Page 130 of Red King

“I don’t need to use protection, Becs, because I’m infertile.” I raise my voice because she’s being an idiot. “I was given less than a ten percent chance of falling pregnant with IVF and zero chance without it. Zero,” I repeat.

“It happens.”

My eyes fill with tears again. “Not to me. I’m broken, Becs.”

“I hate it when you say that about yourself.” She gets a stern look. “Just take the damned test. Prove me wrong if you’re so sure.”

“I don’t want to.” I sound like a petulant child, but I don’t care. “Even looking at that thing is triggering to me.” I gesture toward the wrapped stick. “Do you know what it’s like to take negative test after negative test?” My eyes are streaming with tears. I can’t help it. “I can’t take the test. I swore I would never take a pregnancy test ever again. I have a stomach bug. I’ve put on some weight.” I shrug, sniffing. “And to top it all off, I’m about to get my period. That’s all it is.”

“I’m so sorry you had to go through so much. I really am. But I still need you to pee on the stick. You’re very sure you’re not pregnant, so we’ll expect a negative result. You won’t get hurt that way.”

“I will.” I look at the test like it’s the devil. “I can’t help myself. I’m already feeling sad, and I haven’t even taken the stupid test yet.”

“I’m sorry, Paisley. You had unprotected sex, and you have pregnancy symptoms. You need to do this, just to be sure.”

“Fine,” I growl and grab the test. I stomp into the bathroom and pee on the stick. Then I wrap it in toilet paper, drop it on the counter, wash my hands, and go back out.

“Done. Are you happy now?” I glare at her.

“Yes, thank you.”

I instantly feel bad for being such a bitch and say, “You’re welcome.”

“So that’s two minutes we have to wait.” She starts to set a timer on her phone.

“Don’t bother.” I hold up a hand. “I know exactly how long two minutes is. At this stage of the game, I’ve taken several hundred tests in my lifetime. And I also don’t even have to look at that thing to know it’s negative.” I use my head to gesture to the bathroom. “It will be.”

“That’s fine, Paisley. Let’s get the negative and move on. Dave can pick up your tampons.”

We stand there. Time ticks by slower than slow. When I know we hit around two minutes, I go inside the bathroom and hand Becs the test. “See! What did I tell you?”

She looks at the test.

“It’s a big fat negative. Can we just drop it now and—?”

“It’s positive,” she says, looking bewildered.

“No, it is not! Have you lost your ever-loving mind, as well as your eyesight?” I take the test from her and look at it.

It says “Pregnant” as clear as day.

I push out a heavy breath and stagger back a step. Then I throw the test; it hits the wall and falls face-down on the mat.

“What was that?”

“The test is wrong. It’s wrong.” I shake my head. “It’s old and expired.”

She frowns. “It isn’t old, and it isn’t wrong, Paisley. You can get a false negative, but you can’t get a false positive. You should know that as a nurse.”

“It’s wrong!” I push out. “It has to be. You said you had two tests. Where’s the other one? Please tell me you have another one.” I clutch her arm.

“It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay. I’ll bring it.” She gives me a reassuring smile, but it doesn’t reassure me at all.

I start pacing while I wait. It isn’t true. It can’t be. I don’t buy it. No. Nope. No way.

“Here you go.” Becs hands me another test, which I rip open. “Are you going to be able to pee again so soon?”

“Just you watch me,” I say, going over to the toilet.

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