Page 91 of The Forever After Bet

“Beth is pregnant.”

I groan, letting my head fall on her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I sob. “I saw a pregnancy test box in the trash, and you said you didn’t feel well a couple of days ago. When Jack said the word pregnant—I just—”

“I know.” Hannah places a little kiss on my neck.

“I want so many things with you and for us, but I want them to be on our terms. I don’t want you to think—”

Hannah dips her thumb under my chin, guiding me, so I look at her. “Add that to the reasons I love you, Crawford Cross. I have no doubt that the only things going through your mind were how this would affect me. You gave no thought to yourself.”

“I just came apart at the seams. That’s never happened to me. It still physically hurts to breathe.”

“It was completely warranted.”

I tighten my hold around Hannah, pulling her closer. “I need you to promise me something.”

She runs a hand through my disheveled hair. “Anything.”

“I need to be the first to know about anything momentous and life-changing that happens with you.”

Hannah nuzzles her nose against mine. “I promise,” she breathes over my lips, kissing me. “I need that promise to go both ways.”

“I promise,” I whisper. I flick my tongue out against her bottom lip. She presses her mouth to mine, and I sweep my tongue along the roof of her mouth in a possessive kiss.

Someone coughs from behind us.

I give Hannah a small kiss, and we look up to see Leah standing on the other side of the kitchen. “Jack needs you.”

Without saying anything else, we follow Leah upstairs and into her bedroom. It’s very pink and girly. Jack is slumped on the floor, with his back against Leah’s bed and his head in his hands. Ty is sitting on the floor next to him. Hannah puts her hand on my back, silently telling me to help my friend, but I keep my hand in hers. He needs all of us. I sit down next to Jack, and Hannah sits in front of him.

“I’m sorry I got upset and yelled,” Hannah says.

“I wouldn’t blame you if you got Ty to hold me down, and the two of you took turns punching me.” He looks at Ford. “I’m so sorry—I would never—”

“I know. I jumped to conclusions. If I had stayed calm and asked you to explain what you were talking about, none of this would’ve happened.”

Jack glances at Hannah. “I don’t know how to handle this.”

Hannah takes his hand. “We’ll handle it together. It’s going to be hard on all of us. My dad looked at his wits end. Who wants to send two kids off to college and welcome a newborn in the same year? It’s going to be an adjustment for all of us.”

Jack scrubs a hand through his hair. “I need to admit something. I found the home pregnancy test box down in my bathroom. I thought it was yours. I thought maybe you told Ford last night, and that’s why he seemed freaked out and left.”

“I freaked out because I also found the home pregnancy box,” I say, threading a hand through my hair.

“It’s okay.” Hannah laughs.

I’m not sure how she can laugh right now because both Jack and I thought I’d knocked her up.

Then a laugh bubbles up out of me. “No wonder you freaked out last night when I said I was taking her back to my house.”

Hannah looks at Jack. “Exactly what did you freak out about?”

Jack groans. “He didn’t say why you were going to his house, but sex was implied.”

“Uh dude, you growled.” Ty laughs.

“Ahh. You do love me.” Hannah pats his hand. “I know accidents happen, but mom put me on birth control at the beginning of school. It’s—”

“It’s ninety-nine percent effective. I know I’ve already gotten the lecture from Ford.” Jack huffs.

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