Almost Just Friends (Wildstone #4)(54)

“Okay,” Piper said, dropping to her knees at her sister’s side. “This isn’t food poisoning. It’s time to get you to a doctor.”

“You’re a doctor.”

“I’m an EMT.”

“But you’re going to be a physician assistant once you finish school.”

“Which I haven’t even started yet,” Piper pointed out. “And why are we talking about that instead of you? Something’s clearly wrong, Win.”

“Yeah.” Her sister closed her eyes. “But it’s not what you think.”

Piper stared at her, and when her own stomach dropped to her toes, she leaned back on her heels. “Oh my God. You’re pregnant.”

“Yeah. But trust me, God had nothing to do with it.”





Chapter 18


“When I told you I caught the spider in your bathroom . . . I lied.”

At Winnie’s shocking statement, Piper’s legs collapsed. Luckily, the wall kept her propped upright. Numb, she stared at her sister. “You’re really pregnant?”

“According to the ten pregnancy tests I took in the Target bathroom.” Clearly feeling the opposite of numb, Winnie got to her feet and turned to the sink to rinse out her mouth.

“When?” Piper asked from the floor. “How?”

Winnie met her gaze in the mirror. “Well, when two people like each other, they—”

“Oh my God. You think this is funny.”

“No,” Winnie said. “I really don’t. But while I’m spilling my guts literally and figuratively, you should also know something else. I quit college.” She paused. “Last semester. Oh, and the other day when I told you I caught the spider in your bathroom . . . I lied. Whew.” She let out a long breath. “I hope you feel as good as I do now.”

Piper wasn’t firing on all cylinders, so it took a moment to process. “You’d better not be serious about the spider.”

“I am.”

“This really isn’t funny.”

“No shit.”

Piper could do nothing but stare at her sister, her pregnant and college-quitting sister. They were still staring at each other when they heard the front door open and close.

And then Gavin was coming up the stairs. He started down the hallway, but stopped short at the sight of them in the opened bathroom. His shirt was on inside out and his shoes dangled from his fingers. He was wearing a smile that Piper hadn’t seen in ages.

“Now, see,” Winnie said, pointing at her brother. “That I find funny.”

Gavin eyed them both. “You told her,” he said to Winnie, and Piper gaped at him.

“You knew?” she breathed.

“Well, yeah. She’s been eating like she’s growing an entire litter, and she’s actually been mostly cheerful. Hasn’t tried to kill me either.”

“So you . . . just guessed?” Piper asked.

“No, she told me.”

“When?”

Gavin looked at Winnie.

Winnie grimaced. “From the beginning.”

Piper stared at her in hurt disbelief.

Winnie tossed up her hands. “I’m sorry! But I didn’t tell you sooner because I knew you’d freak out. And hey, Gavin’s sleeping with his ex! Why aren’t we all talking about that?”

“You suck,” Gavin said.

Piper held up a hand. She honest to God felt like she was thirteen and in over her head all over again. Or still. “You could’ve told me.”

“Sure,” Winnie said. “But we all know how that conversation would’ve gone. And I get it, I’m the baby of the family. I’m the extra, the one who doesn’t have to grow up as fast, or try very hard.” Her smile was sad and regretful. “And that’s all me. Because what did I do when I found out I was pregnant? I came home with my tail between my legs.”

“Oh, Winnie,” Piper said softly. “I—”

Winnie shook her head and held up a hand. “I know that I barely remember Mom and Dad, that we had a whole life on the other side of the planet that I also can’t remember. But I know how much I owe you, Piper. How much trouble and angst I’ve caused over the years. So, yeah, I should’ve told you. You certainly deserved to know. But I guess I just wasn’t ready to hear the spiel. That I’m smart, but don’t apply myself enough. That I’ve got a whole bunch of potential, but never live up to it. That I need to focus on what’s important. But see, Piper, I do. I am. I’m very focused on what’s important to me. You just don’t always agree with me.”

That this might be true shamed Piper. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I never meant to make you feel bad about your choices. I just didn’t want anything to hold you back, ever.”

Winnie gave a crooked smile. “Have you met me?”

Piper gave a soft laugh and so did Winnie.

“So . . .” Piper paused. “What are your plans?”

Winnie took a shaky breath. “I’m still absorbing all of this myself, and I know we need to talk about it, but I hope you can try to understand that I’m not quite ready to.” Never comfortable with deeply emotional moments, Winnie proved it by pointing at her big brother. “So CJ took you back, huh?”