Taryn rolled her eyes, but a little smile played around her lips. “I think he told me that approximately a hundred thousand times today. I’m pregnant, not an invalid. I actually feel great.”

Liv smiled. “I think it’s cute, how beside themselves Shaw and Wes are around you two. Just imagine how they’re going to be once the babies are here.”

Taryn snorted. “Picture padded rooms and no sharp corners in the entire place. Shaw may try to wrap the kid in bubble wrap.”

Liv laughed.

“Don’t laugh, lady,” Rebecca said, stepping into the kitchen, her auburn hair in a messy ponytail and cleaning supplies in her hands. “Finn will be worse whenever y’all have kids.”

Liv took the cleaning supplies from her and tossed her a hand towel. “I think we’re going to stick with being a fantastic aunt and uncle for now, maybe forever. We’re talking about getting a puppy, though. I think that’s more our speed.”

“Ooh,” Rebecca said. “You should talk to Marco. He works with a great shelter. Knight can have a cousin!”

Liv grinned at the idea of Rebecca’s big floppy dog trying to play with a puppy. The cuteness would probably kill them all. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Speaking of which,” Taryn said, turning around and leaning back against the counter. “What’s our plan for tonight?”

“I’m not sure.” Her friends’ grim expressions probably matched her own. They’d been spending time with Kincaid since the morning of the emergency brunch, but none of them felt like they’d gotten a handle on what exactly was going on with her. After the early-morning phone call a few days ago, Liv had expected a sobbing, heartbroken Kincaid. But when she’d picked her up for brunch, she’d been dressed to the nines, makeup perfectly applied despite the puffy eyes, and a determined smile on her face.

All she’d told them was that Ash had to leave and their “little tryst” was done, but that she was going to be fine, just fine. No big deal. Liv knew that mode. She’d been a regular practitioner of the never-let-them-see-you-cry method for years before she met Finn. Her mask was a badass bitch face—the I’m-tough, nothing-gets-to-me, I-don’t-need-anyone face. Kincaid’s mask was the everything’s-just-peachy-keen smile and a relentlessly positive attitude.

Rebecca nibbled at her thumbnail, a line appearing between her brows. “I’m really worried about her. I don’t know why she feels like she has to hide whatever is going on from us. I mean, she’s seen us at our worst. She doesn’t always have to be the cheerleader. We can be that for her when she needs it.”

Taryn sighed. “I don’t think she’s hiding from us. At least not purposely. Whatever went down with Ash was a big deal.” She crossed her arms, her pondering psychologist face on. “She’s selling this happy, happy, joy, joy thing to herself so she doesn’t have to deal with whatever she’s feeling. But if we call her on it, she’ll just get defensive and retreat further into denial.”