Page 46 of Trapped
“Yeah.”
“Have you taken a test?”
“No, I’m buying one on the way home.”
“Finn?”
“Unfortunately. And before you ask, yes, we used protection.”
“Does he know?”
“Hell no. I’m not giving him a reason to come back here.”
“You’ll have to tell him.” She sounded as unhappy about it as I felt.
“I know, and I will. But not until I know for sure.” There was no point in telling him until I had taken the test. If it were positive, I’d verify the results with a doctor. Then I’d tell him.
“Are you okay?” I knew she meant with the idea of being pregnant.
“Do I have a choice?” I did. There were ways to change the outcome, but I couldn’t bring myself to consider them.
Emily hugged me for a good long time, letting her love and support flow into me. I allowed myself a moment to feel the fear and let the tears fall.
“Thank you.” No matter what, she’d have my back. She kissed my cheek when she pulled away.
“I love you, Ash, and I’ll be here for whatever you need.”
“Love you too, Em. And thanks. God knows I’ll need help if I get a positive.” I’d need a shoulder to cry on, but no point dwelling on that yet.
Having told Emily, I was eager to take a pregnancy test. So eager that I walked back to my car without worrying about being followed.
Before I buckled my seatbelt, my phone vibrating again reminded me to check my messages. They weren’t that different from the last string he’d sent.
Hey baby. I miss you.
I know you miss me too, so why aren’t you answering me?
Don’t you want your old job back? I know you’re still unemployed.
When did you get a cat? You know I’m allergic.
What the fuck.How does he know about Prince? I made a mental note to tell Jamie and Jack about Finn’s messages.After I take my pregnancy test.
I peed on the stupid stick, washed my hands and set a timer on my phone. Then I hid the stick in case Gran needed the bathroom before my timer went off. I couldn’t wait in the bathroom with nothing to do but stare at the stupid tiny display window.
I wore a path in the beige carpet in the bedroom I grew up in, biting at my thumbnail as I waited. Because I was working sohard on not thinking about the test, my alarm scared me when it went off.
Practically running, I went to the bathroom and locked the door. I stood there with my hand on the cabinet handle, staring in the mirror. I needed to know, but I didn’t want to know. Which wasn’t entirely true. If I weren’t, I wanted to know.
Praying for a dash, not a plus sign, I opened the door and grabbed the stick.
[ + ]
Fuck.I’m pregnant.
Fuck! Tears rolled down my cheeks as I sank to the cold linoleum floor.
This has to be a nightmare.I pinched myself, hoping I’d wake up in Dallas and my old life. What did I do to deserve this? I wasn’t perfect, but I was a good person. How had I earned such bad karma?
