Page 1 of Dash

ONE

DASH

PAST…

The test is sittingat the top of the bag like a live bomb. Shoved among the trash and junk mail, two fucking lines stare up at me.

Hope fucking punches through my chest.

She’s pregnant.

And that ache that gnaws on my ribs every damn day? It loosens.

My girl’s having my kid.

Fuck.

I scrub a hand over my jaw. My thoughts are spinning like a carousel in my skull. I’m making plans and building nurseries before I’ve closed the lid.

We’ll need a bigger place, so she can move in with me. I need her close to take care of her—take care ofthem. Her place is bigger, but she shares with her friend, Maya, and we’re building a family.

A life.

I let out a shaky breath. I’ve only been fully patched in for a month, but the club takes care of its own, so the money’sgood. Six months maybe to save for an apartment with an extra bedroom. Bought, not rented. We need security. Enough to pay for baby stuff and?—

“Rhys?”

Her soft voice has me turning andfuck, I can’t help it. My eyes drop to her stomach.

There’s no hint of a bump there, and her sleep shorts are fitted enough that I’d see it. I want to see it, that little swell of her stomach, our kid nestled safe between her hips.

She’s never looked more fucking beautiful than she does right now.

“Are you okay?” She dips her brows as I cross the room. I need to touch her, to feel her.

My hands span her waist, my forehead pressing to hers. “Fucking perfect.”

I wait for her to tell me, to give me those two little words, but she kisses me, her lips soft, her mouth claiming before she slips free of my hold.

Then she moves to the kettle like nothing has changed. Like she’s not carrying our whole life in her body.

“I have class in an hour, so if you want a shower before I leave, you’ll need to get in now.”

I watch every step, every move she makes and the first slither of doubt creeps in behind the elation. She’s not acting like anything is different, like she’s different.

Maybe it’s Maya’s test. Maybe Kendall isn’t pregnant at all.

Hope and fear tangle in my chest, but I cling onto the possibility it’s ours. We’re young, but we’ll manage. I’ll make sure of it.

I frown at her as she makes coffee.

“You okay?” I can’t stop from checking.

Is she sick? Is she having cravings? Fuck, I don’t know shit about pregnancy.

Kendall glances over her shoulder, her blonde hair falling in soft waves down her back. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

I want to push her, but I don’t. She deserves to tell me this shit in her way, and I won’t take that from her.

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