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ricocheting off the backboard before it went sailing towards the patio door that led inside. Matt stepped out and caught the ball effortlessly, as if he had been expecting it. He grinned and held it up.
    “Who’s the terrible shot?”
    I could have stared at him all day. He was wearing another pair of jeans that looked amazing on him and a t-shirt that fit his chest snuggly. I hadn’t seen him in a couple of weeks, the last time being briefly when he came to pick up Sydney to escort her to a fundraiser. It’d been an awkward five minutes while I’d worked up the courage to tell him about the baby, only to chicken out in the end. He’d left with Sydney and we had exchanged less than ten words. I missed him more than I cared to admit. I missed him as a friend and I missed him as so much more.
    I forced my expression to turn nonchalant as I put my hands on my hips and shook my head at him. “I am not terrible. You just missed the one I made a few minutes ago.”
    Josh held out his hands for the ball. “We’re waiting for Syd and we can make it three-on-three.”
    Matt tossed him the ball and shook his head, gesturing for someone to follow him. The brunette from his Facebook page stepped outside onto the patio and she gave everyone an unsure smile.
    “Guys, this is Kristen,” Matt said as he put his hand around her waist and pulled her to him. She was probably a couple of inches shorter than me, but they looked good together.
    She beamed at Matt before turning to the rest of us to do the same. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail that fell onto her back and her blue eyes sparkled as she looked at us. She was wearing a red tank top with jean shorts that made her legs look so stunning that I suddenly felt self-conscious in my own black linen shorts and sky blue t-shirt.
    Matt pointed all of us out, introducing us by name and when he touched on me for a moment, I gave her a small wave. He led her to the patio table to sit down and I excused myself to go into the house for a moment. My chest felt painfully tight and wished I had just stayed home after all.
    I went into the bathroom and splashed some cold water on my face as I pushed my messy hair back behind my shoulders. I stared at my reflection and the girl staring back looked like a walking zombie with the circles under her eyes and her pale complexion. I tugged at my shirt and ran a hand over my stomach when a very tiny bump had formed, but not enough for anyone to notice.
    I left the bathroom quietly and moved into the kitchen to pull the lemonade out of the fridge. I was just pouring it when Matt stepped through the threshold of the kitchen and offered me a polite smile.
    “Amanda.”
    I returned his fake smile with one of my own but didn’t say anything as I replaced the drink in the fridge. I turned back around and Matt had his hip propped against the kitchen island, just staring at me.
    “It’s been more than two months, Manda. We really aren’t going to just ignore each other forever, are we? We’ve been friends for almost fifteen years.”
    I put my cup down and mimicked his stance on the opposite side of the island with a sigh.
    “I don’t want it to be like this either. I messed up and hurt you, and I’m so sorry.” I worried my lips through my teeth as I looked at him, trying to work up the courage to tell him my secret.
    His eyes moved to the floor for a minute and he let out a breath he’d been holding before meeting my gaze again. “It’s not just your fault. I’m to blame, too. Let’s just stop pretending like the other doesn’t exist, okay?”
    I nodded. “Okay.”
    Matt closed the space between us and wrapped me in a hug that I returned eagerly. Being back in his arms was like coming home and I knew I needed to tell him.
    “Matt,” I said as I pulled back marginally so I could look up at him. “I have something that I need to tell you.”
    He fixed his eyes on me expectantly but before I could get it out someone else said his name