Page 42 of A Moment for Us
I peek out of the stall, making sure the coast is clear before I exit and toss the test into the trash. Winnie exits right after me.
I wash my hands, splash water on my face, and force a smile as Winnie does the same.
Stella enters, heading for the sink. She gasps. “Shit!” She stares at her hand. “My ring!”
“Relax,” Winnie says, “we’ll find it.”
Jess comes rushing in. “You lost your ring?”
Stella nods. “I had it on when we did toasts.”
“Okay.” Jessica is calm. “Did you have it when you got changed?”
She looks around, and we all do the same. “Yes. It has to be in here.” Stella’s panicked voice breaks.
We all search, getting on our hands and knees, looking over and under. I hear Stella yell. “It’s here! It must’ve flown off.”
Jessica stands there, holding something in her hand. Her gaze moves to each of us.
It’s my test. Oh, damn it. She must’ve looked in the trash, thinking Stella’s ring could’ve fallen there.
“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.”
I have to cover and not let anyone know it’s mine. Not until I know the truth and see a doctor. Jessica will . . . God, no one even knows Josh and I slept together.
“Is it positive?” I ask.
“Yes,” Jess confirms. “So, which of you guys is pregnant?”
Stella looks around and shakes her head. “How do you know it was one of us?”
“Because this room was spotless when we came in, and we’ve been the only people here.” Jessica looks at Winnie, me, and then Stella.
I can see the confusion in everyone’s eyes. There’s not a chance I’m making it out of this without them figuring it out. Winnie is with the new guy, but she doesn’t seem worried, and Stella could be, but well, we both know she’s not.
Jess puts the test on the counter and turns to her sister. “Is it you, Win?”
“No!” she says quickly. “I have an IUD, and Easton wraps that shit up.”
“Deals?” Jessica asks.
I have to lie, and I don’t want to, but I can’t admit this. I shake my head, doing my best to act the same as the others. “No, definitely not. I’m not having sex, so I can’t really get pregnant.”
Stella stares at me, and I know she knows. Somehow, Stella Parkerson—well, O’Donnell now, knows the test is mine. And if she knows that, then she probably knows who the father is. Tears start to pool, and I beg her with my eyes to please just cover for me. I’ll figure everything out, but if it’s her, no one will question it.
Something passes between us, and Stella turns to Jess. “Yeah. I mean, you found out. It’s me. I’m . . . pregnant.”
“Oh my God!” Winnie yells and bounces up and down. “I am so happy. Does Kinsley know?”
Her eyes widen with genuine fear. “No, no one does, and you can’t tell her. Please. Not until I figure things out.”
“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.”
“For now, can we not talk about this—at all?” Stella begs.
Jess grins. “Of course, we’ll be quiet.”
