I knew that well enough. It was why I had left.
“Just stopped by for a few things.”
“A pregnancy test?” he said, quirking his eyebrow at me. “Yep, heard all about it this morning. Was wondering when you were gonna come in. Well, let’s head inside, and I’ll point you in the right direction.”
He pushed ahead of us, striding right toward the family planning aisle, like we couldn’t find it for ourselves.
“Does he really think I need his help with this?” Blake hissed.
“Have you ever picked out a test before?”
It suddenly struck me that I hadn’t ever actually asked her before if she had been in the position of needing a test, and I found myself waiting on pins and needles, already jealous as hell.
“No, you big brute,” she laughed, punching me in the stomach.
I rubbed my ribs, about to tell her that her punches were lethal, when she continued.
“God, you’re so jealous. I’ve never needed a test before because…”
Suddenly, she got quiet and turned to me, her expression guarded.
“Because what?”
This was bad. What was she going to tell me? She couldn’t have kids? She had some horrible woman disease that killed off all babies? I was already running through a list of the best hospitals in Montana, ready to swoop in and take her to any of them for further consultation.
“Baby, what is it?”
“It’s just…Parker, I know I should have told you before…”
I felt like I was gonna puke. Every dream I ever had of us living out here was suddenly slipping away. And it all hinged on her next words.
“I’ve never had to worry about it because…you were my first.”
Her eyelashes batted as she finally looked at me. In that moment, my chest grew ten sizes and my heart swelled with pride. I was her first.
Her eyes twinkled with mischief, and suddenly, reality slammed into me.
“You’re fucking with me.”
“Of course I am!” she laughed, slugging me again.
“Oof,” I grunted as she nearly knocked the wind out of me. “You know, you don’t have to hit me all the time.”
“Well, how else am I going to keep you in check? I can’t keep throwing you out windows. Eventually, I’ll hit an artery and you’ll die on me.”
“Glad to know you’re concerned about my welfare.”
“That and going to prison. I don’t look good in orange.”
“Still,” I grumbled, walking toward the aisle where Bud was waiting. “You just freaked me out and humbled me all in one second. That’s gotta be some kind of record.”
“Well, I live to keep you on your toes.”
“Don’t I know it,” I whispered as she walked ahead of me.
As much as Blake and I connected over the past few months, there was still a part of me that was deeply terrified of her. She could definitely kick my ass, and I wasn’t afraid to admit that.
“So, this is your digital test,” Bud said, shoving one into my hands. “This is for the youngins who come in and don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground.”
