Page 11 of Happily Ever Maybe

So weird. I didn’t get sick like this. I had an ironstomach, at least according to my family.

I started on my way home. My head hurt, and I realized I wasgoing to throw up. I quickly pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store,opened the door, and emptied my stomach. Shaky, my palms damp, I reached forthe water I always had with me and chugged it.

“What the hell?”

I didn’t think it was anything I’d eaten. But still, thiswasn’t normal. I thought about what I had in my house and realized I needed toget some things for my stomach at the grocery store. I made my way inside,grabbed a few antacids, and then paused, doing the math.

No, it totally isn’t that. It can’t be that. No.

As I made my way down the next aisle, I grabbed a pregnancytest, just in case. It never hurt to be safe. Exceptthat we had been safe. Very safe.

I was on birth control, and we’d used a condom. It wasprobably just a stomach bug.

I checked out and drove home, doing the math, worrieswhirling in my brain. I needed to head to my class. I didn’t have time for myoveractive imagination.

However, instead of taking the antacids, I shakily made myway to my restroom and took a test I knew would come out negative. I would failit—or pass it, whatever lingo worked best for that. And I would move on.

I paced my tiny bathroom, pretending to look at social mediaon my phone as I waited.

I turned toward the bathroom sink, the test stick on theedge of the counter, and set down my phone.

Pregnant.

Vivid dark words on a white display.

Pregnant.

Well, then.

I leaned over the toilet and threw up.

Chapter 4

Gus

“This is a one-and-a-half-pound piece of whirling wood andmetal, and yet it feels more powerful,” Kane said as he held up the ax,grinning at me.

“See, I don’t think it’s smart to have beer at a place whereyou throw axes.”

Kane rolled his eyes. “Excuse me, I’m not drunk. I haven’teven had a sip of my beer. This is why we do this, and then we godrink. It’s what guys’ nights are for.”

Kane turned, moved into position, did exactly what ourinstructors told us, and tossed the ax. It whirled in the air, a perfect toss,and hit the bullseye. It landed with a satisfying thud, and Kane raised hishands and cheered.

I just shook my head. “That’s it. Next time, I’m on yourteam.”

“Damn straight. You never goagainst a Montgomery.”

“I thought his last name was Carr?” my brother Sawyer asked.

Kingston laughed. “His mom is theMontgomery, so Montgomery is his middle name. It doesn’t matter that hislast name is Carr. When in the vicinity of the Montgomerys,you become one. It’s a cult.”

Sawyer gave me a wide-eyed look, and I snorted. “It’s okay.I promise I’m not in a cult.”

“I feel like that’s exactly what someone in a cult wouldsay,” my brother said, and I laughed.

“Come on, you’re up next.”

“I don’t know. I feel like we should just go have a beer andlet them win.”