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A lightbulb goes off in my head as a devious thought occurs to me. I smirk while leaning toward her, my hand searching for my phone. “You know what could be fun?” I ask while pulling out my phone and wiggling it back and forth in front of Rachel.
“No,” Rachel says, sounding like a child who has just been told she can’t have an extra bowl of ice cream.
“If we called up my parents and told them you’re pregnant.”
Rachel’s brows pinch together, and she purses her lips. “How can that be any fun?”
Lucas shrugs. “Well,” I start while shifting my body weight so I’m lying next to her, “if they take the news badly, we can have a little laugh. Most likely Dad will begin stuttering and Mom will want to shower us with money.”
Rachel’s lips twitch and my eyes widen at the mischievous glint in her gaze. “And we would of course tell them we don’t need their money.”
“Which will make them even more upset,” I say with a soft chuckle. My hand laces with hers and I pull it close, brushing my lips against her knuckles. “And, if they take it well—”
“They won’t,” Rachel interjects while rolling her eyes.
“If they do, it may make you feel better about your mother.”
Rachel tenses and I watch several feelings pass over her face—sadness, anger, worry. We haven’t talked much about her mom. Of course, Seth filled us in on what happened and Rachel has been talking with her on the phone. However, from what I’ve overheard, it doesn’t sound good. Her mom is unhappy about the pregnancy and assumes the baby will ruin Rachel’s life. They’re still arguing over whether she should give the baby up for adoption. It has nothing to do with her mom, so I don’t understand why she continues to pester Rachel. But, then again, my parents were the same. It’s hard to cope when parents don’t support your decisions.
“Okay,” Rachel breathes. “Let’s do it. They’ll find out eventually anyway. Better this than someone else telling them.”
I unlock my phone, and before Rachel can change her mind, I quickly find my parents’ number and press the dial button. I put it on speaker and the both of us listen to the dial tone. Three rings go by before finally my mom says, “Lucas! What a pleasant surprise! How are you?”
Mom actually seems genuinely happy. We talk more now since I’ve been published. Dad even gets on the line with her every now and then. Things aren’t wonderful, but they’re better than before. I wonder if she will be upset. It could go either way.
“Good,” I say cheerfully. “I have Rachel here with me. We have some news for you.”
“Oh? Should I get your father?”
“No, that’s—”
“Frank!” Mom shouts, making me grimace. “Lucas and Rachel have something to tell us.”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake.” I hear Dad’s voice getting closer. “What do they need now? Money? Didn’t he publish that book?”
I imagine him sitting in his leather chair, folding the newspaper in his hands angrily and throwing it on the coffee table in front of him before marching over to stand by Mom’s side. He used to do that all the time when I was a kid.
“I don’t know, honey,” Mom says sweetly. “He’s going to tell us now.”
“If he needs money—”
Mom sighs and I imagine her rolling her eyes. “I don’t know if he needs money. Like I said before, he’s going to tell us.”
“I don’t need any money,” I say quickly, not wanting to listen to any more of their bickering. I turn to Rachel and ask, “Do you want to tell them, or should I?”
“You should do the honors,” Rachel says while gesturing toward me.
I clear my throat, and open my mouth, but before I can say anything, I hear my dad say, “Oh God, she’s pregnant, isn’t she?”
My mouth promptly closes, and I hear Mom gasp. “Pregnant?” Mom breathes into the phone. “Really?”
“Well, why else would he have them both on the phone?” Dad says in irritation. “It’s either she’s pregnant or they’re getting married.”
“A wedding!” Mom shouts, sounding way too excited. “Oh, I love weddings! I know the perfect wedding planner. You should have the ceremony at the Plaza. I can call them right now, if you—”
“Mom!” I shout. “Enough with the wedding planning.”
Rachel giggles and I shoot her a dark glare.
