"Yeah, give me ten minutes."
I spend those ten minutes stashing my ice cream and then trying to figure out what to say, how to explain that yes, I'mpregnant with Kasen James's baby, and yes, we're involved, but no, it doesn't change anything about how Cascade operates.
It sounds stupid even in my own head.
This is why I didn’t want to get involved with anyone in the industry. People are going to think I’m trying to make a deal with him and sleeping with him to make it happen. Every brewery I’ve brought on and earned the rights to distribute for is now going to be in question.
Did she sleep with the owner to get them to sign?
Fuck, being a woman is really hard sometimes.
When I step out onto the warehouse floor where my team has gathered, I feel like my heart might pound straight out of my chest. Forty pairs of eyes watch me expectantly. Some curious, some concerned, all waiting for me to explain what's going on.
The whispered conversations die immediately.
"Thank you all for taking a few minutes for this," I begin, proud that my voice doesn’t shake. "I know there have been rumors circulating and I want to address them directly."
I take a deep breath, letting my hand rest on my belly because you know what? I’m owning this shit.
"I'm pregnant," I say, the words hanging in the suddenly silent warehouse. "Sixteen weeks. And yes, Kasen James is the father."
The gasps and murmurs are exactly what I expected. What I didn't expect is how liberating it feels to say it out loud.
"This doesn't change anything about how Cascade operates. We're still committed to supporting independent craft breweries. We're still the best distribution network in Portland." I meet the eyes of my key managers. "My personal life is separate from business. But I wanted you to hear it from me, not the rumor mill."
I glance around. "Questions?"
Please don't have questions.
It’s so silent all I can hear is the whooshing of blood in my ears. Then someone starts clapping. Then another. Soon the whole warehouse is applauding, and I have to blink hard against the sudden sting in my eyes. Someone yellsabout timeand I laugh even though it’s watery.
Fucking pregnancy hormones.
Kieran bumps his shoulder into mine and then ruffles my hair before I can swat his hand away.
"Alright, show's over. Back to work. We have beer to move."
As they disperse, Kieran leans closer so I’m the only one that hears him say, "Nicely done. Short, sweet, to the point."
"Think it was enough?"
We start back toward my office as everyone gets back to work. "For them? Yes. For explaining whatever's actually happening with you and James?" He smirks. "Not even close."
"I don't know what's happening with us," I admit.
"Bullshit." His expression softens. "You've been circling each other for years. Can you at least admit that you don’t hate him?”
"I don't hate him," I say quietly, the truth of it settling deep in my bones. "I don't think I have for a while now. Maybe I never really did."
"I know." Kieran's smile turns a little wicked. “The sexual tension between you two could power the city. Vegas just gave you an excuse to act on it."
He's right. It's always been easier to frame Kasen as the enemy. The rival. The competition. It gave me somewhere to direct my frustration and a way to ignore that there might’ve been something else going on.
Like the fact I’ve maybe always been a little bit obsessed with him.
Now? Now I don't know what he is. Father of my child, for sure. Husband, technically. Lover… yeah, that happened.
But maybe also something I never expected.
