Page 90 of The Forever After Bet

“Tell you what?” I ask, confused.

“Don’t do that. Hannah said she talked to you about it.”

I shake my head, confused. “What are you talking about?”

Ty and Cam stop their game of pool and walk over to us. Jack rakes his hands through his hair again. Whatever is going on, it has him completely freaked out. He stands up and paces across the room.

“Just when I think things will stop being bat shit crazy and go back to normal, something else happens.” Jack covers his hands over his face. “I can’t believe she’s pregnant. I just can’t. It’s too much.”

I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. I try to suck in air, but my lungs won’t work. I glance at Jack, who’s still pacing the floor, and then get up, running up the stairs two at a time. My stomach twists with nausea. When I get to the top of the stairs, I pitch forward, afraid I’m going to be sick right here on the tile floor. Keep moving. I need to find Hannah. I need to help her.

When I get to the kitchen, Hannah is standing at the counter, about to bite into a cookie. “Ford?” She drops the cookie on the counter and runs up to me. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

I grab her shoulders. My throat is bone dry, but then my mouth fills with saliva. I take a deep breath through my nose, trying to clear my head and get the nausea to pass. Get a grip, Cross. Now is not the time to lose it. Hannah needs me to be strong.

“Is it true?”

I glance at Leah and June, but then focus on Hannah. I cup my hand around her cheek, and she covers her hand over mine.

“What is it?” she asks, looking worried.

I let my head fall against hers. “Are you—” I let out a shaky breath. “Are you pregnant?” My voice cracks, and I feel tears behind my eyes. “I’m sorry, Jack said—he’s freaking out. I’m trying not to freak out, but I’m pretty sure I am. Yeah, I am. I saw the home pregnancy box in the downstairs bathroom last night. I’m sorry. I should have talked to you then. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Hannah wraps an arm around my back and cups her hand around my face. I let go of her and stagger backward, but she keeps ahold of me. I see Jack, Ty, and Cam come barreling into the kitchen. My legs feel shaky, and I wrap my arm around Hannah’s waist to steady myself, but it doesn’t help, and we drop to the ground.

“What did you say to him?” Hannah yells at Jack.

“I’m sorry. I’m still trying to process everything. I was rambling out loud!” Jack shouts back.

“Ford. It’s okay.” Hannah is still gripping my face.

“I love you so much, Hannah.” I sob. I run my hand down her arm to her hip and over her stomach. I pinch my eyes shut, trying to figure out what to do. We need to get married. Hannah will need—I don’t know what she needs.

“I love you too. I need you to look at me.”

I open my eyes, but they’re blurry with tears. I pull Hannah into my arms, and we sit together on the kitchen floor.

“Take a deep breath for me.” She breathes into my neck, wiping away the tears on my face.

I take a shaky breath in and slowly let it out.

“Another one.”

Somehow, she’s gotten her hand under my shirt and is rubbing my back. I do as she asks, and my body begins to untwist itself. I finally look at Hannah; she has tears streaming down her face. “Don’t cry,” I whisper. “It will be okay. It will.”

She smiles at me. “How are you feeling?”

“A little better, I think.”

Hannah threads her fingers through my hair then rubs along my chin and jaw with her thumb. Her touch is soothing, and my mind finally slows down.

“I’m not pregnant,” she whispers.

“What?”

“Keep breathing.” She pats my back, and I take a breath.

“But Jack—”

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