Chapter 44 The drive to Beau and June's house feels like it takes forever, even though it's only twenty minutes from Dr. Moretti's office. My hands grip the steering wheel, knuckles white, my stomach churning. The reality of my doctor's appointment is still sinking in, and the more I try to process it, the less it makes sense. I'm pregnant. With Henry's baby. How did this happen? I barely remember parking the car, let alone walking up to their front door. When I knock, it feels like an eternity before it opens, and there stands June, Addy perched on her hip. Her little pregnant belly is prominent beneath her soft sweater, her blond hair pulled back in a messy bun. She looks glowing and adorable-as always-and I'm struck by the contrast between her put-togetherness and my barely-holding-it-together mess. "Avery!" she says, smiling. Then she pauses, her brow furrowing slightly. "You okay?" "I'm fine," I lie. Because that's what I do. Addy's tiny voice interrupts us. "Auntie Avie!" she exclaims, squirming to get down. June sets her on her feet, and Addy bolts toward me, wrapping her little arms around my legs. "Pays tea partys?" "Maybe later, sweet pea," I manage, forcing a smile. "Is...uh...Beau home?" I ask, looking back at June. "Nope." She shakes her head. "Left to go golf with Neil about an hour ago." She reaches for her purse and pulls out her wallet. "You left your credit card at the diner," June says, handing my Black Amex over to me. "Thanks for lunch, by the way." Lunch? Oh, right. That's when I freaked out and bolted. It was mere hours ago, but it feels like a lifetime. "How was your Botox appointment?" June asks casually as she ushers me inside. I blink at her, completely blanking. "My what?" "Your Botox appointment?" she repeats, giving me a confused look. "You know, the one you rushed out of lunch for?" Crap. That's the excuse I gave her. "Oh. Right. That. I didn't actually have a Botox appointment." "What do you mean?" June's confusion deepens. "Then where did you go?" Before I can answer, a wave of nausea rolls through me like a freight train. "Excuse me," I mutter, bolting toward the bathroom. I barely make it to the toilet before I'm heaving. "Avery?" June's voice is behind me, soft with concern. She's there, gently patting my back as I retch. Addy's little voice comes from the doorway. "Auntie Avie sick?" "Auntie's just feeling a little under the weather, Addy," June says, standing up to lead Addy away. "Go watch your show, sweetie. Mommy will be right there." By the time June comes back, I'm sitting on the bathroom floor, clutching a hand towel and dabbing at my sweat-dampened face. She crouches down beside me, her eyes filled with worry. "Avery, what's going on?" she asks softly. And just like that, the dam breaks. It's an overload of information, and I start spilling it, haphazardly as it may be. "I was a virgin," I blurt out, my voice cracking. June's eyes go wide. "Excuse me?" "I was a virgin," I repeat, more firmly this time. "Before the island. Before Henry. I know you probably thought I was banging all those dudes, but I was a virgin until the island." June sits back on her heels, her jaw practically on the floor. "Wait. You mean..." "I had sex with Henry," I say, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I seduced him. And ever since we got back, we've been secretly fucking all over the city." I hold my breath, waiting for her reaction to the news I've dropped so far. Clearly, I haven't dropped all the bombs, saving the most earth-shattering for last, but I honestly don't know how my best friend is going to react to me keeping shit from her. June's eyes somehow get even wider. Her lips part, but no words come out. Then, finally, she grins. "Oh my God." I blink. "Why are you smiling?" "Because!" she says, laughing now. "I had a feeling something was going on between you two. Honestly, I've been wondering for a while. Even before the island." "What? Why?" She shrugs. "Because you guys have always had a little...something-something. Some kind of undeniable chemistry." "Oh, we have undeniable chemistry, all right," I mutter. "It's literally growing inside me right now." June freezes, her gaze dropping to where my hand is resting on my belly. "You're pregnant?" she whispers, her voice full of awe. "Yes, I'm pregnant," I snap. "With Henry's baby. And he doesn't know. But that shouldn't be a surprise, because he doesn't know I'm in love with him either." "Oh my God, Avery!" June exclaims, pulling me into a tight hug. "You're pregnant!" "Yes, June," I say, exasperated. "I'm pregnant. This is going to change my life forever. I don't know how to be a teen mom!" "Teen mom?" June repeats, laughing. "Avery, you're twenty-seven. Like me." "Don't make this about you!" I wail. "You're pregnant," June whispers again, tears in her eyes. "Avery, there's a little baby growing inside your belly." She hugs me again. "And you and I, we're pregnant together. Our babies are going to be the same age." She leans back, brushing my hair out of my face. "I know this is a lot to process, Avery, but this is a good thing. This is a great thing. This is the best thing, actually." "The best thing?" I repeat, incredulous. "June, I didn't get Louboutins for half off. I'm pregnant. With child." "Yeah," June says, smiling even bigger. "You are." I search her face, and she hugs me again. "It's going to be okay, Avery. I promise. I think you just need to talk to Henry." Oh, Henry. Just the thought of telling him makes my stomach churn all over again. "I don't know, June." "I do," she says firmly. "Henry is a good guy. And sure, I don't know everything that's gone down between you two-clearly, because you were keeping sneaky secrets from your best friend." She eyes me knowingly. "But I know the way he looks at you. I know the way he's looked at you for years." "And how does he look at me, June?" "Like his whole heart is in his eyes." God, I hope she's right. "Just tell him, Ave. Just go to him and tell him." "I..." I pause, trying to find the words. "I think I need a moment, you know? I need to wrap my mind around all of this." "I know you're scared, but now isn't the time to run. Now is the time to face everything head on." I nod, but deep down, I'm not so sure. I feel a lot like running-straight back to my condo and burrowing under my comforter for the next nine months. Surely my baby and I can survive on DoorDash takeout. Hell, maybe Dr. Moretti can make house calls for all my OB appointments. "You're strong, Avery," June says, holding both of my hands. "One of the strongest people I know. You've got this. And you know that I'm here for you. I'm always here for you." Right now, I don't feel very strong at all. But with the way June is looking at me, the love and care that sit in her eyes, all I can do is hug her tightly. "Thanks, Juni," I whisper into her ear. "I love you." "I love you too. Even though you were keeping all these secrets from me." "I'm sorry," I whisper. "It's okay." I think about how amazing June is. How amazing she's always been. She never judges and she doesn't hold a grudge, and she hasn't even brought up the fact that I wasn't quite so demure when she was keeping secrets from me. She's the best best friend anyone could ever have. "So..." June pauses. "How are you going to tell Beau?" "How am I going to tell, Beau?" I scoff. "He's your husband. Pretty sure that's your job, babe." "Avery." "What?" I say, feigning innocence. "He got signed over to you when you said 'I do.'" "Oh my God, Avery." I hug her again and start to head for the door. "Where are you going?" "I don't know." I grab my purse, but before I can leave, June takes my phone. "What are you doing?" "Nothing." When she hands it back, I realize she's set it up so she can track my location. "You're fucking with me, right?" "No. I'm not. And don't you dare turn it off," she demands with an index finger pointed directly in my face. "You're a psycho." "No, I'm not. I just love you, and trust me, now that you're about to be a mom..." I screech. "You'll understand there's a difference." I roll my eyes, and June hugs me one more time. "Tell him," she whispers. I nod, even though my mind is screaming at me to run. Right now, telling Henry I'm pregnant feels impossible. You've done it before. You thought surviving the island was impossible too, my mind encourages, but I shake my head to clear it. What do you know, ya dumb bitch? You're the one who got me pregnant.