“Baby girl, I got him, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks for letting me know.”
He hung up and I set my phone on the table by the door, immediately bursting into tears, as I slid down the door to my butt.
I couldn’t seem to stop sobbing, which was a problem because someone was knocking on my front door. Assuming it was Maisie arriving early, I slapped my face and pushed myself up off the floor, pulling open the door.
“Oh, honey, what’s wrong?” Lily crooned, and I looked up, bursting into tears again.
“Come in,” I sniffed.
She walked in and closed the door. “I came to grab my Pyrex stuff, but I can come back.”
“No, it’s okay. I washed it. I’ll get it for you.”
“Did something happen with Flash?” she asked as she followed me to the kitchen.
I nodded. “He’s missing.” I fell into another crying jag, which turned into me puking into the kitchen sink.
“Oh my god,” Lily exclaimed.
“Maisie’s coming over. I should call my mom.” I dragged my hands down my face. “I can’t think.” I turned back to the sink, dry heaving again and letting out a frustrated groan. “I was feeling off all weekend, then I puked at work, and I can’t figure out what the hell I ate. And now Hatch is flying down to California to find Flash, and—” I took a deep breath, losing my train of thought. “What was I saying?”
“All weekend?” Lily asked.
“Yes.”
“Are you pregnant?”
“What? No!”
“Couldyou be pregnant?”
“Of course not,” I said, starting to do mental math. “I just ate something weird.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh my god, Lily,” I cried. “No, I’mnotsure.”
“I have a test in my car, do you want me to get it?”
“You carry pregnancy tests around?” I squeaked.
She smiled. “Tate, I’m a nurse. I have a bagfullof goodies.”
“Oh right.” I sighed. “Sorry. I’m a little freaked.”
“I’ll be right back.”
She walked out the door and I leaned against the island, dropping my head to the cool granite. Lily walked back in a few minutes later and handed me a wrapped pregnancy test. “Go pee.”
I nodded and slipped into the bathroom. I tore open the packet, then spent a few seconds staring at the little wand.
There’s no way.
Just no way.
Absolutely no fucking way.
