I square my shoulders, stride towards the door.
The minute he sees me, he rushes in. “Are you okay?” He cups my face in his hands, looking into my eyes. “You don’t look so good.”
“I’m pregnant.” It comes out in a whisper. I chide myself. I didn’t want to blurt it out, but his hands were on my face, and I couldn’t help it.
“You’re what?” he asks, still holding my head in hands.
“I’m… pregnant.”
He drops his hands and steps back. “You’re… What!?” His voice has a higher pitch than I’ve ever heard before.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Josh
TheroomspinsandI feel like someone has punched me in the chest. I feel like my world is crumbling around me. My stomach clenches and I pinch my eyes closed. I couldn’t have heard her correctly.
Opening my eyes and I look at her. She’s pregnant? How the hell did this happen? We were careful, weren’t we? I run my hands through my hair.
“I’m sorry Josh.” She reaches for me, and I take a step back. “I didn’t plan this. Please, believe me.”
Panic threatens to strangle me, and I can’t breathe. “Then how?” I snap, taking a step forward.
She takes a step back, her eyes wide. Hurt and fear flash across her face. And it’s like someone slapped me. I would never hurt her. I just want the truth.
“I… I’m…” she stutters.
“You said you have an IUD. I thought we were safe.” I press my hands to the sides of my head. Throbbing, pounding. I can’t do this.
“I do. It’s supposed to be ninety-nine percent effective, So I thought…”
I glare at her, wishing somehow this wasn’t real.
“We haven’t been using a condom the last few times and—”
“Yes, I’m aware,” I say, my voice harsh, and I hate the look in her eyes as I say the words. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
“I can’t.” Running my hand down my face, I take a deep breath. “I can’t do this. I have to go.” Shaking my head, I squint my eyes as visions of Christine assault me.Her in the hospital bed, laughing and smiling down at Jake one minute and the next, the doctor is passing him to me and yelling they need to hurry. She’s hemorrhaging and needs surgery.
Sam chokes out a cry. “What?”
“I need to go,” I say, trying to get past without looking at her. She grabs my wrist and I turn to see a tear slide down her cheek. That alone about does me in. I need to process, and I can’t be here right now.
“Please, let’s talk about this,” she begs, tightening her hands around my wrist.
I twist my arm out of her grip. “No. I need some time.”
I leave without looking back.
Sam
I’m curled up with a knit throw on the couch, my legs under me and a pile of used tissues on the floor when Vicki walks in.
The second she notices me, she drops her keys and runs to me, falling to her knees. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head; the tears streaming from my face.
“What’s wrong?”