Page 28 of The Unexpected

I blow on the drink, hiding the shiver in my hands, and watch Chloe like she might vanish if I blink. She’s vibrating with that particular flavor of nervous energy that only comes from gossip so fresh it burns the tongue.

“So spill,” I say, “before I lose another ten years off my life to silk bows that have to be tied just-so.”

Chloe leans in, lowering her voice. “Did you survive Saturday? I didn’t see you after the first twenty minutes.”

I snort into my mug, managing not to spill. “Barely. And for the record, I didn’t see you either. What did you get up to?”

Chloe giggles, flushing. “Well, if you must know, I met the cutest guy named Aiden. We talked, exchanged numbers, and now I’m going out with him on Saturday!” she squeals. “A date, OMG, OMG, what will I wear?”

I smile ruefully.

“Well, probably anything in the boutique,” I say. “We do have employee discounts.”

“Okay,” Chloe says, rolling her eyes. “But yes, the party was soooo fun, thank you for inviting me. Aiden is insanely cute too. How do you know him?"

I shrug. “I don’t think I do.”

“Of course you do,” Chloe deadpans. “You were the hostess! Or was he a friend of a friend who tagged along? Oh shit, I hate when that happens. Sorry if that’s the case.”

I sip the coffee, delaying. Do I know him? I search my brain, trying to figure it out, but shake my head slowly.

“No, I just had so much going on at the party. I was saying hi to everyone and the name Aiden doesn’t ring a bell. Sorry.”

Chloe huffs, flipping her hair. “Stella, you talked to Aiden for like five minutes. Don’t tell me you can’t remember him at all. You were definitely not that wasted. Remember? Cute guy with curly brown hair and hazel eyes? About yea tall?” she asks, gesturing with her hand.

I search my memory: a medium tall boy with curly brown hair whom I talked to … hmmm. Maybe? I dimly remember a dude who fits that description with with a Patagonia vest that I chatted with for two seconds. I force a smile. “Oh, right, Aiden. He was nice.”

Chloe sets her mug down with a click. “You don’t remember him at all, do you?”

“Not really,” I admit. “Sorry. The only thing I remember is panicking that we were going to run out of tequila. Everything after is static.”

Chloe leans in further, eyes wide. “So did we run out of tequila?”

I shake my head. “No, thank god. But speaking of things going off the rails, I have to tell you something. About the party.”

Chloe straightens on the stool, both hands wrapped tight around her mug, as if she’s about to take an oath. “If you tell me you’re pregnant, I’m going to call Andie and your dad right now. I swear to God.”

I let the joke die on the table. “No, nothing like that. It’s not about pregnancy at all! It’s about the party. But it’s kind of dirty.”

Chloe’s mouth twitches. “You have my full attention.”

I set the mug down and wipe my hands on a napkin, buying one last second of calm before letting the world burn. “You remember how I told you my uncle was in town for two weeks? To babysit me while Dad and Andie are gone?”

Chloe nods, her eyes flicking with anticipation.

“Well, I kind of… well, we had sex,” I say, barely above a whisper.

The silence is instant, like the air in the room just up and left. Chloe’s jaw drops open, and she actually blinks—twice—before words re-boot.

“Wait. And he’s your uncle?”

“My step-uncle. My dad’s stepbrother, so we don’t share any DNA. But still—yeah. He’s the billionaire one. The one with the blue eyes and the CEO jaw.”

Chloe just stares. Then, after a second, she covers her face with both hands and screams—quietly, but it’s still a scream that fills up the small break room.

“Stella,” she hisses through her fingers, “this is not something you drop between retail shifts. This is a full heart-to-heart where I learn everything.”

I grin, even though I feel like I might die. “I know. I just needed to say it out loud to another human being before I start hallucinating.”