“I’m late,” I say.
There’s a weighted silence on the other end of the line.
“How late?” she finally asks.
“Ten days.”
She ponders this for a few seconds. “But you’ve never been regular. You’re always late.”
“A few days maybe,” I reply. “A week tops. But neverthislate.”
“You use protection, though, I assume?”
“Of course. But it’s not foolproof. I honestly don’t know how this could have happened. We’re always so careful.”
“Have you told him yet?” Becky asks.
“No, I’m planning to do that tonight, so please keep this to yourself.” The words spill out of me with desperate pleading.
“It’s in the vault,” she replies. “But you should get a pregnancy test. Like ... right now.”
I check my watch. “I can’t. I have Finance in twenty minutes.”
“Can you skip it?”
“No, I have to give a presentation, and it’s worth thirty percent of my grade. But I’ll go to the pharmacy right after. I’ll take the test when I get to Jacob’s place.” I realize I’m on the verge of tears. “God, I’m a wreck.” I twirl the phone cord around my finger.
“Try not to worry,” she says. “Maybe it’s just the stress from exams that’s making you late. But if not, we’ll figure it out. No matter what Jacob says, I’m here for you.”
I want desperately to believe that everything will be okay and that I haven’t ruined my life. Or Jacob’s.
“Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I really mean it. I love her like a sister. “And remember ... please don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t breathe a word,” she promises. “But call me later, after you take the test. I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I don’t know.”
“I will—I promise.”
“I’m glad you called,” she says. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too.”
We say goodbye and hang up, and I hurry off to class.
“How did the presentation go?” Jacob asks. He’s sitting outside the front door to his apartment, halfway down the wooden steps. He rises to meet me as I approach.
“Good.” It’s a struggle to sound cheerful.
“I’m sure you did great.” Jacob pulls me into his arms, hugs me, and kisses the side of my head. “Remember when I said I have a surprise for you?”
How could I forget? I step back, nod, and pray it’s a ring. At least that way, when we break the news to my parents—that I got knocked up at college—we could lead with an engagement. It would lessen the blow. The future would be settled, no more unknowns, and we could all start making plans. If I have to put my degree on hold, so be it. I’m young. I can readjust my career goals, maybe learn about business and interior design through a correspondence course.
Jacob leads me up the steps. “I haven’t told a soul about this.” We reach the landing outside his door. “Close your eyes.”
“Okay.” I shut them and listen to the sound of him opening the door. It squeaks on its hinges. Then he ushers me across the threshold, and I hear a whimper from inside.
I open my eyes, and what do I see? A puppy. A sweet little yellow Labrador retriever, staring at us from a gigantic red cushion on the floor.
I raise my hands to my mouth. “Oh, my goodness!”
