Page 11 of Sloth
“You must make sure she’s eating right and getting lots of rest. No heavy lifting and?—”
“Mom, slow down. We don’t know for sure that this test is hers,” I snap back at her.
“Of course, it’s hers. Who else would it be?” She smiles me that bright smile I haven’t seen since we lost my brother, and as she gets out the truck with a spring in her step, I feel awful for hoping that she’s got this all wrong.
Erin is sitting at the table, looking upset when I get back, and I head straight for the cupboard where she keeps that good whiskey and pour myself a healthy measure. I don’t pour one for her just in case Mom's right and she is in denial.
“Erin, I want you to be honest with me. It’s okay to be scared, and I get that this may not be as exciting to you as it is for Mom…but is that test yours?” I ask her calmly, feeling my heart beating outta my chest.
“Luke, I’m not pregnant. I would never have let that happen.” Her words confuse me, especially after what she just told Mom about the two of them trying. While I try and figure out what she meant by it, she stands up, reaches behind me, grabs the bottle,and drinks straight from it. “I don’t know how that test got there, but it’s one hundred percent not mine,” she assures me.
“But you were trying?” I check, knowing that Mom was right about one thing, even if the test isn’t hers, there’s still a chance she could be.
“No. Well… Yes.” She looks all flustered and confused.
“Well, is it a no or a yes?” I shrug back at her, starting to get frustrated.
“I can’t get into that right now. Besides, it’s inappropriate. All you need to know is that I’m not pregnant and we somehow need to make your mom understand that, too.” She scrubs her hand over her forehead before taking another swig from the bottle.
“I can deal with Mom; she just got carried away,” I explain, feeling such a strong sense of relief that I have to turn my back on her and grip the edge of the kitchen side. I’m the one who's in fuckin’ denial here; I’m denying how consuming my feelings for this girl actually are. So consuming that they’d make me fuckin’ jealous of her growing a child inside her that isn’t mine. A child that would have belonged to my brother. Her fuckin’husband.
I’mthe one who should be dead.
“If it ain’t yours then whose is it?” I sit down at the table beside her and take hold of her hand. She’s got a weary look on her face, and I want to put her at ease.
“That's what I've been trying to figure out. It has to be Liza’s. But I don’t get why she would do it here and not tell me.”
“Maybe she didn’t want her parents to find it? I’m assuming she ain’t got a boyfriend.”
“Liza’s a free spirit.” Erin looks up at me with a cute little smirk on her lips that makes my cock hard. “But that doesn’t explain why she never told me.”
“Maybe she’s waiting until she’s come to terms with it herself. Maybe she’s in denial.” I take a little of the lesson I’ve learnt about women today and shrug.
“I need to talk to her. If it is hers, she needs to know that I’m here for her.” She takes out her cell and starts typing out a message.
“You want me to make myself scarce?" I offer, getting the sense that this ain’t the kinda conversation I wanna be around for.
“You shouldn’t have to do that, you’ve been out working all day.”
“There's plenty of work still to be done. I’ll just keep myself busy while the two of you figure this out.” I realize that her hand is still in mine, and I like how it feels so much that I keep hold of it.
“You’re changing Luke Edwards.” Erin smiles up at me; it’s different to the ones she used to make for my brother and I don’t know if it’s just because it’s made for me, but I’d say it looked brighter.
“Guess that's what happens when you find somethin’ to work for.” I squeeze her hand before I get up and make my way back out to the yard.
CHAPTER EIGHT
ERIN
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I look at my friend and see how scared she is. Liza may be trying to put on a brave face, but she’s failing.
“You have enough to deal with, right now, without involving yourself in my problems.” She shrugs like her being pregnant is no big deal.
“How could you have taken the test here and not mentioned it to me?” I have so many questions that need answering.
“Well, I wasn’t gonna do it at home, was I? My parents are gonna flip when they find out.” She suddenly looks like she’s about to throw up.
“You're a twenty-four-year-old woman, Liza. I’m sure they’ll get over it,” I remind her, trying my best to keep her grounded.
