Page 27 of Protect Home
“Oh, fuck off. I panicked, okay?” Navy halts. “Stop trying to change the subject.” She shoots Kodi a dirty look, only to get flipped off. “What’s going on?”
Navy makes her way to the other side of me on the couch and grabs my hand. These two women right here are my people. We fight like sisters and love like ’em too. Although they have soulmates at home waiting for them, they’re mine. And today, they showed up for me.
Homeless attire and all.
I don’t have it in me to draw this out. “I’m pregnant.”
“Son of a biscuit,” Kodi gasps at the same time Navy jumps for joy. “What! The procedure worked that fast?”
“Oh god, so sorry,” Navy says, calming down and covering my belly with her hands as she whispers closely. “I’ll never hurt you, baby no name. I just got excited for a second.”
I’ve got some explaining to do.
I chuckle as a weight settles in my chest. I need a quick pause before all the emotions I’ve kept stored away threaten to break down my firmly planted walls. Kodi and Navy know what I need without me having to ask.
They wait for me to speak.
But I can’t speak yet, not right now. Not when all I can do is cry.
A loose sob breaks free, and the last month of unfiltered feelings spillsout of me.
“Let us hold you,” Kodi whispers. My body shakes as my friends pull me close, reminding me how strong I am.
I don’t feel very strong right now. The dust is settling, and the fear has set in.
“I’m scared,” I whimper, wiping the last bit of tears from my face.
“Oh, Ten,” Kodi sighs. “You’re not alone. Never. Not with us. There’s nothing to be scared of when you have a village like we do.”
“I know. It’s just…”
“A big change,” Navy states truthfully, grazing her nails across my back softly. “A good change. This is what you wanted, right, babe?”
I nod and take a deep breath. “It is. More than anything. Still feels like a shock, I guess.”
I need to tell them. For some reason, I’m having a hard time admitting the words out loud myself.
“Then this is something to celebrate, Ten. That means the insemination worked and you made a baby. A precious little babe just for you,” Navy attempts to encourage me.
Not quite, Navy. Not quite. I have some things to fill my friends in on. Kodi was there…but Navy, she had already left with Bodhi.
My head falls back against the pillow. “There’s something I need to tell you both.”
“Okay…” Navy says wearily, and Kodi nods.
I take a deep breath and tell them everything. “Remember how a few days ago I was supposed to have my procedure for the sperm placement?” They nod. “Well, it didn’t happen. Dr. Travis’ nurse called me into the room after having me pee in a cup, and I waited to be seen by him. I had no idea he would be telling me I was alreadypregnant, and we weren’t able to move forward with the insemination. For obvious reasons.”
“Oh, Tenley,” Kodi cries out softly.
“I’m confused,” Navy murmurs.
“Yeah…” I say, reliving that conversation all over again. “I think I went into shock. I didn’t believe him at first. But all the signs were there. I’ve been feeling…off. So, I rushed to the drugstore afterward and grabbed an at-home test to confirm. Looks like Dr. Travis was right. It took some time for it to really sink in.” I smile lightly, feeling more at ease just talking about it.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t get here sooner,” Navy sighs.
I know they both have busy schedules. It gave me more time to process.
“Wait…if the incemination never happened…how are you pregnant now?” Navy asks, the dots finally connecting.
