The Girl Next Door - Emma Hart Page 0,8
outfit with the buttery knife and took a big bite out of the toast.
“Wanna get dinner somewhere?”
I chewed. “We could go to Bronco’s bar? That’s Ivy’s parents’ bar and she’s working tonight.”
Anna wrinkled her face up. “You want to go to her parents’ bar? After she’s told them you got her pregnant?”
I shrugged, tearing off another bite of toast. “Neutral venue and all that,” I said through a mouthful of food.
“Fine, we’ll go there.” She rolled her eyes so hard they almost took off and went into orbit. “But if her dad punches you, I’m videoing it and putting it on the internet.”
I shoved the last bit of toast in my mouth, grabbed my keys and phone, and shook my head as I headed for the door. “Try not to eat all my food!”
“No promises!” she sang as I shut the door behind her.
I paused in the hallway, glancing at Ivy’s door. I wanted to knock and see if she was okay, but I also didn’t want to wake her up. It wasn’t massively early, but if I were asleep right now, I wouldn’t want to be woken up.
I hesitated for one more second before I pulled out my phone and texted her to ask if she was awake. Her reply came quicker than I expected.
IVY: Yes. I apparently needed to pee three times before six a.m. No more water in the bedroom at night.
ME: I suppose this is the kind of TMI I should get used to.
IVY: You betcha. ;)
ME: I’m in the hall about to leave for work. Do you need anything?
IVY: Are you going to ask me every single day?
ME: Probably. Get used to it.
IVY: That’s sweet.
I waited for her to text back, but the click of her lock sounded instead of the ‘ding’ of my phone.
She appeared in the doorway, smiling. “I’m fine, thank you. Next time, just knock instead of standing out here like an awkward turtle.”
“I didn’t want to wake you if you were asleep.”
“Don’t worry about it. If my bladder has any say in the matter, I won’t sleep for the rest of my life.”
“Are you sure you don’t need anything? A breakfast sandwich? A breakfast burrito? Lemonade? Coffee?”
Her face wrinkled at the mention of coffee and she shuddered. “If you bring me coffee, I swear to God, I’ll throw up all over your shoes.”
“Sorry.” I winced. “I forgot about the coffee thing.”
“It’s fine.” She rubbed her hand down her face. “Um, no, I’m good, honestly. Thank you. It’s sweet of you to ask.”
“Well, I got you pregnant. I figure the least I can do is get you food.”
Her lips tugged to one side. “I won’t argue that. I do like free food.”
“Yeah, it’s the way to your heart. I remember.” I winked. “Are you working tonight? Me and Anna were going to come to the bar for dinner.”
“I’m working if Grams doesn’t kill me, so don’t count on it. Also, have you thought this through? My parents know you, and when they find out you put a bun in my oven, I’m not sure they’re going to want to see you. Much less in their bar.”
“Don’t worry,” I replied dryly. “Anna has already promised to video it if your dad punches me.”
“Oh, well that’s okay.” She grinned. “I need to take a shower and brace myself for Hurricane Grandma. And yes, I promise to text you if I need anything.”
I returned her smile. “All right. I believe you.”
“Good. It’d be a long eighteen years if you didn’t.” On that note, she shut the door, but that didn’t stop me from hearing the ringing of her laughter on the other side.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and shook my head, laughing silently.
Something told me it was going to be a long eighteen years anyway.
And I was all right with that.
CHAPTER FOUR – IVY
“You’re what?” Mom stared at me across the living room, and Dad shot his arm out to stop her from exploding from the sofa. “Ivy Rose Stuart! Tell me it isn’t so!”
Well, this was going well.
Not.
“I’m pregnant,” I repeated. “Six weeks. Ish.”
“Ish? Ish? You don’t even know!” She sagged back in the chair. “Have you told your sister yet?”
“Why would I have told Holley? I only found out this morning and I haven’t seen her in three weeks! She’s busy getting the bookstore ready for reopening.”
Grandma Rosie muttered the rosary under her breath, rubbing the beads that were ever-present around her body. At least I thought it was the rosary—for