob rattle, the deadbolt disengage, and then the door was opening.
Bianca looked flawlessly beautiful as usual. Her silky brown hair falling over her shoulders, her teal blue eyes highlighted with minimal makeup. Yep, despite the early hour, Bianca was up and dressed, ready for church.
“Can we talk?” Bristol asked before her friend could turn her away with the excuse she had somewhere else to be.
Bianca’s gaze scanned her face and then she was stepping back, motioning Bristol inside.
When the door closed behind her, Bristol spun around and faced her friend. “I am so, so, so sorry, Bianca.”
No sooner were those few words out of her mouth than Bianca was lunging forward, arms coming around her. Bristol was returning the gesture, hugging her best friend tightly, both of them suddenly spilling over in both words and tears.
“I’m so sorry, Bristol.”
“No, I’m sorry.”
“I shouldn’t have been so mean.”
“I shouldn’t have kept it from you.”
“I’m sorry I was a jealous bitch.”
“I’m sorry I told Rex before you.”
“I didn’t mean what I said.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
They talked over one another, blubbering uncontrollably until they began laughing.
When they pulled back, Bristol was swiping the tears away with her hands while Bianca made a mad dash for tissues.
“I wish I could blame it on the hormones,” Bristol said with a watery laugh, accepting the tissues Bianca passed over.
“Me, too.”
Bristol’s brain came to an abrupt stop at those two words and she stared at her friend. “What?”
Bianca was nodding, staring at the tissue in her hand, a smile pulling at her lips.
“Are you sayin’ what I think you’re sayin’?”
More nodding, more staring, but now Bianca was strangling those poor tissues.
“Bianca?”
When her friend looked up, there were more tears, followed by a wide smile. “I’m pregnant, too.”
Bristol was pretty sure her heart stopped then kick started once more, a giddy excitement filling her chest. “Seriously?”
Bianca nodded again and another sob escaped.
And once more, they were hugging it out, laughing and crying. But now they were happy tears.
Bristol finally pulled back, stared at her friend.
“You didn’t tell me,” she said softly, though it wasn’t an accusation.
“I just found out.”
“How far along?”
“Seven weeks.”
“Oh, my God!”
Bianca’s face lit up. “I know!”
Once more, they threw themselves into each other’s arms, giggling and laughing, the world finally right again.
At least for the two of them.
Bristol still had a few more apologies to hand out, but with this bond once again strengthened, she knew she could do just about anything.
*
Fucking hangover.
Kaden knew better than to drink whiskey. It never ended well for him.
“Mornin’, brother,” Keegan greeted a little too loudly when he joined Kaden in the kitchen.
Kaden could do little more than grunt.
There was clacking and clanging as Keegan rummaged through cabinets looking for God only knew what. Kaden figured he wasn’t really looking for anything, just doing his damnedest to make as much noise as possible. After all, it was nothing less than what Kaden always did to him.
“You take anything for it?” Keegan asked.
He grunted again, knowing his brother would understand it for the yes that it was.
“Good. Now you’re gonna have to get over it because we’ve got a lunch date.”
Kaden frowned. “With who?”
“Bristol.”
He sat up straight, staring at Keegan as his brain processed the words. “What? When?”
Keegan lifted his arm, stared at his make-believe watch, and said, “Half an hour.”
“When did this happen?”
“She sent the text last night.” Keegan frowned. “You didn’t get it.”
Kaden grunted again. “Phone died. Left