Page 31 of Vegas with my Brother’s Best Friends

My fingers rake through my hair as I draw in a deep breath. Six more weeks of preparation and then a week of festivities.

After that, things should go back to normal. I should feel better too.

I start my car and pull out of the parking lot, heading down the road that passes multiple stores, restaurants, and other businesses. My foot moves to the brake as the light up ahead turns red, making me stop in front of a local pharmacy.

My eyes linger on the storefront, my mind trailing. Maybe there’s some sort of medicine I can get to help me feel better.

Something for fatigue. Nausea. Muscle aches.

Maybe I’m about to start my period.

I grab my phone and check my calendar, counting the weeks backward until my last period. My forefinger freezes above my screen as I do the math again. And again.

“What the hell?” I breathe out, realizing I’m late.

I’m never late.

“Oh, no. No, no, no,” I murmur as I pull into the turning lane and take a right.

I find a parking spot by the pharmacy and shut off my car, my hands fumbling with my keys and phone as I get out. My heart hammers against my ribs as I head into the pharmacy, my eyes scanning the aisles until I spot what I need.

My hand shakes as I grab the pregnancy test box off the shelf, my skin feeling cold and clammy. Maybe I’m overreacting. Maybe my period is just delayed because I’ve been so stressed.

Not because I’m pregnant. No way.

I use the self-checkout and take a step toward the exit of the store before pausing. It’ll take me fifteen minutes to get home and a few minutes longer to rush to the bathroom and use the test. I can’t wait that long.

I need to know now.

I dart to the women’s restroom and lock the door behind me, my fingers tearing into the box to pull the test out. My breathing quickens as I use the test, a million thoughts going around and around in my head.

I’ve always wanted a family. That’s no secret.

I thought I would have kids with Derek until everything fell apart, but I know that if I’m pregnant, the baby isn’t Derek’s.

It’s either Jackson’s, Tyler’s, or Marcus’, and I have no idea which one would be the father because I slept with all of them!

As I wait for the test to process, I splash cold water onto my face, anxiety heating my cheeks. This isn’t how I planned for things to go, but I also didn’t plan to be dumped this year either.

The guys were right. There’s no point in planning.

Life is too unpredictable.

So unpredictable that two lines show up on the test screen.

“Holy shit…” I breathe out, my hand flying to my mouth as my head pounds.

I’m pregnant.

I don’t know if I want to run or curl up in a ball. I feel too paralyzed to do either of those things right now, so I just stand there and stare at the test, trying to process the result.

I knew there were possible consequences to sleeping with the guys, but I didn’t expect this to be one of them. It wasn’t even a blip of a thought in my mind because I’m on birth control. I’m supposed to be covered.

But that’s obviously not the case.

I toss the pregnancy test into the trash can and slowly wring my shaking hands. I don’t know what to do.

I can’t bring myself to call the guys and tell them the news right now. What do I even say? None of us will know who the father is!