Page 25 of Together

“Would it be okay if I look you up then? Check in, maybe? Take you to coffee, not drinks, obviously. We can’t be trusted when we’re drinking around each other.”

She chuckles and nods again. “I’d like that. My last name’s Porter. I’m on Facebook and Instagram as my name, no funky screen names to remember. I have Snapchat, too, but honestly it kind of annoys me so I don’t go on often.”

“Got it. I’ll find you.”

“You do that. But not for a while. I need to sort out my head first.”

“Three months. Then I’m coming for you.” I kiss her again but this time it’s not so light. It’s a reminder of how good things can be between us.

“Three months. AndmaybeI’ll answer.”

“Tease.”

She smiles, her eyes twinkling and I step back and watch her drive away.

The reminder of the fact that she needed time to sort out what was going on in her head hits me hard. But how could she have done that if she was worried that she might be pregnant? I feel like such a jerk. It’s not that all the responsibility lies on one person when the sex is between two consenting adults, but I knew better. I never go without condoms. The only time I did was with my ex-wife and we weremarried.

My phone rings and I go on alert. Josie looks at me then at my pocket and I do the same. “Niko, you pick up that phone right now or I’ll reach into your pocket and do it for you,” she warns, sitting up and reaching for me.

I slap her hand away. “Back off, crazy. I’ll do it.”

“It’s her. I know it.”

“Would you stop?”

I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone, seeing Ashley’s name light up the screen as it rings for the third time. I don’t want her to change her mind and hang up so I quickly answer.

“Ashley? Hey.”

“Hi, Nik.”

“Speaker! Put it on speaker!” Josie whispers loudly.

“Babe. Leave the man be.”

“Yeah, leave me be,” I tell my sister in a whisper but with my hand covering the mouth piece on my phone. I don’t want her hearing Josie’s voice and getting inside that beautiful head of hers.

I walk out of the living room and behind me I see Dean holding Josie back. I may have shocked the shit out of Dean earlier by telling him that I might have gotten Ashley pregnant, but he never asked for more information. He knows that when there’s something to tell, I will. He also respects me enough to wait for me.

I close the door to the spare bedroom, the one I’ll be sleeping in tonight, and ask Ashley, “So? What’s the verdict?”

“Took all eight of the tests. They said the same thing so I assume it means that…”

“That?”

“I’m pregnant.”

I sit down on the edge of the bed and drop my head, keeping the phone pressed to my ear. “Show me?”

“Uhh, explain that please?” she asks, hesitation clear in her voice.

“Can you take a picture of one of the tests? I’m not there with you and I feel like I’m missing out on something.”

“Oh my gosh, I thought you wanted me to pee on a stick on video call or something. I was going to be like we need a discussion on boundaries and fast.”

The thought of it makes me pull a face but also is a fast reminder that her peeing in front of me is going to be the least of our worries in a few months.

“Yeah, no. I don’t really want to see that. But do you have any of the tests that you can take a picture of? My sister will want to see, too.”

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