My eyes widen. “What? Nessa, you have been drinking the entire trip. When did you find out?”
She winces. “So I need to come clean. I wasn’t actually drinking on the trip. It was all an act. I found out the week before we left, but I couldn’t cancel. Besides, they won’t let you do any excursions if you’re pregnant, so we kept it secret.”
“So that night we were taking tequila shots?” I ask.
“Water. The server got a good tip to keep making me drinks that looked like alcohol or in the same glasses so no one would know. I was going to tell you, but then you had so much going on, and Grant and I decided to wait until after the first trimester to tell everyone.”
I sigh. “Nessa, you didn’t have to hide it from me because my life’s a mess.”
“I know. Honestly, that’s not really why. I didn’t want you to treat me any differently. Had you known, I thought you might try to baby me like you did in Europe.” She looks sheepish.
“Babe, I wouldn’t have.” She gives me a look, so I conceded. “Okay. Maybe I would have. Still, I wish you had told me.”
“I know. No one else knows but Grant. We didn’t even tell Dominic, even though Grant wanted to. I told him that you had to be the first to know. I pulled the blow job card to get my way.”
I snort. “You gave him a blow job so I could be the first to know?”
“Oh fuck no. I told him I’d never give him one again if he spilled the beans to Dom.”
We both burst out laughing.
After a few minutes, we settle down. She comes over and hugs me.
“What are you going to do about Dominic? I’m sorry I ruined your grand gesture moment.” She looks sad.
I smile. “It’s not ruined. Only put on pause. After we get you settled and everything back on track, I’ll talk to him.”
“And? What’s your answer?” She looks nervous, but for him or me?
“I think he deserves to hear it before anyone else, but I’ll let you know as soon as I let him know.”
She smiles. “Fair enough. Can we go tell him now? Put the poor guy out of his misery?”
I shake my head. “Let’s get you cleaned up first.”
After a few minutes, there’s a knock on the door. I open it only enough to see who it is.
Butterflies fill my stomach when I see Dominic. He holds up a toothbrush and toothpaste.
“It’s Grant’s. He’s a weirdo and brushes his teeth after every meal. He wanted Nessa to have it. He also said he’s getting her some water and crackers if she feels well enough to come back out. I cleaned up the mess.”
Has he always been this perfect? Is this what I’ve been missing out on all these years?
“Thank you. Can we talk once all this craziness is over?” I ask.
He nods. “I’ll be waiting on bated breath for that moment. Although, to be fair with you, it seems like life is always crazy.”
I roll my eyes. “Only since I’ve been with you, Casanova.”
Grabbing the toothbrush, I close the door, turning toward Nessa. She holds her hand out for it while smiling.
“What?” I ask her.
“You’re beaming. I think we need to hurry this along.”
“Shut up,” I hiss at her.
Still, I help her get herself put back together before heading back out into the main hall. Thankfully all the guests are back inside and enjoying the music.
