Page 30 of Touch Me

Fortunately, the doc had seen that kind of hysteria before,and promised me that the niblet was fine. I believe her. Or, at least I tellmyself I do.

Guess I’ll know for certain in a few months.

“Jamie?”

I look up to realize that Moira had stood while I’d zonedout.

“Sorry, what?”

“I said we should go search the kitchen for dessert.”

My stomach rumbles its approval, and I follow her into thekitchen.

“I think I have some frozen brownies I could heat up.”

“Are you doing okay?”

I frown, because clearly this is about more than dessert.“I’m fine. Why?”

“I just—I mean, well. I—”

“It’s okay. Just spit it out.”

“I mean, you did go to a clinic. Were you thinking about anabortion?”

I take a step back. “No. Or, well, I don’t know. I mean,yes. But only as an option. It wasn’t like I went there wanting one.”

Her hands slide into the pockets of her jeans. “I had one. Iwas nineteen.”

“Oh, Moira.” My heart aches for what she must have gonethrough emotionally. “Are you okay?”

“I am. And I was then, too. It was hard, but it was theright decision for me. It was a one-night stand in college. I barely knew theguy, and he wasn’t—” She waves the words away. “Doesn’t matter. Ultimately, itwas my choice.”

“Did you tell him?”

She shakes her head. “Like I said, we weren’t even dating.Hell, he never even called me again.” She shrugs. “He wasn’t part of theequation.”

“Did you regret it?”

“No. I mean, sometimes I wonder. And I do want kids. But notthen. I was way too young and clueless.” She smirks. “As you can probably tell,I’m still pretty clueless.”

“Ryan never told me.”

Her weight shifts from one foot to the other. “That’sbecause I never told Ryan.”

“Why not?”

She shrugs. “Well, it wasn’t his business, was it?”

I nod. With me, it is his business. And while I’m still alittle miffed that he thinks I would do that without first talking to him, I dounderstand why he’d be upset. “I hate whoever posted that stupid photo.”

“Yeah. Too many people poking into other people’s lives.”She draws a breath. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I wanted to tell you aboutme.”

“I’m glad you did. We’re sisters now.” I give her hand asqueeze. “We’re supposed to share secrets.”

ChapterEleven

Even though I had nothing alcoholic to drink last night, Ifeel hungover when my phone’s sharp ring blasts me awake.