“Right. Okay. Well, in that case, maybe the next time we’re in Tennessee, Ryan should invite her to a game and I can introduce her to Karl Halpern, the owner of their team. He got divorced a few years back. You remember that, right? She left him for some guy she met in Paris.” He shakes his head. “He’s a good guy. It’s probably time he gets back in the game.”

“I don’t think he’s her type.”

“Really? Why not, Jake?”

“Drop it, Alex.”

“That’s what I thought.” He grins and takes another sip of his scotch. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

“It doesn’t matter because it’s over anyway. Our kids are married to each other. It’s too complicated.” It’s what I keep telling myself, anyway. “Don’t tell Violet.”

He scoffs. “I know better than to say anything to my wife. I love her, but she’s about as good at keeping secrets as a sieve is holding water.”

Five minutes later, I spot Hanna on her own, heading toward the bathrooms. I excuse myself and follow her, not needing to explain myself to Alex.

I manage to catch her on her way back out.

“Oh! Jake!” She nearly crashes into me. But to be fair, I was lurking in the shadows, which there are a lot of since the restaurant has low lighting.

“Hey. I’ve hardly had a chance to say hello tonight.” I steady her by putting a hand on her hip, but her eyes dart to the hallway and she steps back, severing the connection.

“I know.” She gives me a small smile and bites her bottom lip. Her eyes move over my face, but dart away before she can meet my gaze. “The girls have been keeping me busy.”

“Is everything okay?” It’s too dark in the hallway for me to see her face clearly, but based on her body language, things are definitely off.

She looks exhausted and nervous as hell. And her teeth keep finding her bottom lip, which is something she does when she’s worried. She did it a lot when we were discussing the guest list for the wedding—every time Queenie’s mom was brought up. And her own mother.

“Yes. No. Can we talk later? Maybe after the party?” She fiddles with her necklace, which happens to be the one I gave her at King and Queenie’s wedding.

I’m very accustomed to tackling issues head-on, rather than letting things fester. It doesn’t help either of us if I’m concocting scenarios in my head that may or may not have a legitimate basis. “Can we find a place to talk now? Even if it’s for a minute? I feel like you’ve been dodging me all night and I know things are different.” I motion between us. “But I think we need to figure out how to make this work. I still really value your friendship, Hanna. I don’t want to lose that.”

“In there?” She inclines her head toward the small room to the right, likely where intimate private dinners are held—when this place isn’t being rented out.

I follow her into the room and she tucks herself into the corner, out of sight from anyone passing by. I take a seat beside her.

She runs her hands down her thighs and exhales a long breath. And another one.

“Are you okay?”

She closes her eyes and shakes her head. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” I don’t understand what’s making her so emotional.

She reaches into her clutch, pulling free a tissue. She dabs at the corner of her eyes, stopping the tears before they can fall. She pinches the bridge of her nose, like she’s trying to use it as a stop button. “All the freaking hormones are making me ridiculously emotional.”

Aside from the wedding, I’ve never seen Hanna cry. But this seems different. She’s practically vibrating with anxiety. “It’s okay. You know I’m not afraid of tears.” I go for light, because I honestly don’t know what else to do.

“I know.” She tips her chin up and dabs at her eyes again. “Thank you. I’m sorry.”

“What are you so sorry about?” This is the second time she’s apologized in the past two minutes.

She takes another deep breath, and when her gaze meets mine it’s so…forlorn? Torn? Sad? Worried? So many emotions pass over her face, and I don’t know what to do with any of them because I have no idea what’s going on.

She clasps her hands in her lap. “There’s no easy way to tell you this, so I’m just going to come out with it.”

“Okay.” I have to wonder if maybe she’s reconciling with her ex or something. Although I can’t see her doing that after the shit he pulled. Unless she’s sick? Or maybe she regrets putting an end to things? But I don’t know why that would make her this emotional.

She meets my questioning gaze. “Jake, I’m pregnant.”

I don’t say anything at first. I don’t know what to say. For a few very long seconds, the only sound in the room is Hanna’s unsteady breathing. And the laughter and chatter of the party happening down the hall.

The first question I ask is a stupid one. “How did this happen?”

She blinks a few times, fingers twisting in her lap. “I honestly didn’t think I could get pregnant. I haven’t had a regular period in two years. I’m so sorry, Jake. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I thought we were safe. I can’t believe I was so stupid.” Her bottom lip trembles and she raises her hand to cover her mouth and turns her head, fighting to keep her composure.

The last time I got news like this, I was in college. I was on track to get my degree and being signed to a team. I had my entire life ahead of me. I was going to live the dream. NHL career, making millions a year, traveling all over the country. Kimmie and I were going to wait until we were finished with college, get married, and move to whatever city I was playing for. We had it all planned out. And then I went from carefree college kid to soon-to-be father.

“Are you sure? I thought you said you were menopausal?” I don’t know what to do with this information. It all seems impossible, and I’m still in a state of shock.

“Perimenopausal. And I am.” She keeps twisting the tissue in her hands, shredding it.

Panic starts to set in, exactly like it did more than two and a half decades ago, when Queenie’s mother announced, tearfully, that she was pregnant. She’d been afraid and wanted to terminate. I’d told her we would make it work. That I would take care of both of them. She’d agreed, although she’d had reservations. Ones that didn’t wane.

And my entire life changed.

And now it’s going to change again.

“I don’t get how this could happen. And you’re positive it’s mine?”

Hanna flinches. “You’re the only person I’ve slept with, so yes, it’s yours.”

I run a hand through my hair. “I just…how is this even possible? You said we were fine to go without the condoms.” I wince at my accusatory tone and try to dial it back. “Are you sure you’re pregnant and it isn’t just some hormone glitch?” I don’t know why I keep asking idiotic questions, apart from the fact I can’t believe this is happening. Again. Maybe she’ll give me a different answer if I keep asking the same questions. Like miraculously she’ll say she’s kidding. “Please tell me this is your idea of a bad joke.”