NYLON ~ CHAPTER FIFTEEN ~ YOU LOOK HOT

Hanna stood in front of the mirror wearing just her robe. She turned to the side and pressed her hands tightly across the fabric. There was definitely a bump there. It wasn't obvious to anyone other than her but something was definitely growing in her midsection. She was ten weeks pregnant exactly and even though Aria already knew her secret, she was determined to keep the news to herself until she made a decision. Hanna went through her closet and pulled out a pair of white high waist shorts that covered the tiny hint of a bump she was sporting. She paired them with denim wedges and a red t-shirt.

Once she was ready, she grabbed her things and headed toward Spencer's place in Chelsea where she was throwing a party to celebrate the Fourth of July with her close friends and new husband. To keep up the charade, Hanna had brought along a bottle of wine to contribute but she had no intention of drinking it, at least not until she decided whether or not she was ready to become a mother.

She arrived at Chez Cavanaugh just in time to follow Emily and baby Alison up the stairwell. Spencer smiled when she saw her friends in the foyer. They all took turns hugging and greeting each other before Spencer ushered them inside where Caleb and Toby were each three beers deep.

"Can I get you anything?" Spencer asked Hanna.

"Just water would be great," came the reply. Spencer handed her a glass and the group filtered onto the rooftop garden where Toby had set up the grill and Spencer was refilling a cooler with red and blue beer cans.

"So who else is coming?" Emily asked while she bounced Alison in her lap.

"Aria should be here soon with the kids," Spencer replied. "I think other than that it's just us."

Hanna finished her water as the group chatted along and felt the sudden urge to use the restroom. The baby was constantly resting on her bladder and she felt like she spent half of her life on the toilet. Once she'd flushed the toilet and washed her hands she stepped outside to find herself cornered by Caleb.

"Can I help you?" she hissed letting her emotions get the best of her. Her heart nearly stopped as he leaned into her ear and whispered.

"What are you doing later?" he asked.

"I don't really feel like it tonight," she told him knowing full well what he was up to.

"Come on," he slipped his hands around her waist pushing them both back into the bathroom. "We've got time."

"You're drunk," she told him resisting the urge to jump on the bathroom counter and pull Caleb in with her.

"I thought we were just having fun," he smirked.

"Not today," she pushed him away and headed back up to the terrace as Aria arrived.

"Hey," Spencer smiled seeing her friend arrive. Aria hugged the girls while Toby got Ezra a beer. Spencer turned to the kids. "Do you guys want to watch The Lion King with Ali?"

"I'll take them," Emily offered grabbing their hands and leading them to the den.

"Thanks for having us," Aria told Spencer. "If I have to spend another holiday with the Fitzgeralds I think I might explode."

"It's our pleasure," Spencer replied as Emily came back up the steps.

"How're the kids?" Aria asked Emily.

"Great," she replied. "They're singing Hakuna Matata."

"I can't wait to have another little one running around here," Spencer smiled. Hanna gave Aria a look. I didn't Aria mouthed. She turned to Spencer.

"Are you…?" Aria asked.

"No," Spencer said quickly. "Not yet anyway, but we're thinking about it."

"You've only been married for two months," Emily reminded her.

"Yeah," Spencer sighed, "but we've been together for years. I think now's probably a good time to start a family, especially now that we have Caleb and a few others to help out the design team."

Hanna winced at the mention of his name. She was starting to feel ill and she wasn't sure if it was the mere proximity to Caleb that made her sick, or if it was just another joyful symptom of pregnancy. Hanna excused herself from the rest of the group and disappeared into the house with the pretext of checking her phone, but in reality she just needed a moment to collect her thoughts.

"You okay?" Aria asked sneaking up behind her a few moments later.

"I'm not sure," Hanna sighed.

"Come here," Aria let Hanna rest her head on her shoulder. She stroked Hanna's hair. "I know it's hard but I really think you should tell him. You can't predict how he'll react but you don't know for sure he'll be angry."

"I don't think today's a good day," Hanna replied. "He's absolutely wasted."

"I'm not going to pressure you," Aria told her, "but I think he needs to know and it's up to you to decide when."

"Thanks," Hanna smiled sitting up again. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Soon enough Spencer was calling them all for dinner and the kids came running up the stairs. Toby served burgers for the entire table and the friends shared stories and jokes while the sun set on the Hudson.

"Thanks for everything," Aria told Spencer as she helped clean up, "but we should probably get the kids back. I promised them I'd make hot chocolate while we watch the fireworks."

"No, stay," Spencer begged pulling out a box of cocoa powder. "I'm prepared for any curveball you throw my way."

"Fine," Aria smiled, "but I'm warning you. They get a little rowdy when you give them sugar."

"It's cool," Spencer teased. "I'll just crush up some Adderall and mix it in to calm them down."

"Not funny," Aria replied. "I hope you don't think that will actually work."

"I'll let you do the honors," Spencer said handing Aria the box.

The four girls finished cleaning up the kitchen and then made their way out to the patio just as the fireworks began to go off. Ezra hoisted Jeremy up on his shoulders while Aria grabbed Daisy and stood her on top of the patio table, careful to keep two hands on her daughter. Emily had Alison wrapped tightly in her arms while the two-year-old nearly dozed off into sleep. A silent tear strolled down Hanna's face when she realized how truly alone she was. As she pondered her solitude, she felt Caleb's strong arm wrap around her shoulders. A smile crossed her face as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"You look hot," he whispered as the first firework exploded. Hanna got a wild reality check when she remembered Caleb was still drunk and still just looking for sex. She took a deep breath. This was definitely not the moment to tell him he was going to be a father. In fact, she was still not convinced she ever would. He'd make it perfectly clear he wasn't looking to be a permanent fixture in her life.

I promise Caleb will find out eventually. There's another special treat today, if I get five reviews for this chapter by the time I get home from work, I'll post the next chapter tonight in which Hanna grows a pair and thinks about her future.