“I was all about the fun. That’s how I got into this mess in the first place. And now I’m heartbroken and the man I loveandhate with every fiber of my being might die and I might be having his baby.”
“Hey,” Lily whipped around, putting a hand on Mae’s shoulder.
“I’m peeing here, bestie.”
“I don’t care. We’ve got this. Together. One step at a time.”
“One step at a time.”
Mae finally relaxed enough to empty her bladder, and once all the tests were dipped and sitting on the edge of the sink, Lily set a timer on her phone.
“How long?” Mae bit down on her freshly washedfingernail.
“Three minutes.”
A rush of anxiety zapped right from the root of her hair down to her toes. “Right. Just three minutes. Three minutes is nothing. One hundred and eighty seconds. Even less now that I’ve carried on for a bit.”
“Why don’t you sit down on the edge of the tub? Or shut the lid on the toilet and plop down there?”
“I’m sorry.” She sank down on the edge of the tub. “I’m sorry I’m falling apart like this.”
“It’s a lot.” Lily leaned against the wall. “But no matter what, I’m here for you. Got it.”
“Got it.”
“Good.”
The two women fell back into silence. Christ. How long could three minutes really be? I mean, she had to have been freaking out for at least two by now?—
Lily’s phone buzzed.
“Is that the timer?”
She nodded. “Are you ready to look?”
“No,” Mae swallowed thickly. “Will you do it for me? Will you tell me what they say?”
“Okay. I’ll look. Yeah.” Lily took each of the tests and flipped them right side up. Her eyes stayed on each test for a second before moving on to the next. Nausea bubbled in Mae’s stomach, pressing up into her throat. The second Lily looked up at her, she knew. Her hand cradled her stomach where the child she’d made with Stone was growing.
“I’m pregnant.”
Lily nodded, a soft smile appeared, framed by genuine worry in her eyes.
“What are you going to do?”
Mae blew out the breath she’d been unknowingly holding onto. “I’m going to tell Stone he better wake up and be a dad, because there is no way I can do this on my own.”
“Whether you choose to have the baby or not, there is no way you’re doing this on your own. Even if Stone can’t be there for you right now, I will be. And so will everyone else in our little makeshift family.”
Mae let her eyes drift close, taking a second to just breathe. “I’m having a baby, Lily,” she whispered.
“Okay. You’re having a baby. That’s my niece or nephew in there. I love them so much already.” Lily’s hand landed on top of Mae’s and the buzzing in Mae’s ears lessened just a bit. The decision was made.
She was going to be a mom.
“Oh, god. I… please don’t tell anyone else. Not even Gunner. Just for now. Just until we know what’s going on with Stone. Please.”
“It might be nice to have the support. We all love you. I know they would all want the chance to help take care of you right now.”
