Page 70 of Fade (Fighting Fate)

She paused for a few heartbeats, then opened the door and climbed out.

I smirked, despite the circumstances. Opening my door, I stepped out to the curb just as Mom enveloped me in a hug.

When she eventually pulled away, she took my face in her hands, her expression stern. “Stay safe. I mean it. You make sure you come back to us.”

Giving her a tender smile, I bent down and kissed her cheek before pulling her into another hug. “I promise I will do everything I can to get back home. I have too many reasons to fight for not to.”

She nodded, seeming content with my promise, before releasing me so I could retrieve my duffle from the trunk.

With one last kiss on her cheek, I stepped away from her. “Love you, Mom.”

And then I turned and willed myself not to look back.

Chapter 35

Amy

Deployed time: 1 week

I stared down at the little packet in my hand, my heart rate steadily increasing, and my breath coming a little faster with each intake.

My fingers lay frozen on the bubble, ready to pop the fifth little red pill from the pack. Thoughts started running through my head, scrambling, searching for explanations.

I was on my fifth day of sugar tablets. Something was wrong. I usually had my period well and truly by the third day. I didn’t.

Dropping the packet on the dresser, I stepped back and lowered myself onto the edge of my bed, trying to slow my breathing before I started hyperventilating.

I tried to think. Was there a possibility I was pregnant? Or was it just the stress of the last few weeks playing havoc on my body? I had my period two weeks before Daniel and I got married, and we got married almost three weeks ago.

Obviously, we had a lot of sex over those weeks he was home, but I was on the pill . . .

I froze. Shit.

The stomach bug! Oh my God. It didn’t even occur to me after that day of vomiting that the pill’s effectiveness could’ve been compromised. Why hadn’t I thought that? Everyone knew that!

Pushing myself to my feet, my breath automatically started fast and panicked. I fanned my hands in front of my face to force some air into my lungs, but I couldn’t stop it. I was seriously about to have a panic attack.

Lifting my head to the ceiling, I whimpered. Please don’t let me be pregnant. I couldn’t go through it without Daniel. I didn’t want to. It was something that should be shared. When we were both ready and prepared for it!

And then there was our family and friends. I knew they were supportive of us getting married, but a baby at twenty?

Oh my God . . . What would Seth say? Would he be disappointed in me?

Tears sprang to my eyes. I wished so badly that Daniel was here. I couldn’t do this on my own. I just couldn’t.

Taking a few deep, ineffective breaths, I snatched up my keys and left for the drug store.

I tried to empty my mind as I drove. It was a little easier to do now I had a little direction. I would get a test and find out for sure before I had a complete meltdown. It could end up being nothing. Just stress. There was no point panicking over it until I knew for certain.

In the drug store, I found the tests, choosing one that claimed to give the earliest results, and took it to the cashier. Under normal circumstances, I might’ve been embarrassed or at least slightly uncomfortable with my purchase, but I was way past caring about the faceless girl taking my money at this stage.

Taking the paper bag from her, I paused. “Bathroom?”

If she found my request after the purchase I just made amusing, she didn’t show it. “There’s one in the doctor’s office next door you should be able to use.”

Thanking her, I left and went straight where she told me, closing the door and locking it behind me. Ripping the box open, I scanned the instructions, pretty sure I already knew how it worked.

I’d never had so much trouble peeing before. It was as though my nerves had tightened every muscle in my body. But once I finally got it going, I quickly peed on the stick and clicked the lid back on before cleaning myself up and flushing.

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