“Is there an echo in here?” I snapped. “I haven’t taken the test yet.”
Josh stared at me like I’d grown a second head. “Why the hell not?”
An image of Nick’s face flashed in my mind—the fear in his eyes, the sheer panic when he realized what I was holding. It wasn’t just the idea of being a father that scared him. It was being a father tomychild.
“Because it wasn’t part of the deal,” I murmured. “And if I am… it changes everything.”
Josh was quiet, but I knew him well enough to see the wheels turning in his head. He was trying to piece it all together, trying to understand.
If I could trust anyone in this world. It was Josh and Abigail. And If I told them my secret…they’d carry it to their graves. And if I told them everything… maybe they’d be able to give me the advice I so desperately need.
I setmy phone onto the coffee table and curled into the corner of the couch, hugging a pillow against my chest. My thoughts swirled in chaos.
“You make me want to have a drink,” Abigail muttered through the speaker, her voice sharp with exasperation.
Josh, sitting across from me on the couch, cracked open a beer and took a slow sip, eyes locked on me. “Yeah, well, I already beat you to it.”
Abigail sighed heavily. “I called you back the second Colt left for his photoshoot. When you said it was urgent and then didn’t answer right away, you damn near gave me a heart attack. Don’t you know not to make a pregnant lady worry?”
Guilt twisted in my chest. I traced small circles on the couch cushion with my finger, focusing on the soft fabric instead of their concerned faces. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled. “I figured it waseasier to FaceTime you with Josh here rather than repeat the whole thing.”
It should have felt like old times—late-night talks in college, confiding in each other about everything. But this wasn’t carefree nostalgia. This was my reality unraveling, and I had no idea how to fix it.
“I just wish you had told me sooner about all this, Mel. We’re supposed to be best friends.”
“I know. I’m sorry,” I said softly.
“Don’t be,” Abigail said quickly, but then she hesitated. “Actually… maybe a little. I mean, this is kinda your fault.”
“Abs.” I shot her a warning look, but she held up her hands in surrender.
“Sorry, sorry. I just mean… anyone could have forgotten to take their birth control with everything you’re dealing with. I’m just mad because I wish you had told me you needed help, about your diabetes, all of it. You shouldn’t have gone through this alone.”
I exhaled, rubbing my temples. “I wanted to tell you. But Nick didn’t want to risk anyone finding out. We could get in serious trouble.”
“I know.” Abigail’s voice softened, and for a moment, there was silence. Then she suddenly moved away from the camera, disappearing from view.
I sat up, frowning. “Where are you going?”
When she reappeared, she was holding a thick book. She dropped it onto the table in front of her with a dramatic thud.
“Okay,” she said, flipping through the pages. “What’s Nick’s birthday?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Seriously? You’re pulling out a zodiac book right now?”
Josh snorted, shaking his head. “This is why I drink.”
“Hey,” Abigail defended, still scanning the book. “I’m just trying to give you some direction. I already know yours—September seventh.”
I rolled my eyes. “June twenty-third.”
“Ooooh, cusp baby,” she mused, running her finger down the page. “Those cusp babies are my favorite ones to figure out.”
Josh took another long sip of his beer. “I’m gonna need something stronger.” He set the beer can down and stretched.
Abigail ignored him and kept reading. “Alright. Nick is the cusp of magic, and you, my dear, are in the week of the enigma. Your relationship is labeled Assertiveness Training.”
I let out a dry laugh. “That’s… weirdly accurate.”
