“I’m fine. I promise. Just a sore knee and a broken phone.” Peeking back to Luke my heart dropped. “Nothing like Luke though.” I pushed back my tears as I looked into Ari’s eyes. She placed her hand on the side of my face. “You look tired, honey. You need to get some rest. After your mom and dad see Luke, I want you to let them take you to the hotel.”
I nodded my head. I didn’t want to leave Luke, but I wanted to sleep and rest. I didn’t want to add any stress on my body because of the baby. “I will. I promise. I didn’t want to leave him until someone else got here.”
Jeff was talking to Luke and asking him about his injuries. Luke filled them in on his leg and the bump on his head. I was so thankful he didn’t have any other serious injuries.
Clearing my throat, all three of them looked at me. “Um, I’m gonna head on out to the waiting room and fill my parents in.” Walking up to Luke, I gently kissed him on the lips. “I love you,” I whispered.
He smiled and said, “Before you go—”
Panic set in. Was he going to say something about the baby? We agreed to wait.
“Isn’t there something you want to show Mom and Dad?”
My eyes widened in horror. Luke quickly saw my concern. “What’s on your finger,” he said, clearing up my confusion.
Glancing down, I saw my pale-yellow engagement ring. Smiling I held my hand out. “Luke asked me to marry him next to the falls. Before the accident.”
Ari’s hands covered her mouth as she let out a squeal. She took my hand and held up the ring. Glancing over to Luke, she smiled. “See, I knew all those times I dragged you shopping with me and Grace, it would pay off. Oh Luke, darling this is beautiful.”
I bit on my lip and beamed with happiness. Ari looked into my eyes and I could see how happy she truly was. “It’s perfect for you, Libby.”
Jeff pulled me into his arms. “I’m so happy for you both.” Kissing me on the forehead he whispered, “Thank you for loving him like you do, Libby.”
My heart dropped and I swallowed hard. Pulling back, I nodded my head as I smiled at Jeff.
Turning, I headed to the door and out to see my parents. As the door shut, I dragged in a deep breath and blew it out before I made my way to my parents. I prayed to God they didn’t see through my charade.
SITTING ON THE back porch, I looked out at the rain. Libby was now twelve weeks pregnant and we still hadn’t told anyone. It was early May and school was about over. Libby and I talked about how we were going to tell our parents. My leg was healing well, but I was still taking it easy. The last thing I wanted to do was reinjure it.
I heard the screen door open and I smiled. I could sense Libby before I even knew it was her. Inhaling a deep breath, Libby’s perfume filled my senses. Her arms wrapped around my neck as she leaned over and whispered in my ear. “I’m feeling a little frisky and everyone is home. Boo.”
I chuckled as I took her hand and brought her around to sit on my lap. She sat down and wiggled as I raised my eyebrow. “Are you nervous?”
Letting out a sigh, she nodded her head. “I think Grace knows.”
“Really? What makes you say that?”
Looking over my shoulder to see if anyone was coming, she turned back to me. “The morning sickness. I tried so hard to keep it on the down low but a few times it just hit me when I was with her. Then yesterday, she ran into me at the mall when I was picking up our shirts.”
I chuckled, causing Libby to bounce on my lap and my dick to jump. “The shirts. I can’t wait to wear them.”
Libby placed her hand over her mouth and giggled. “I’m not sure they are going to lessen the blow.”
I ran my hand up and down her back. “Libby, they’re going to be thrilled.”
Libby lifted her thumb and began chewing on her nail. I pulled it from her mouth. “Stop it. They’re going to be happy.”
“Who’s going to be happy and about what?”
Libby closed her eyes as I looked at Grace walking out the door and making her way over to us.
Think Johnson. Think.
“Will and Alex. We’re going to surprise them with a weekend in Fredericksburg this summer.”
Libby’s eyes widened as she nodded her head in approval.
Grace pursed her lips together and nodded her head. “What a nice thing to do. How come y’all are doing that for them?”
Libby’s smile faded as I felt the sweat bead along the top of my forehead. “Um, I don’t know,” I said as I shrugged. “Just thought it would be a nice thing to do. We plan on doing nice things all summer for our friends.”
Libby got off my lap as she nodded her head. “Yeah, like I’m going to treat you to a manicure and a pedicure.”
Grace gave Libby a pretend smile. “Awe, that is so sweet. My future sister-in-law is buttering me up.”
“That’s not true. It’s just we haven’t hardly spent any time together and I thought this would be nice. There’s no hidden meaning behind it.”
Grace grinned bigger. “Well I think that’s awesome. Will you let me go shopping with you and buy the baby clothes?”
Oh shit.
Libby’s head snapped over as she looked at me. I gave her what I hoped was a stay calm look.
Libby scrunched her nose and plastered on a fake confused look, as she let out a nervous chuckle. “Baby clothes? Why would you want to buy baby clothes?” Libby asked with a nervous smile.
Grace tilted her head and crossed her arms as she looked from Libby, to me, and back to Libby again.
“Do you think I’m stupid? Really? I know the two of you better than you know yourselves.” She pointed to me. “You, you walk around with that goofy smile on your face all the damn time. You place your hand on Libby’s stomach and whisper into her ear at least twice a day when you don’t think anyone is watching.”
Swallowing hard, I peeked over to Libby. Grace turned and pointed to Libby. “And you. Since we were fourteen you have asked me for pads or tampons because you never have any. You don’t think I haven’t noticed how you haven’t asked for any in about three months. You don’t think I haven’t noticed you not wearing blush anymore because the color of your skin is just radiating.”
Libby closed her eyes. “Shit. I forgot about the pads and tampons.”
My mouth dropped open. “Lib!”
Throwing her hands up in the air Libby pointed to a smiling Grace. “She knows, Luke.”