Page 74 of My Kind of Trouble

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‘What? You’re late? As in late-late, or late to be somewhere?’

‘As in late-late. Two weeks late to be exact.’

‘Okay, okay. Let’s not panic. There might be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this. Stress, maybe, or the pill messing with your cycle. How many times have we stressed like this only to buy all the tests in the store that turn out negative each time? Which, you could say is irrational for me, considering I mainly sleep with women and, most of the time, it’s not even possible. But I swear this fear of yours rubs off on me and we lose our heads every time our periods don’t show up.’

‘You’re right. We have been through this countless times. There is no reason this will be any different. But you know the drill, right?’

Without even having to be asked, Tes was out of the bed, pulling on her coat and boots and heading for the door.

‘Yup. Let’s go get you that test.’

Rushing to the store in record time and finding the pharmacy aisle without any issues, Noa pulled three tests from the shelf, looking over at Tes for reassurance.

‘Seriously?’ Tes asked.

‘No, you’re right, that’s definitely not enough,’ she said, picking up two more and a large carton of apple juice.

The two of them were at the counter and paid in no time. The nerves that felt like a whirlwind taking over her entire stomach meant Noa couldn’t settle until she knew for sure.

‘I need to do this now,’ she blurted, stopping dead in her tracks in the middle of the supermarket.’

‘Now? Like here?’ Tes asked, looking around.

Nodding, Noa turned, heading straight to the customer toilets with Tes hot on her heels. Patience had never been Noa’s strong suit, no matter how much convincing Alex had tried and, right now, three minutes had never felt so painful.

Bouncing her leg, Noa perched on the counter by the sinks whilst Tes stood next to her, waiting for the moment that could spin her entire world off its axis.

A jarring noise rang in Noa’s ears, bouncing off the tiled walls of the small room they had locked themselves inside. Realising it was the timer Tes had clearly set, having done this with her many times before, Noa turned the sticks until the truth was glaring up at her. Two pink lines taunted her from all five tests in her hands.

Tes turned to look at her, wide eyes filled with what Noa could only assume was sympathy.

‘You’re pregnant,’ she stated after several minutes of them both standing silent and stunned.

She repeated the words again, because Noa was pretty sure she looked like she was malfunctioning. She just nodded, unable to find any words for the clusterfuck she somehow found herself in.

She was pregnant.

Well, shit.

Chapter 43

Alex

Ryan was at the bar for their usual Sunday night lock-up and catch-up. Although these had been less regular since they’d returned from their holiday, avoiding his friend altogether would’ve given away that something was wrong. Alex couldn’t afford for Ryan to ask any questions, especially until Noa gave him the go-ahead to tell him. And despite not wanting to lie to his friend’s face, for her he would.

‘She’s seemed so much brighter since she came back, you know. I hate to admit it—and if she asks, I will deny this—but, maybe, I was wrong. I think it was what she needed. The trip seemed to begood for her.’

Ryan continued talking about Noa and how different she’d been since her travels. He supposed this was better than the prior conversation, which had also centred around Noa, but regarding the fact that she’d been so MIA since they got back. ‘Conversation’ was probably not the best way to put it. It was mainly Ryan talking and failing to notice Alex’s lack of contribution as he necked his beer and silently nodded along. He couldn’t be accused of lying if he didn’t open his mouth, right?

‘That reminds me. I know I’ve said it already, but honestly man, thanks for going away with her like I asked. Maybe it was a bit dramatic of me, but she’s my little sister, and she seemed so vulnerable when she came home. I just needed her safe from any creepers.’

Yep, no creepers pursuing your sister here. No, sir. Just your so-called best friend.

God, Hell should just swallow him up right now, because that seemed like where he was inevitably going anyway.

‘Was she with anyone whilst you were away?’ Ryan casually asked, causing beer to spew out of Alex’s nose as he coughed and spluttered in his shock.

‘No, you’re right. Don’t answer that. I mean, like you’d know anyway, right?’