Page 163 of Could Have Been Us
“Shit!” I yell when I look down at my hand, realizing my engagement ring is gone. “My ring!”
“Relax,” Winnie says, “we’ll find it.”
Jess comes rushing in. “You lost your ring?”
I nod. “I had it on when we did toasts.”
“Okay.” Jessica is calm. “Did you have it when you got changed?”
I think, trying to retrace my steps. “Yes. It has to be in here.”
Everyone starts to move around, checking the floor, and I go through the stall. When I reach around the trash basket, I feel it. “It’s here! It must’ve flown off.”
A few sighs of relief sound, and when I step out, Jessica is standing there, holding something in her hand that I know very well.
A pregnancy test.
“Why are you holding a pregnancy test?” Winnie asks.
“It was right here,” she explains. “I’m . . . I mean, I’m seven months pregnant so we know I wasn’t taking it.”
“Is it positive?” Delia asks.
“Yes,” Jess confirms. “So, which of you guys is pregnant?”
“How do you know it was one of us?” I ask.
“Because this room was spotless when we came in and we’ve been the only people here.” Jessica looks at Winnie, Delia, and then me.
I do the same, scanning the faces of my two close friends. “Is it you, Win?”
“No!” she says quickly. “I have an IUD and Easton wraps that shit up.”
“Deals?” Jessica asks.
“No, definitely not. I’m not having sex, so I can’t really get pregnant.”
My gaze darts to her, and she stares at me. Well, I know that’s a lie since yesterday she was sneaking out of Josh’s RV. All eyes turn to me. My lips part, but I know it’s not mine, which means it’s Delia’s or Winnie’s. Both of them are watching me, but where Winnie looks as though she’s about to pee herself with joy, Delia looks like she might break down in tears.
I turn to Jessica. “Yeah. I mean, you found out. It’s me. I’m . . . pregnant.”
“Oh my God!” Winnie rushes toward me, pulling me into her arms. “I am so happy. Does Kinsley know?”
Shit. Shit. Shit. “No, no one does, and you can’t tell her. Please. Not until I figure things out.”
Because I’m not pregnant.
“This is amazing.” Jessica smiles, her watery eyes brimming. “Our babies are going to be just a few months apart, and they’ll be best friends.”
I force myself to smile. “For now, can we not talk about this—at all?”
They all nod. “Of course, we’ll be quiet.”
“Thank you.”
“Come on, let’s get back before Kinsley gets curious,” I suggest.
God, if she heard any of this, I will be in so much trouble. I’ll have to explain that I lied, and then if Jack somehow catches wind of this before I have time to give him a heads-up. Just...not good.
