Ren cleared his throat. “We’ll tell her we have plans for dinner.”
KC growled and smacked blindly in his direction, which was something I would do, not him. “Why don’t we play it by ear?” That was the closest he’d come to snapping at us in a long while.
My stomach sank. “Uh, yeah. There’s a chance we’ll get in a big fight before meal plans can be made anyway.” I drummed my hands on my thighs. “Especially if my dad is still there.”
Ren turned to look at me but went back to watching the road when KC touched the wheel. It occurred to me then that Ren wasdriving the Jeep. I’d just gotten so used to him always driving that which vehicle we were in hadn’t sunk in.
“Hey! I thought you didn’t cheat on Shakira.” I slapped his shoulder, and he glared grumpily back at me.
“It’s icy. Can’t risk her now that her paint is perfect.”
“Aw!” KC grinned at me. “He doesn’t want to make more work for you.”
“Anywaaaay,” Ren said loudly, giving us no choice except to change the subject. “If you want to leave for any reason, we’ll go. If your dad so much as fucking gives you the stink eye, I’ll punch his teeth in.”
With that dire announcement, he turned the wheel, and I was startled to realize he was pulling the Jeep into the driveway of Mom’s cottage. It was still very familiar, but in that way of something that holds good memories, not something that’s home. My heart fluttered. I wasn’t sure when Ren’s apartment had officially moved into my heart ashome.
Smoke wafted from the chimney, Christmas-card picturesque. Mom had tastefully decorated everything outside. There were red and green lights lining the eaves and windows, and large bulbs bracketed the walkway, making the snow mounded over them glow different colors.
“Wow.” KC leaned forward, gaze shooting to the Christmas tree displayed in the front windows. “She really goes all out.”
“Ugh.” I unbuckled. “I wonder how she did the lights along the roof? I hope she made Dad do it. She shouldn’t be on ladders.”
“Because she’s old?” KC frowned over his shoulder at me. “She isn’t that old, is she?”
“Because she’s pregnant.” I froze as soon as the words were out of my mouth and it was my turn to get stared at by my boyfriends.
“What?” KC pulled off his hat and held it like he wasn’t quite sure if he wanted to throw it at me or not. “Seriously?”
“When the hell did you find that out?” Ren slowly shook his head. “You just told us you started patching things up with your mom and wanted to do the holiday thing with her.”
“Last week. The first time we talked.” I got twitchy when they barely blinked.
KC whistled. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
I rubbed my hands along my thighs, then sighed. “You weren’t doing well.”
KC twisted himself around and reached back to grab my hand. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
“Who’s the daddy?” Ren’s sour tone made it clear he’d already solved the mystery.
I opened my door. “The baby will be a full sibling.”
KC’s eyes widened as I hopped out into the cold and took a deep, cleansing breath, hoping to wash away the anger and sadness burrowing into my guts like a feral rodent. I started toward the door, but Mom opened it. She was wearing a Christmas green sweater and a long red skirt that almost covered the tips of her red-and-white striped socks.
“Hey! Nice to see everybody!” she said brightly, motioning us inside fast. She firmly closed the door behind us. She’d gotten the coatrack out at some point since I was home last, and we filled it with our winter gear. She’d added an extra mat for all the boots, too, so she must’ve known—or hoped—I wouldn’t change my mind about coming.
When I was done, my attention focused on her belly. Too late, I noticed the guys doing the same thing. I smacked them, but the damage was done as Mom dropped her hands to her midsection.
She laughed, a nervous titter. “I guess my news traveled. Yep, there’s a baby in here. It’s about the size of a tadpole and looks like one, too. I don’t suggest Googling images.” The way her smile trembled on her lips stabbed my heart. Hell, I was the world’s biggest jerk.
I opened my arms, and she dove forward. She wasn’t much shorter than me, but I felt more like the adult as she sagged against me. I hugged her hard.
“It’s okay, Mom.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, and I hated the sound of tears in her voice.