Page 11 of Knocked Up by the Doctor

“Why?” Do I detect a hint of concern in her tone?

“First, what are the odds I’d get pregnant that one time?”

“I can’t tell you the odds. Math like that isn’t my strong suit, but I don’t think the odds are in your favor. Now, what’s the second?”

“Second?” What’s she talking about?

“You said the first was the odds. What’s the second reason as to why you can’t be pregnant?”

I have a feeling she’s going to find fault in what I say next as well.

“I’ll give you the second and the third. I can’t be pregnant because I don’t know Kade’s last name or anything about him, and third, I can’t be a single parent.”

“Oh, Raine. While those are all reasons why you don’t want to be pregnant, they aren’t reasons why you can’t be.” I know, but for now, I’d like to live in a land called denial. “Do you want me to pick up a test and bring it over?”

“You don’t have time for that. I’m just going to take a nap and see how I feel later.”

“You can’t sleep the problem away.”

“I know, but I really think it’s just a bug.” Even as I say the words, I start to doubt myself. I’m never sick. Ever. And I haven’t been around anyone to get sick.

“Okay, you live in the land of deniability, and when you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here. Call me if you need me,” she says before hanging up.

I can’t be pregnant. Life wouldn’t do that to me. I don’t want to be pregnant and alone.

I sleep off and on through the rest of the day and night, dreaming of my night with Kade and Kade holding a dark-headed baby while smiling down at it adoringly. Then I had nightmares of being alone with a baby and both of us crying on a constant loop.

By the time I get up in the morning, I’m full-on freaking out. Plucking my phone up, I shoot off a quick text to Lexie.

Raine: Please buy me a test and come over ASAP.

I’m sitting on my couch staring at the wall when there’s a knock on my door. Lexie used to live in the building and actually got me my apartment. Since she knows the doorman, he lets her up without calling. Which, at this moment, I’m thankful for.

In fact, I wish she had a key to my apartment, so she could let herself in. I don’t want to move as reality slowly starts to settle in.

Opening the door, I fall into Lexie’s waiting arms. “Hey, it’s going to be okay.” Lexie runs her hand up and down my back. “You know it’s not the end of the world if you’re pregnant. It wasn’t that long ago that I was in the same situation.”

I pull back and let her inside. She holds out a bag from the pharmacy, and with shaky hands, I take it. Unable to wait, I head straight for my bathroom with Lexie hot on my heels.

Leaving the bathroom door open a crack, I pull out the test and sit on the toilet.

“You know our situations are not even close to the same,” I finally say as I wait for my body to get with the program and pee on the stick.

“You were the one to guess I was pregnant,” she says from the bedroom.

“Yeah, but you had a relationship with Ryder. And you loved him.”

“True,” I hear her murmur.

“I know nothing about Kade except he’s good in bed, and he liked your pictures.” I let out a sigh of relief when my bladder finally gives up control, and I start to pee on the stick. Once I’m finished, I set the stick on the box, wash my hands, and go out to my bedroom to find Lexie sitting on my bed, her gaze on me.

Reaching for my hand, Lexie holds it between hers. “And now we wait.”

“I apologize for not being more sensitive when you were going through this. I feel like I’m about to jump out of my skin at the possibility of being pregnant. We had to concoct an entire plan to get you and Ryder in the same room.”

“But it all worked out in the end, and if you are indeed pregnant, we’ll find Kade.” Lexie leans her head against mine. “And if he’s an asshole about it, you’ve always got me.”

“Thank you for being here with me. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

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