Page 32 of Hooking

“Uh, I think you forgot to send it,” Sydney says, tilting her head to the side, narrowing her eyes at me as if I’m a puzzle she’s trying to solve. “So, what’s happening here? You’re not pregnant, are you?”

“No,” I say, pushing myself off the tile floor to stand in front of the vanity. “I have the stomach bug.”

“Stomach bug?”

“Yeah, I’ve been sick as a dog since Monday.”

Hayley and Sydney look at one another, exchanging silent conversations before helping me back to my bed. I’m a mess: my blond hair is a matted bee’s nest on top my head, and I smell like a stinky sneaker. I haven’t showered in a few days, and it’s certainly starting to show.

Hayley tucks me into bed and perches herself next to me, while Sydney sits on the foot of the bed. “Honey, I don’t think this is a stomach bug.”

“What? Of course, it is.”

“Yeah, I don’t think so. I’m a doctor, remember? Stomach bugs usually don’t last more than forty-eight hours,” Hayley says, handing me a glass of water.

“I’m not a doctor, but I am a mom, so I have to agree with Hayley on this one,” Sydney counters.

I slink further under the covers as another wave of nausea hits me. I squeeze my eyes shut in hopes it will disappear, but it figures it wouldn’t be my luck. Throwing back the cover and rushing back to bathroom, I empty the water I just consumed into the toilet, dry heaving when there’s nothing left.

“You’re pregnant.”

My eyes widen as I sit back on my heels. “No, there’s no way I could be pregnant.”

Sydney walks up behind Hayley in the doorway and stares at me for a moment too long. “I don’t know, you look pretty pregnant to me.”

“I can’t be. I’m on birth control.”

“Hey, Camden was a birth control and condom baby. It can happen,” Hayley says as I stand to rinse out my mouth. “Here’s an easy way to settle this debate. When was your last period?”

My period. Usually, I’m good at tracking stuff like that, but I can’t for the life of me remember when aunt flow was due to show her face again.

“You don’t remember, do you?”

My shoulders deflate at the realization I could be pregnant slams into me. I was getting married. I stopped my pill. Vincent cheated on me. Channing came with me on my honeymoon and we—oh God.

“I’ll get the tests. You get her cleaned up and downstairs,” Sydney says before leaving Hayley and me alone.

Hayley starts the shower, letting the water over her hand to make sure it isn’t too hot before gesturing to me to get in. The warm water cascades down my back as the thought runs rampant in my head. How could I have been so careless? He’s having a baby with another person. Would he want another baby with me? Do I want a baby?

My stomach starts to turn with disgust and doubt, causing me to hop out of the shower and back to hugging my new favorite place.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

“Time’s up. What’s it say?” Hayley says, jumping up from her spot on the couch to rush me as I pick up the pink foil wrapper holding my fate.

I clutch the foil and test in my hand, squeezing it tightly as I will myself to pull out the test. I know what the results are going to be. Yet, I want to live in denial for a little while longer before my world flips upside down. Even more so, I’ll be doing this on my own.

Of course, I’m going to be doing it on my own. How could I tell Channing he’s going to be a father again without feeling like I’m destroying the little families he’s created? I’ve seen the photos of them out in public, going to and from appointments. How can I compete or even think of competing with that? So, it’s obvious I’ll be doing this alone.

I grip the end of the test and slowly pull it out of the wrapper. Counting slowly to three, I look down at the test, and two little pink lines stare right back at me.

Pregnant.

Most women would be jumping for joy knowing they’re carrying the man of their dream’s child. However, all I feel is a sense of sadness. My heart is breaking again for the third time since I’ve met and fallen for Channing Halloway. This time though it’s for our child who may never get to know their dad.

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