Whitley let out a gasp and then quickly spilled the beans. “Layton asked Reed if he had picked up your ring yet from the jeweler in Austin. Layton said something about it being sized and cleaned.”

Whitley had spit it out so fast that I had to sit for a few seconds to process it.

“Wait, what?”

Whitley quickly shook her head and looked at me like I was crazy. “What do you mean, what? He picked up a ring. He told you he wanted to marry you. He’s going to ask you to marry him, you idiot! I don’t think he’s changed his mind.”

My heart started racing, and my stomach took a dive straight down to the ground. “Do you think?”

Whitley rolled her eyes and giggled. “Yes! Courtney, stop letting fear creep into your mind. Reed loves you, sweetheart. Everyone who looks at the two of you knows how much you love each other.”

I smiled and looked at her as I tilted my head. “Just like when they look at you and Layton. The love pours off of y’all. Speaking of, you two have been awfully giddy today. I mean, the way Layton keeps looking at you and smiling is turning me on. What’s going on?” I gave her my best mom look.

A beautiful blush instantly covered her face, and her eyes lit up.

“Oh. My. God. You’re pregnant,” I said as I jumped up and stared at her.

“What? How in the world did you know?” Whitley asked with a startled look on her face.

I let out a small scream as I grabbed her hands and pulled her up into a hug. “I don’t know. I just saw the look on your face, and you just seemed…different!”

We kept hugging each other.

She pulled back and gave me the biggest grin I’d ever seen. “Yes, I’m pregnant! I went to the doctor yesterday, and they confirmed it. It looks like I’m about eleven weeks along.”

I put my hand up to my mouth and let out another scream before I got myself under control. I took a deep breath and asked, “Your honeymoon night maybe? Oh my God, how romantic, Whitley!” I pulled her into another hug and whispered to her, “I’m so incredibly happy for you both.”

She was laughing when we finally sat back down on the swing. “I didn’t think it would happen so fast, especially with me stopping the pill just the day before the wedding.”

“Well, ya know what they say—it only takes one time,” I said with a wink. “How is Layton taking it?”

Whitley’s head dropped back, and she let out a sigh as she looked at the clear blue sky. “He is so happy, Court.” She looked back at me and shook her head. “I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man so happy in my life as when the doctor came in and said the test was positive. Then, we did an ultrasound, and you could see the little angel on the screen. It was the most amazing moment of my life.”

I grabbed her hand and squeezed it as I used my other hand and wiped away the tear rolling down my cheek. “I bet it was. I’m so happy for both of you.”

Her smile faded for just a second before she said, “You can’t tell anyone though, okay? Layton and I agreed we wouldn’t tell anyone for at least another week or so. You can’t even tell Reed.”

“What? I can’t keep that from Reed,” I said.

“Oh, yes, you can. I promised Layton. Please. For me?” she begged in her famous whiny voice.

I crossed my heart with my index finger and stuck my pinkie out. “Fine, I promise, but don’t make me wait too long. I’m dying to start buying her clothes!”

We both started laughing when Reed and Layton walked up. I glanced over and caught Reed’s eyes. He was smiling, but his eyes were filled with so much sadness. I tried not to worry, but a part of me had a very bad feeling that something was about to happen, and Reed might very well break his promise to me about never hurting me. I took a deep breath as I stood up.

Whitley grabbed my arm and pulled me back to her. “Courtney?” she asked with concern.

“Yeah?” I said without pulling my eyes away from Reed.

“When do you think we can talk, Court? You keep delaying what we started to talk about that day when I came back from my honeymoon.”

I quickly turned and looked at Whitley. From the shocked look on her face, I was pretty sure all the blood from my face had drained away.

“Um…”

“Hey, angel. Do you want to take a walk with me?” Reed asked as he walked up and took me into his arms.

Oh God. My heart started pounding.

I looked back at Whitley and tried to smile. “Tomorrow?”

She slowly nodded her head. “Promise me?”

I grabbed on to Reed and barely said, “Yes.”

I wasn’t sure how long Reed and I had been walking in silence before he finally stopped and turned me to him. He looked over my shoulder, and when I turned to see what he was looking at, I noticed an old bench sitting under an oak tree.

I turned back and smiled. “Want to sit down?” I asked.

He nodded, and we made our way over to the old bench. We sat down, and Reed took in a deep breath.

“I ran into my father right before I picked you up.”

Shit. I closed my eyes and let out the breath I had been holding. That explains why he has been so distant. He’s upset.

Wesley had told me one night about how their dad had left them and how heartbroken their mother had been. I knew Reed had a fear of hurting me. He’d told me time and time again how he needed me to believe he would never hurt me in any way.

“Where? Did you talk to him?” I asked as I reached for his hand.

“At the coffee shop. I stopped to get you a cup of coffee, and there he was with some twenty-five-year-old slut hanging on to him while eye-fucking the shit out of me.”

I instantly got jealous, but I pushed the feeling aside.

“We talked for a couple of minutes, and that was it.” He turned and looked at me, and then he grabbed my face with his hands and brushed his thumb across my lips. “You have to believe me when I say I’m not like him. I’d never leave you. I’d never, ever leave you or hurt you. I saw what he did to my mother, and I promise you, I’ll love you until the day I die.”

When I saw a tear slide down his face, my whole world stopped spinning. I reached up and put my hands on top of his.

“Reed, I know you would never hurt me or leave me. I believe that with my whole heart. I love you so much, and I would never doubt your love for me—ever.”

He closed his eyes, and my heart was just breaking for him.