Page 92 of Nursing the Alpha
“What?” I asked warily.
“Funny, that’s how I knew I was pregnant,” he said quietly.
The words sank like stones in my gut.
“No, that’s—I mean…” My mind spun. The aching soreness in my chest lately. The strange fatigue. All the unprotected sex. Of course Seth would have knocked me up.
“Flynn?” Micah’s voice broke through the noise in my head.
I forced a shaky smile. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Probably a stomach bug.”
He didn’t look convinced.
I picked at my food, avoiding the buttery pasta that had betrayed me earlier, and focused on the baby instead.
“You’re such a good baby,” I cooed, letting her grab my finger again. “So sweet. Just like your daddy.”
Ellie gurgled happily, kicking her tiny feet.
Micah watched me with a faint smile. “You’d be a great dad, you know.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
I’d already given birth once, but that was different. If I was pregnant…if I had a baby with Seth, the child would be ours forever.
Soon it was time to leave as Ellie became droopy. Micah bundled the baby tighter into her little jacket, and I looked on in envy. He was such a good daddy to Ellie. Would I be a good parent as well? We parted ways outside the bistro with plans to meet up again before the party. But my heart wasn’t in our parting words.
By the time he was out of sight, I was moving faster than I should have been, cutting across streets and weaving through pedestrians with my coat clutched tight around me.
I couldn’t wait.
Ihadto know.
The glowing green pharmacy sign up ahead felt like salvation. I ducked inside, the too-bright lights making my eyes water, and beelined straight for the pregnancy tests. My hands shook as I grabbed not one, but three different brands, because what if one was wrong? What if two were?
The cashier didn’t even blink as I paid, though I couldn’t meet her eyes. I shoved the little bag into my coat pocket then took a cab to Seth’s—our—home. I speed-walked up the driveway, and once I set foot inside the house, I made a beeline for the downstairs halfbath.
“Baby, that you?” Seth called, making me jump.
“Yeah. Just need to use the bathroom. Be there in a sec!”
It wasn’t a lie. I needed to pee. On a stick. Three sticks.
I dumped my bag on the floor and slipped into the bathroom. My chest felt tight as I unwrapped all three tests with fumbling fingers, my heart pounding hard.
It’s probably nothing.A stomach bug. Stress. Anything but?—
But the thought wouldn’t settle.
Sitting down, I forced myself to relax and did what needed to be done. Then I set the tests on the counter in a neat row, the little windows staring back at me like unblinking eyes.
The longest minute of my life ticked by.
I washed my hands. Paced. Wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. Bit my lip so hard it hurt.
Finally, I forced myself to look.
Two lines.
