#Chapter 58: Keeping Secrets

Moana

Edrick’s eyes flashed with recognition as I refused a drink. I knew, then, that he was onto me. Edrick quickly disappeared into the crowd again, leaving me alone with Verona once more, but that interaction alone was enough to cause me such stress that I suddenly felt as though I was going to throw up.

“Excuse me,” I said, pushing my chair back and standing. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

Before Verona had the chance to respond, I quickly turned on my heel and beelined for the bathroom, holding my hand over my mouth to keep myself from vomiting. Thankfully, the bathroom was empty when I entered, and I barely made it to the toilet before the contents of my stomach poured out.

When I was finished throwing up, I flushed the toilet and stood shakily, leaning on the side of the bathroom stall for a moment to steady myself before walking over to the sink. I took a few deep breaths and calmed my nerves before digging into my purse for a mint, then left to get myself some ginger ale to calm my stomach.

As I made my way to the bar, I felt weak and shaky, but not entirely from the nausea. Not only did I feel completely out of place at this party as the only human, but I also felt that Edrick would potentially discover my pregnancy tonight… And I wasn’t ready.

I leaned on the bar and asked the bartender for a ginger ale, trying my best to steady my nerves. Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up to see Kelly standing beside me. She looked drunk, but also contemptuously devious.

“Just a ginger ale?” she asked.

I nodded.

A smirk spread across her face. She glanced over her shoulder toward where Edrick was standing, then back at me, and looked me up and down.

“You know,” she said, leaning closer to me, “from girl to girl… That dress isn’t fooling anybody.”

I frowned, taking a step back, and looked down at myself. I thought I looked perfectly fine. “What are you talking about?” I asked.

Kelly scoffed. “Let me be blunt. I know you probably grew up being half starved, so maybe you have some issues when it comes to controlling your appetite, but maybe lay off the fancy foods for a bit. Your belly is looking a little…” She stopped, then, and gestured with her hand around her stomach in an arching motion to indicate a round belly.

My jaw dropped at Kelly’s rude words. “That’s a nasty thing to say,” I replied, narrowing my eyes.

simply shrugged and picked up her fresh drink off of the bar. “I’m just telling the truth,” she said, before turning on her heel and

ale in my hand,

dear?” Verona asked, eyeing

cake for my

hands over her mouth. “Next time, I’ll eat your cake instead,” she

head back and laughed loudly.

gala ended and it was time to go home. I said my goodbyes to Verona and Sophia, ignoring the cold look from Kelly as I got into the car, and watched as the building

who was sitting across from me.

to ease some of the tension. We hadn’t

was all

eloquently. It was

they were cold and bitter. He began to clench and unclench

Ella seemed to notice this, and apparently decided to take

car seat, “Grandma taught me a new

“Sure.”

“Okay. Knock knock!”

“Who’s there?”

“Orange!”

“Orange who?”

glad to

and returned to staring silently out the window. Ella looked over at me with a puzzled expression on her face. I reached out

liked your joke,” I said.

consumption, she was already fast asleep. Edrick carried her onto the elevator, and when the

quietly as she took Edrick’s

was lovely,” I

quickly interrupted by Edrick suddenly spinning around to face me. “Did you have something important

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