Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,185

for the fact that a foreign object could be floating around inside your body somewhere. Usually you’d have entertained me with some crazy story about your gyno appointment. Second of all, you’re antsy.” She looks side to side and then leans forward. “Are you pregnant?” she whispers.

Hearing the question point blank makes it so much harder to deny. A tear falls down my cheek and drops on the paper I’ve been writing a to-do list on as a distraction from her.

“Oh, sweetie.” She stands from her chair and comes over to me, wrapping her arms around me.

I don’t stand though or reciprocate the affection.

“Why are you upset?” she asks.

My gaze meets hers. She’s such a great mom. Loving and caring and has that ‘tell me anything and I’ll still love you’ look in her eyes when she talks to Jade. Like she’s strong enough to take any weight on her shoulders.

“It’s not my first time being pregnant with Dean’s baby,” I say.

She tries to cool her reaction, but I see the shock on her face.

Hannah barrels in, surprising us both. “What’s the matter?” Her eyes widen and she stands on the other side of my desk.

Victoria stares at me and I nod.

She turns her attention to Hannah. “Chelsea’s pregnant.”

Those two words are now out in the world to people other than the little bean’s father. Guilt rips at my chest, but there’s a small amount of relief that at least I’m not lying to everyone I know anymore.

“And it’s a bad thing?” Hannah asks, honestly curious.

“I think their shared past might make it a bad thing.” Victoria chimes in and studies me, waiting for me to give them more information.

For the next hour, we talk about what happened five years ago and why I loathed Dean as much as I did. As hard as it was to talk about, it felt good to get it out. Even if it brought my feelings closer to the past with Dean than my future with him.

Chapter Thirty

Skylar and Beckett stand up at the altar, pretending the priest is telling them what to do. I stand two back with Zoe in front of me and Sky’s friends Mia and Demi behind me. Across the way is Beckett’s two buddies, Grady and Dax along with Mikey and Vin.

Caiden and Molly sit on the steps. Molly’s sulking from not being able to practice with real flower petals today while Caiden’s busy sliding his butt down the stairs.

I glance out to the pews which hold a few of our relatives as Dean steps into the church.

He came right from work and although I’ve been dodging him with excuses of feeling sick all week, he still glows with a smile that says there’s nowhere else he’d rather be. I slept at my own place for three nights, but last night I met him for dinner and slept at his place.

His gray suit is buttoned, the heels of his dress shoes clicking before he sits a few pews back from my parents. My mom must notice my face because she never turns around to see who came in and her blinking increases exponentially.

“I now pronounce…” the priest lets the words trail off and Skylar and Beckett smile. “Now you’ll walk down first.”

Skylar slides her arm through Beckett’s and they dodge Molly and Caiden as they walk back down the aisle. Molly and Caiden follow. Zoe and Grady, me and Dax, Mia and Mikey and Vin and Demi bring up the rear.

Dean winks at me as I pass him by. Once we get to the end, Aunt Liz rushes over with her phone.

“Picture time!” she screams.

“I’ll have enough pictures tomorrow,” Skylar says.

“Come on, one of you guys up on the stairs.” She steps aside and Skylar huffs but starts to head down the marble walk way.

“I need lipstick then.” Skylar turns back around. “I left my purse in the bride’s room.”

“Who cares, we need to get this over with. Caiden and Molly are about a minute away from losing it. The out of town guests are probably at the restaurant already. You don’t need lipstick. It’s a picture for Mom.” Zoe lightly pushes Sky on the back.

“Says you. They’re my wedding pictures.”

I think the wedding stress is getting to everyone, not to mention everyone here probably has a hunger bitch going on.

“You can use mine,” Zoe says, grabbing her purse next to mine, digging in.

“I can’t pull off that red. I need more of a coral.” Sky looks around at