Page 59 of Only ever you-Ana & Byron
"You ready to go public with this yet, love?" he asked, voice rough.
Ana looked up and closed the laptop.
"Not yet," she said gently.
Byron nodded jerkily once. But he didn't push.
"Alright. But you'll tell me when you are?"
She nodded.
"I will."
He came over, kissed her forehead, and curled onto the couch beside her, arms tight around her waist. They sat like that for a while.
***
2 months later
Ana sat on the bathroom floor, legs drawn up, staring at the unopened test in her hand like it might explode. Her phone buzzed on the counter, silent now after fifteen missed calls. Byron was outside.
She didn't want him to see her like this.
Didn't want him to hear her breathing like she was drowning.
The knock was soft this time.
"Ana," came Byron's voice, low and coaxing through the door. "Open up, love. You have been in there for ages."
She stayed silent.
"I'll pick the bloody lock," he added after a beat. "Don't test me. I've seen videos."
The door creaked open. She hadn't locked it properly.
Byron stepped inside, barefoot, shirtless, wearing just a pair of old grey joggers that hung indecently low. He didn't say anything at first-just crouched down beside her, eyes scanning her face.
"Hey," he said softly, brushing hair away from her cheek.
"Talk to me."
She swallowed. "My period's late."
He blinked. "Right."
"Five days."
He nodded. He was too calm.
"I took one test, and it was-" she exhaled shakily. "It was inconclusive. So, I bought another one and then panicked. So now I'm sitting here like a lunatic."
Byron reached for her hand.
"We'll do it together, yeah? Whatever happens-we deal with it. That's the rule, remember?"
She looked at him, searching his face. "Do you... I mean... do you want kids?"
He tilted his head. Thought about it.
