Cocky Secrets (Cocker Brothers #29)

Prologue - Stacy

S he’s making a banana, kale, apple, and spinach smoothie for her new breakfast diet plan. She just explained how delicious it is when you add fresh ginger. Before she hits the blender, Mom asks, “How are you, honey?”

Shaking on our bathroom toilet, I hold the phone loosely to my ear and glance over to tears streaming down my face in the long mirror’s reflection. I’m in black sweats and a white tank top, my feet pigeon-toed, back hunched. “I’m good.”

“Are you juicing or doing anything like that?”

“No, but…I’m thinking about cutting out some things.”

“Oh, you should! It’s nice to clean up your digestive tract—give your body a break now and then. How’s Vic? Things still going great after you moved in together?”

My gaze drifts right again, and I stare at the bruises on my neck from where he choked me last night until I nearly blacked out. “He’s fine.”

“Just fine?”

“He hates his job.”

“Well, tell him there are more out there. Keep searching until he’s happy.”

I mutter, “Uh huh,” wiping my eyes and wincing from the bruise on my fingers I got from trying to pull his off of me.

I love you, Vic. You’re hurting me! Stop! You’re going to kill me if you don’t stop! Please! I love you!

“Your father and I were just last night wondering if you two were coming to visit us sometime soon.”

“I don’t think so, Mom.”

“Mmm, this is so good. I wish you were here so you could try this.”

Fresh tears burn my eyes as I close them. “I wish I was there, too.”

“Well, let’s talk about that diet. What were you thinking of cutting out? I have to say, I feel so much better now that I cut out dairy. I can’t tell you how bloated I was and didn’t know it! I lost ten pounds! Can you believe that?” She laughs and says, “But enough about me, what were you going to cut out?”

“Coffee,” I whisper, glancing to the mirror as I hold up the stick with the pink plus symbol. “Mom, I’m pregnant.”