When Keeley announced she had important plans for October 12th, Jennica was shocked to learn she was marrying Aaron Hale.

She found a few hours to have lunch with her former roommates in late September and broke the news over complimentary breadsticks.

"You're pregnant and marrying who?" Valentina shrieked.

"Come on, Val, you know him! He was the best man at my wedding—the one with the black eye?" Jennica prompted.

Valentina shook her head in disbelief. Aaron was obviously madly in love with Keeley, but how had this happened? Jennica hadn't pegged her friend as someone who would sleep with someone she wasn't dating, or at least in love with.

"Hang on," Valentina said. "The ex-boyfriend who made you swear off men forever? I'm so confused."

Valentina wasn't the only one, but Keeley refused further explanation. She simply stated that she was marrying him for her child's future and wanted them both at the wedding. They could wear any nice dress they liked.

They had many questions but, to avoid upsetting Keeley, kept the conversation light. It was, however, incredibly awkward.

"Cam, you won't believe this," Jennica said dramatically, entering their home and petting Ziggy.

He looked up from his phone. "What?"

"Keeley's pregnant!"

Cameron's eyes widened. He shook his head sympathetically. "Aaron's going to be devastated."

"No, no, you don't get it! He's the father. They're getting married in a few weeks!"

"Impossible," he declared. "Aiden's been involved since the beginning, and he told me everything. She would never marry him."

Jennica crossed her arms and pouted. "I'm telling you, she is. I heard it from her myself. Ask Aaron! He'll confirm it. We're both invited to the wedding; you'll see for yourself."

"I don't understand. He wasn't having any luck with her last I heard, though he has been in a strangely good mood lately. How did he get exactly what he wanted?"

Jennica had no idea. Despite teasing Aaron on his birthday, she'd heard nothing from Keeley about changing her mind. It was all speculation—speculation that proved far less wild than the truth!

"Do you think Aiden knows?"

"If he did, my phone would be blowing up," Cameron said dryly. "I'll tell him Monday, and we can ask Aaron together. It's been a while since we've stormed his office simultaneously."

Jennica snorted. Despite their nearly ten-year age gap, they were the perfect partners in crime.

"Why not text him now?"

His smile became flirtatious. "Because my beautiful wife just got home, and I can think of better things to do."

"Is that so?" Jennica asked, raising an eyebrow. She sat on his lap, her arms around his neck. "Care to tell me about them?"

Valentina couldn't believe Keeley was marrying the man she'd nicknamed "Crazy Person" in her phone, let alone that she was pregnant. It felt like a telenovela!

She was confused but supportive. She'd likely need to trade for a night shift to attend the wedding, but it would be worth it.

Besides, she felt she owed Keeley. After all, Valentina had inadvertently contributed to her homelessness. Though, now that she thought about it, she didn't know where Keeley had been living.

Keeley had simply said she'd figure things out. Now she was pregnant. Had she moved in with Aaron because she felt she had nowhere else to go? Had she been coerced? Was she a kept woman? Was this Valentina's fault?

No, she needed to stop these ridiculous thoughts. She'd watched too many telenovelas. Real life wasn't that convoluted.

Still, she wondered how Keeley ended up pregnant by a man she barely tolerated. She'd always seemed so opposed to him. What had changed?

These thoughts plagued her throughout her rotation. Her professor reprimanded her several times for spacing out. Each time, she apologized and tried to refocus, unsuccessfully.

Valentina worried about her friend. Less than a year ago, Keeley had said she never wanted to marry. It seemed like she felt trapped. She definitely didn't love Aaron.

A romantic at heart, Valentina found this upsetting. How could you marry someone you didn't love, even for a child?

During a ten-minute break, Valentina received a text from Ryan. They hadn't spoken since his awkward birthday party. They'd shared college classes, but Keeley was closer to him. The lack of other mutual acquaintances made things strange.

"Have you seen Keeley recently?"

She had seen her less than four hours ago. "Yeah."

"How is she?"

An excellent question. She wasn't sure. She couldn't say "good"; Keeley hadn't seemed happy explaining her situation.

She seemed tired and embarrassed. Poor girl.

Keeley and Ryan had been friends for a long time…telling him wouldn't be wrong, right? He'd likely be invited to the wedding, too; he'd been at Jennica's, and they weren't as close.

"She's tired, which is expected. Pregnancy is exhausting."

A flurry of messages followed: "WHAT?!," "When did she get pregnant?," "Is it her scumbag ex-boyfriend?," "Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Apparently, Keeley hadn't told him yet. Strange. He was usually easier to reach than her old roommates.

"I only found out today. She hasn't told you yet? I'm sure she'll invite you to the wedding and tell you then." "She's marrying him?! Seriously?"

Valentina regretted responding. "My break is up. I have to get back to work. Talk to her about this."

She put her phone on airplane mode and returned to work, unaware of the trouble she'd caused.