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G ushers me inside, and I stop when I see the spread covering her coffee table. Garlic breadsticks, cheese, chocolate, candy and two steaming chai lattes.
“Is this all for me?” I ask, raising a brow. “That’s incredibly sweet of you, G.”
Considering the only emotion she usually displays is sarcasm, this is a big fucking deal.
I turn around and find G crying.
Actually crying.
Tears are running down her face, and in the couple of months I’ve known her, I’ve never seen her shed a single one.
“Georgie.” I immediately walk over and wrap my arms around her, not caring that she isn’t usually a hugger.
She hugs me back so tightly my ribs start to ache.
“Loosen up, G. My ribs are bruised,” I tell her with a small laugh.
“Oh, fuck.” She releases me instantly. “I’m sorry. Jesus.”
“It’s okay.” I reach for her hand. “Why are you crying?”
“Well, I just—” She stops and takes a deep breath. “I know I’m not the best at this emotional shit, but you’re my best friend, Blair. It’s fucked up because I’ve only known you for five minutes, but if you think I’m ever going to let another weasel hurt you again, you’ve got another thing coming.” Her face crumples again. “Plus, I really fucking love you.”
“Georgie Anderson.” I place a hand over my heart. “You love me?”
“Fuck off.” She wipes her face and points toward the coffee table. “Drink your chai.”
I laugh as we sit together on the couch. The snow has well and truly arrived in Hartwell, so I’m grateful for G’s fireplace and the hot chai warming my hands.
“For the record, I’ve never had a best friend,” I tell her. “But I’m glad you’re my first one. I really fucking love you too.”
We smile at each other for a moment before G clears her throat and reaches for the food.
“Right. That’s enough emotion for at least six months.”
“Agreed.” I take a sip of my chai before drawing in a nervous breath. “Although, I sort of need to tell you something.”
G freezes with a piece of chocolate halfway to her mouth. She slowly lowers it and turns toward me.
“Fuck. What?” Her eyes narrow. “Do I need to kill someone? Because I’ll do it.”
“I’m pregnant.”
Her eyes go so wide I’m worried they might actually fall out of her head.
“BITCH. ARE YOU KIDDING?” G launches herself toward me, then remembers my ribs at the last second and settles for grabbing my shoulders. “Congratulations! What did Dean say? He cried, didn’t he? Please tell me he cried.”
“Uh, I haven’t exactly told him yet.” I look down at my chai. “I found out at the hospital.”
G’s excitement fades slightly. “Why haven’t you told him?”
“I don’t know.” I sigh and run my thumb along the edge of my mug. “I guess I’m scared he’ll go into his shell. Courtney walked out on him and Aspen. Everyone talks about how much that hurt Pen, and it did, but it hurt Dean too. What if this brings all of that back? What if he thinks I’m going to do the same thing?”
“Blair—”
“And we’ve only been together for a couple of months,” I continue, the words spilling out now. “I know he’s it for me. I love him. But is this not moving incredibly fucking fast?”
G goes quiet for a moment, taking in everything I’ve said.
