Shay visibly brightens. “Do I finally have an excuse to kick Carter’s ass for this whole ‘we both need space’ shit?”

Nic presses her hands to her mouth, and tears spill onto her cheeks in the space of a heartbeat. “You’re pregnant?”

“Oh my God.” I shake my head. These women are way too used to drama if they jump to such extreme assumptions. “This is how rumors get started.”

“Who’s pregnant?” Jake asks, stepping up to our table with a notepad in hand. He follows the gaze of everyone at the table to me and takes a half step back. “Holy shit. Does Carter know?”

“Stop. This womb is vacant, and I’m planning to keep it that way for a while yet.” I can’t help it. I laugh.

In addition to giving Carter space the last two weeks, I’ve been giving myself some space. I’ve needed it. I carried around an ugly secret for more than four years, and now that it’s off my chest, I’ve actually been able to spend some time figuring out who I am.

“What about your stomach?” Jake asks, wielding his notepad. “Any plans to have new tenants there?”

Nic frowns. “That metaphor is weird. And not at all appetizing.”

“Yeah,” Jake says. “The second I heard myself say it, I regretted it.”

“Jake,” Ellie says, leaning forward on her elbows to get a better look at Shay’s brother. “Levi said he heard that Easton Connor is looking for a vacation home in Jackson Harbor. If he needs a real-estate agent, please put in a good word for me.”

Shay’s eyes go wide. “What? Easton . . . What?”

“Who’s Easton Connor?” I ask, then the familiar name clicks into place in my mind. There are Connor jerseys all over town. The guy is Jackson Harbor’s single claim to NFL fame. “Easton Connor, the quarterback?”

“Yeah,” Ellie says. “He grew up here, and now he’s looking for a vacation home or something.”

“Why?” Shay says, looking between Ellie and Jake. “He doesn’t have any family here anymore. He . . . Why?”

Jake frowns. “Why not? It’s not like he can’t afford it.”

Ellie clears her throat. “The favor?”

He shrugs. “Easton and I haven’t really kept in touch. He was better friends with Carter than with me. Ask him.” He taps his notepad. “So, what can I get you ladies?”

“Goat balls,” Nic says.

“And cheese fries,” Ellie adds.

Molly and I exchange a look. These girls can eat anything and still fit into their clothes. “Jake,” I say.

He rolls his eyes. “Fine. Grilled chicken on lettuce for you two and my sister, but don’t you dare tell anyone I’m serving that crap here. Or everyone’s going to order it and then they’ll stop coming because it’s not good food.”

“Thank you, Jake,” Molly and I say in unison as he walks away, but Shay doesn’t say a word. She still looks shell-shocked by the football player news.

I nudge her. “You okay?”