The Baby Pact (Babies and Billions #5) - Holly Rayner Page 0,33

she’s really invested in it.

“I’m having a great time,” Rhea assured her. “I’m really glad we did this.”

Kaylie’s face lit up. “Me too! And so many people made it out! I love bringing people I know together like this, don’t you?”

Actually, Rhea had always found it sort of awkward to bring separate groups of friends together. But that was a difference between Kaylie and herself. Kaylie was a social butterfly, capable of attracting all sorts of people to her and showing them a wonderful time. Rhea had always been more reserved.

She didn’t have my childhood. She never had to worry about figuring out how to fit in with people who weren’t as wealthy as she was.

It was a strange thing to know how privileged her own upbringing had been and to still recognize that something fundamental had been lacking. Rhea had never wanted for anything, materially. But her relationships had always been difficult.

And it’s still happening. Even now. Most women would never have had to face the kind of problem Zach and I went through. Most women’s fathers don’t own extremely profitable corporations that their boyfriends’ fathers might try to steal from. What a strange problem to have.

Without meaning to, she began thinking through the past month and a half, revisiting the highs and lows in her mind.

Those happy, carefree hours in bed with Zach, finally giving in to the temptation she had felt all the way back in college.

The decision to stop speaking to him.

The long, empty days and nights after she had cut ties with him, her bed empty, her home cold and quiet without his presence.

And then she froze.

Something else had been missing during that time. And she had been so heartbroken that she hadn’t even noticed it.

I’m late.

Kaylie had said it when Rhea had arrived. She hadn’t known how right she was.

“I’m late,” Rhea managed to say out loud.

Kaylie turned toward her. “What?”

“My period is late.”

Someone banged on the balcony door. “The ball is dropping!”

Kaylie stared at Rhea. “Are you sure?”

“Uh-huh,” Rhea confirmed. “Like, really late. Oh, God. That’s why I was feeling sick just now. I’m pregnant.”

The two women stared at each other. Inside, people were counting down from ten.

“You should go,” Rhea said numbly. “You have to kiss Spencer.”

“Are you joking? I’m not going anywhere.” Kaylie took Rhea’s hand and led her to a chair. “Tell me everything.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Rhea said.

“Is it that guy you were seeing?” Kaylie asked. “The one you’ve been all sad about? It has to be him, right?”

“It has to be,” Rhea agreed. “There hasn’t been anyone else.”

“So what are you going to do?” Kaylie asked. “Are you going to tell him?”

“I have to, right?” Rhea asked. “He should know.”

“You don’t have to do anything,” Kaylie said. “This is about you right now. What do you want to do? I’ve got your back no matter what. If you need a birthing coach, I’ve got you. If you need someone to drive you to the clinic, I’ve got you.”

Rhea shook her head. She had always thought that, if she were to find herself in this position, the choice would be hard. But now that she was here, it was easier than she could have imagined.

“I can’t give the baby up,” she said.

“Okay,” Kaylie said. “So you’re keeping it?”

“I… I guess I am.”

Kaylie was quiet for a moment, her hand still on Rhea’s.

“Wow. You’re going to be a mother,” she said at last.

Rhea nodded. The idea seemed strange, almost impossible to process. But Kaylie was right.

“That’s a lot bigger than kissing a guy for the new year,” Kaylie said. “That’s the biggest New Year’s resolution a person could possibly make. You’re starting a family.”

Rhea let out a strange little laugh.

“What’s funny?” Kaylie asked.

“Nothing,” Rhea said.

How could she possibly explain what she was really laughing at? Kaylie didn’t even know that Zach was the person Rhea had been seeing, nor did she know about the secret pact the two of them had made all those years ago to get together if they were both single when they were thirty-five.

And now here I am. Thirty-five, single, and about to have Zach Danes’ baby.

“I think I have to tell him,” she said.

“The father, you mean?” Kaylie asked.

Rhea nodded. “He does have a right to know,” she said. “Especially since I’ve decided I’m going to keep the baby. If my child was going to be born somewhere, I would want to know about it. I would want to have a choice in