Page 60 of Duke
Mollie smiles. “They do.”
“These Rivers guys—they’re far more charming than they have any right to be.”
“Don’t I know it.” Mollie rubs her belly. “Obviously I’m biased, but I still think you should give Duke another shot. Maybe he’s the distraction you need right now with his glasses and his flirting. Or maybe he ends up being more than that, and he shows you the healing powers of—”
“Jesus, Moll, don’t make me puke again.” I cover my mouth with my hand.
“Just sayin’.” She smiles. “I didn’t come here looking for love either. But I’m glad I gave Cash a chance.”
But you’re different, I want to say. She’s not a bruised-up mess with a traumatized brain and some serious daddy issues.
Well, that’s not entirely true. Mollie actually has some pretty epic daddy issues of her own. She didn’t let them stop her from living her damn life, though, did she?
Why am I letting my fucked-up family’s fucked-up opinion of me still mess with me all these years later?
I feel like I should’ve moved on by now. I want to move on. I just—
The timer beeps. My stomach bottoms out. Mollie hits the off button on her screen, and together we peer at the tests on the vanity.
Two blue crosses, clear as day.
My brain scrambles to make sense of what I’m seeing. At the same time, my eyes flood with tears, and my heart pounds. It’s my body processing the news before my mind can catch up.
I’m pregnant.
Lord above, I’m pregnant with Duke’s baby.
That nickname he gave me now seems horrifically prophetic.
CHAPTER 14
Low Places
Wheeler
Mollie grabs my elbows and lifts me off the toilet. Then she pulls me in for a tight hug.
“It’ll be all right.” She’s running her hand over my back again. “We’ll get through this, Wheeler, I promise.”
I let out one of those sobs that racks my whole body. It’s an animal noise, loud and awful and embarrassing.
Then again, I’m with my best friend. No need to be embarrassed.
“How could I be so stupid?”
“You weren’t stupid. You’re on birth control, remember? It just didn’t work the way it was supposed—”
“Hellooooo! Anybody home? Saw the four-wheeler out front, and I thought I’d sneak in for a little afternoon dee-light.”
Except I now haveeveryreason to be embarrassed, because Cash just walked into the cabin.
My heart thuds in time to his heavy footsteps.
“Oh God,” I whisper.
Mollie slams the door shut. “Cash, I need a minute!” Then she whispers back to me, “He’s not supposed to be home for another hour. I’m so sorry.”
“You okay?”
