Page 76 of Crossed Up

My eyes water when I see three different cupcakes nestled inside with tiny words spelled out on top of the frosting. One for each member of my little family.

There’s a cappuccino chocolate chip cupcake with espresso frosting, the word “Daddy” spelled out across the top. Next to that is a Fruity Pebbles cupcake with strawberry frosting that says “Big Brother.” And the last is a dark chocolate cherry cupcake with the frosting rolled in mini chocolate chips, just the way I like it. The word “Mommy” is spelled out on that one, and it takes a considerable effort to dam the tears back. My eyes lift to meet Kennedy’s. “Thanks, Ken.”

Her own eyes are glassy, but she waves me off. “Get out of here. And text me later!”

It only takes me ten minutes to secure the tests and make the drive home, only when I reach the end of our street, I see Aidan’s truck in the driveway.

Shit.

If Aidan is home, there’s no way he won’t realize something is up, and I really want to surprise him. I see Copeland’s SUV parked in his driveway and send a thank you to the universe. I can take the tests at his house. He’s just as nosy as my husband, but at least Cope can keep his mouth shut.

With the tests and cupcakes in hand, I park my SUV and rush next door, texting Aidan a little white lie about dropping something off for Kennedy.

My hands are full, so I use my elbow to hit the doorbell, giggling when the device plays a doorbell version of What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction.

Rhodes sneakily installed the song after seeing the video of Copeland dancing for me in the hospital. Cope acts like he hates it, which means we all use it as often as possible.

He opens the door with a scowl on his handsome face, but I meet it with a beaming grin and push past him into the house. “Sorry, need your bathroom!”

I hear his heavy footsteps following me, only stopping when I shut the bathroom door in his confused face. “Are you okay? Are you sick? Do you need ginger ale?”

A smile finds my mouth in spite of my nerves. My grumpy best friend is secretly a little mother hen, and me being sick the last couple of weeks has turned him into a hoverer. “I’m okay, Cope.” But now that he’s said it, I could go for some ginger ale. “But I wouldn’t say no to the soda!”

“You got it, tiny.”

The second his footsteps recede I tear open the box and carefully read the instructions on the little pamphlet as if I don’t already have them memorized from the last year’s worth of negative tests.

After peeing on the test, I flip it upside down and set it off to the side while I wash my hands. All the while, my mind runs like a freight train after midnight. I want the test to be positive so bad, but what if I’m a terrible mother? What if my lack of maternal influence renders me incapable of connecting with this baby?

The timer sounds on my phone, and at the same time, a firm knock lands on the door, startling me out of the panic spiral. I contemplate not opening the door, but I could really use a pep talk right about now, so I open it and come face to face with a worried Copeland.

“Tiny, are you sure you’re…” he trails off, his eyes widening when he spots the pregnancy test on his counter. “Holy shit. Is that… are you?”

I shake my head, only mildly surprised when my eyes fill with tears. “I don’t know. I’ve been sick for weeks and thought it was just a bug, but I went to see Kennedy at the shop today, and the smell made me sick again, so she convinced me.”

He nods, grimacing in sympathy. “I told her not to use actual tequila, but the stubborn little terror rarely listens to me. So, why are you taking the test in my bathroom and not one of the four you have at home?”

“Kenny gave me some cupcakes to surprise Aidan with if it was positive, but I just… I don’t know if I can handle the disappointment I’ll see on his face if it’s another negative. I want to know, but I can’t find the bravery to look.”

Copeland sighs, pulling me into a tight hug. “Tiny, I know how much you and Aidan want this, and I know it’s been hard, but you’re one of the bravest women I know. How about this? You and I will look together. And then, as soon as you know, you can go home and tell Aid.”

Releasing a shaky breath, I nod and pick up the test, keeping it face down.

“Plus,” he continues. “If it’s positive, I can hold it over his head that I knew about his baby before he did. Payback for the stunt he pulled with Kennedy last year.”

That has me giggling. “You had your head so far up your ass you never would’ve seen the light of day if he didn’t set her up on that date, and you know it.”

He shrugs. “Don’t care.”

Boys.

“Okay.” Taking a deep breath, I flip the test over. “Oh my god.”

“Holy shit, you’re gonna have a baby. I’m gonna be an uncle again!”

I’m going to have a baby.

“Crew is going to be a big brother. Oh my god, I’m going to have two kids. I think I might throw up.”

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