Page 85 of Detention with Daddies

“Mmm. I might have to.”

“Well, come on. Let’s get you some breakfast and on to school so that you can go home and rest afterward.”

He makes Ruby and I breakfast burritos, but I struggle to eat mine, packing it away for a snack after class and settling with the cup of coffee. I brush it off and tell him not to worry about it, even though I can see it doesn’t work.

After class, in the lab, I do something I shouldn’t. Especially not at work. I set up some tests that have nothing to do with my experiment.

Nick is the one to pull my blood for me. Each of them knows I hate doing it myself, and Nick is gentle. I barely feel it. He likes to fuss about putting the bandage on and kissing it better. It’s obvious he’s the dad to a little girl who got beat up from sports as a kid.

He won’t stick around long enough to watch me run the equipment, which is a blessing. He’s got meetings this afternoon with some prospective sports teams. Nick lingers just long enough to get a few kisses.

“Need any other help?” Those gentle fingers tuck a stray hair behind my ear, and I close my eyes to his comforting touch.

“Mmm. No. I’m okay. Thank you.”

He leans in to steal another kiss. “Anytime, Liv.”

And I know he meansanything. He’s told me time and time again that if I want or need anything, all I have to do is ask. I love that about him. He’s more kind than he’s charming, and he’s ridiculously charming.

I brush my hand across his cheek and give him a slight pat. “Go do your own work.”

That full, bright smile squeezes my heart with the emotions I’ve been teetering on these last few weeks—ever since our surfing trip.

I set up my tests. The waiting is the hardest part. It takes roughly an hour, and I can’t really concentrate on anything else during that time, so I wipe down my table and the equipment. I pace in circles, rubbing the back of my skull and neck.

My head is pounding, and my stomach is roiling even though I tried to eat more of that burrito. I only got halfway through it before I simply lay my cheek against the cool metal of the lab table with my eyes closed, counting my breaths.

When the results ding on my laptop, automatically uploading to the database for me to access. I type in my password, hold my breath, and click on the results.

Numbness spreads through my chest as I stare at them.

I’m absolutely flabbergasted.

The long shot hunch. The box to check to assuage my anxiety. Is positive.

It’s positive.

I’m pregnant.

Fuck, what do I do? I have no idea whose it is.

This is going to blow up in my face.

And there’s only one person I can talk to about this. I need my bestie.

I text her,When are you out of work?

Her reply is almost instantaneous.In an hour. Y. What’s up?

I’ve gotten some bad news…maybe.Not a great text to send, but I’m borderline panicking here.

Meet me at my place. I’ll be home ASAP. Use the hidden key to get in.

I pack up immediately, having three hours before my session with my subjects. I have to get there before anyone asks me what’s wrong because I might just break down. And I cannot do that at work. Not with everything else I’ve been doing here.

Shawna makes it home a mere five minutes after I let myself into her place and nurse one of her blue sports drinks. The moment she spots me, it’s like she already knows. When my hand covers my stomach, the tears come.

I’m terrified about what this means for the peace I’ve found with my men.

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