Clearing my throat, I looked at Lauren and then Jessie. “I’ve stopped drinking . . . wine and beer and all that stuff; you know it’s bad for you and . . . all that stuff.”
Ugh.
I moaned internally. I never was a good liar.
Jessie arched a brow. “Really? Why?”
“Well . . . ah . . . I um . . . I got really drunk and did something stup
id. So I gave it up.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Jessie peered at me as if she could see through the lies. All the lies that were about to pile up one on top of each other. “I know, hard to believe, but there it is. It was . . . um . . . illegal.”
“Illegal?”
Colt groaned behind me as he sunk down into a chair. “Uh-huh,” I mumbled.
“Wow. This is a whole new side of you, Taylor. I’m not sure about hiring you if you’ve done something illegal.”
Oh damn. I stuck my foot in my mouth.
“Well, I mean it wasn’t really illegal-illegal. It was just . . . you know.”
Scott stood next to Jessie and smiled. “No, I don’t think we know. Why don’t you tell us?”
“Tell you? You mean tell you what I did that wasn’t illegal but was?”
For goodness sakes. Even I thought I sounded crazy.
I could tell Scott was trying to hold back his smile as he and Jessie both attempted to stare me down.
“Well . . . if you’re sure you want to know,” I mumbled as I glanced at Lauren.
“Oh . . . we want to know. Don’t we, Jessie?”
Jessie chuckled. “More than you could imagine.”
Swallowing hard, I tried to think of something. Panic was building and I was about to blurt out I slept with a practical stranger.
“I . . . I slept with—”
“I’m pregnant!” Lauren called out.
Jessie and Scott both turned and looked at her with disbelieving faces. “What did you say?” Jessie asked.
Lauren looked at Colt who stood and made his way over to her where he lovingly placed his hand over her stomach. “We weren’t going to say anything until after Christmas, but Lauren is two months pregnant.”
Jessie quickly made her way over to Lauren and wrapped her in her arms. My heart was bubbling over with happiness while I watched them both start crying. I was so happy for my best friend, yet a small part of me was jealous. I excused myself and headed outside.
Taking in a deep breath, I let the smells of the ranch take over. There was something about the smell of horse manure that I had always loved. I hadn’t realized how much I missed being in the country.
I strolled down to the barn and walked up to a paint horse who was begging for some attention.
“Hey there, beautiful girl.” Running my hand down her strong neck, I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind. The horse made it clear she wanted something more from me as she nickered. Looking at her, I laughed.
“Do you want to go for a ride, girl?”
“Tay? Is everything okay?”