The cafe buzzed with quiet conversation.
But suddenly Marcus appeared in the doorway. Stacey blushed in surprise at seeing him and her heart almost jumped out of her chest.
Marcus scanned the room casually, his eyes catching on Stacey. His brows furrowed when he saw Megan sitting across from her.
"Stacey?" Marcus said, stopping by them. "What are you doing here?"
Stacey arched an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair with her usual air of defiance. "Shouldn’t I be asking you that? What are you doing here, Marcus?"
"I just passed by." His confusion turned into something else. "Megan, what are you doing here?"
Stacey froze, the question hitting her like a slap. Her eyes darted between Marcus and Megan, trying to piece together what was happening.
"You two... know each other?" Stacey asked, her voice edged with disbelief.
Megan didn’t answer. Her face pale and her hands clutching the edge of the table as if it might anchor her in place.
Marcus frowned, his usual cocky confidence giving way to a sternness Stacey rarely saw. "Megan,everyone’s been looking for you. Where did you go? And what are you doing here?"
Stacey slammed her coffee cup onto the table the sound jarring. "Can someone, please, tell me what the hell is going on?"
Marcus turned to Stacey, his expression tight. "Stacey, Megan’s my cousin."
Stacey blinked, her mind scrambling to catch up. "Wait!WTAT?"
Marcus turned back to Megan, ignoring Stacey’s shock entirely. "And we all know about your pregnancy, Meg." You didn’t have to run. The family is worried sick about you."
Megan’s hands trembled on the table, but she kept her gaze down.
"Megan,you’re family. You don’t have to do this alone. Why did you disappear? And why are you meeting her?"
Stacey’s jaw tightened as she regained her composure her sharp mind racing. "Wait, wait, wait!Your cousin? You mean to tell me the girl who just dropped a bombshell about the baby is your cousin!?"
Megan looked as if she’d been caught in headlights. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out.