Page 87 of Bartered Innocence

“I think you’re pregnant,” I say back.

Her eyes widen and she looks up at me with parted lips. “Oh my god. I could be. I need to grab tests.”

Twisting the watch on my wrist, I check the time and push off the frame. “Aodhan should be back from the store soon.”

“You made Aodhan pick up pregnancy sticks?! I could have done it. That’s so embarrassing,” Isabelle whines, giving up on the food entirely and coming to pout in front of me. “And now everyone is going to know we may be pregnant, but what if it’s negative?”

“Then it’s negative, love. We’ll keep trying.” I give her a salacious grin.

She falls into my chest and I wrap my arms around her. “I just thought we would have been pregnant by now.”

My heart twists a second and I sigh, tilting her face up to me. “Remember what I told you about my mom?”

Tears shine in her eyes. “Right, I’m sorry. That was insensitive.”

I shake my head. “That’s not what I meant. I just mean…no matter what happens. Our house will be full, okay?”

We’re still standing there in each other’s arms when Aodhan comes home a few minutes later, carrying multiple bags that he drops on the counter.

“Oh my god. Did you buy out the whole store?” Isabelle teases.

He rolls his eyes. “No, only a handful. I also got you some crackers and ginger ale. It’s what Aoife recommended until she can drop off some lollipops she apparently snacks on. And then an orange juice so you can take a test now.”

Her eyebrows raise. “You want me to test right now?”

My fingers flex on her waist. “If you could, yeah.”

Isabelle glances between us. “Okay…and both of you are going to stay and wait?”

Shouts ring out in the hall and then Cormac and Cillian are fighting to get through the door of the kitchen. Cormac throws his arm around Cillian’s neck as they tumble to the ground.

“Get your fucking fat ass off me,” Cillian growls as they roll around.

I move Isabelle out of the way as she watches in horror.

“You gotta be taught a lesson on not being a sore loser,” Cormac says with a laugh.

Letting out a sharp whistle, the men part and look up at me. I shake my head at their antics. “She hasn’t tested yet.”

Isabelle’s mouth drops open. “That was over me? What the hell?”

I drop my face against her temple and chuckle. “We’re excited. We were the same way with Declan’s baby. We’re a family. If Aoife didn’t tire of us, I’m sure they’d still live here too.”

“I can’t possibly imagine how Aoife would grow tired of you all,” she says dryly.

Cillian scoffs in fake astonishment. “You’re barely in this, darlin'. Give it a few years before you start making those types of jokes, will ya?”

A laugh rumbles out of my chest.

“Mr. O’Callagan…”

I turn when I hear the soft words spoken behind me, and my heart squeezes at the devastation on my father’s nurse’s face. I stagger a step away from everyone, my breath stalling in my lungs. “No.”

She nods, her red eyes filling with tears.

Isabelle gasps, and her hand touches my back.

I swallow to coat the ache clawing in my throat. “Show me.”

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