Read Now and Forever for Free Online

lunch.”
    “No,” Emma said with a laugh. “I wish.”
    “You wish you were on a budget?”
    “No, I just . . . tell me how the wedding plans are going.”
    Layla smiled widely. “It’s so much fun, Em. I’m going to try on dresses this weekend with Mom. Ben wants me to do all the planning. I love him so much. The thought of being his wife . . . it just makes me happier than I’ve ever been, you know? And actually, I asked you to have lunch because I wanted to ask you to be my maid of honor.”
    Emma’s face softened and her eyes welled with unshed tears. “Me? Really?”
    “Of course, Em. You’re my sister.” Layla reached for her hand across the table and squeezed it. “I found this dress in a magazine that I think is perfect for you. We need to order it now, so I need your size.”
    “Oh.” Emma’s brows dropped and she frowned. “When is the wedding? Do you have a date?”
    “I’m thinking about May or June, so we can have it outside.”
    “Wow, that soon, huh? It’s November now.”
    A flare of annoyance sparked Layla to cross her arms across her chest. Emma was jealous. Unbelievable. She had the guy of her dreams and was jealous that Layla would be married first.
    “It’s not that soon. What size are you? A six?”
    “Uh . . . just, maybe wait to order the dress.” Emma took the glass of water from the waiter’s hands and drank eagerly.
    Layla glared at her sister across the table. “Are you not sure you want to be the maid of honor or something? Because if you don’t want to—”
    Emma cut in. “I want to. Layla, I absolutely want to. It’s . . .”
    She put her face in her hands and Layla leaned forward, concerned. Something wasn’t right with Emma.
    “Are you okay, Em? What is it?”
    “I just don’t know if the dress will fit me then.” Emma looked up, her wide eyes brimming with worry. “Because I’m pregnant.”
    “Holy shit!” Layla cried, the words flying out before she considered them. “Em!”
    “I know.” Emma dropped her face back into her hands. “I’m shocked to say the least.”
    “What did Cole say?”
    “He was shocked at first, but then he got calm and reassuring, which just annoyed the hell out of me.”
    “Yeah,” Layla agreed. “A surprise pregnancy should freak the shit out of anyone. But maybe he knows you guys would’ve done it eventually anyway, so he’s okay with it. Men can go with the flow remarkably well.”
    Emma sighed and shook her head. “I don’t know. Would we have? Would he have wanted to marry me and have a family?”
    “Of course, Em. Cole’s crazy about you. I’m surprised he hasn’t . . . wait! Have you told Mom and Dad?”
    Emma smiled slightly. “I was going to tell them at dinner the other night, but then . . .”
    “What? You mean because of me telling them Ben and I are engaged? You still could’ve told them!”
    “I didn’t want to steal the spotlight from you. That’s a huge, amazing deal, getting engaged.”
    Layla was never going to live down her reputation, even with her own family. Until about a year ago, she’d been so self-absorbed that no one could imagine her any other way. She cringed inwardly at Emma’s deference.
    “Having a baby is a huge, amazing deal, too, Em,” she said. “First of all, congratulations. I know it’s a surprise, but when the dust settles, you and Cole are gonna be excited about this and you’ll be great parents.”
    Emma’s weak smile said she wasn’t so sure. “I’ve always wanted children. It’s not that. I just don’t know if I’m ready.”
    “Sweetie, if we all waited until we were ready for things, there’d be way less marriages and babies in this world. You’ve got a man you love by your side. And you’ve got me and Ben. And Mom and Dad.”
    Emma buried her face in her hands again. “I’m just so embarrassed about telling them. They probably don’t even think Cole and I have slept together.”
    Layla couldn’t contain her laughter. “You guys live