Page 99 of My Brother's Best Men
I sit there in the bathroom, alone, staring at the stick. Waiting.
And waiting.
My heart is in my throat and my phone chimes. The familiar sound of a text from Matthew. I can’t look at it right now. I can barely breathe. How long has it been?
I check the box and my watch. It’s barely been a minute.
The entire world stops as the lines become clear. Bright pink. Bright like Matthew’s pink shirt.
I’m pregnant.
I let out a heavy sigh as the truth sinks in.
I’m pregnant. And I don’t know who the father is.
My eyes close and tears come without warning.
It could be any one of them.
Matthew. Elijah. Benny…
One of them got me pregnant.
I let out a breath as I set my hand on my stomach, terrified. I always thought one day I’d meet the right man and we’d get married and have a couple kids. Keaton and I talked about the marriage part at least, and I was so sure that he was it. That we were going to get married and have a family of our own, and it would be picture-perfect.
But Keaton is gone.
And so are my boys…
Their images fill my brain.
I should tell them. I know that. But I also know I need to process this information on my own. Decide what it is I want to do.
I can’t raise a baby in hotel rooms on my own.
But would they evenwantthis baby? Or would something like this cause more problems between them too?
Matthew’s photos show them together, looking like the perfect friends. I hate to see it, but I also love to see it, because I know they’re living their lives without me and they are happy.
Can I really destroy that?
I don’t know.
I want them to be happy, but…
I tell myself I won’t make any rash decisions. I’ll wait. After all, this is a big decision. I need to weigh out all the aspects of it.
I need to process it the only way I know how.
I pick up my phone and call Sam.
18
MATTHEW
3 Months Later
“Wow,”I exclaim, unable to take my eyes off the fresh tattoo on my arm. “It looks so badass.”
