Page 6 of Verdict

Addison pulled back just enough to look at me like I’d grown a second head. “Mad?” she repeated. “Ava, you’re pregnant, not confessing to a crime.”

I gave a weak laugh. “Walker might disagree. His best friend is the father,” I admitted.

She winced, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Walker will have… feelings,” she said diplomatically. “Many loud, dramatic feelings. But he’ll calm down eventually.”

I wiped at my eyes. “Eventually?”

She squeezed my hand. “Give him… ten to fifteen years.” She brushed my hair away from my face, her eyes steady on mine. “But now you have to tell me everything.”

I nodded, my gaze dropping to the floor.

And I did.

Over the next week, I did what I did best.

I got control… well, I at least tried to.

I was at the pharmacy, standing in front of an intimidating lineup of prenatal vitamins, feeling completely lost. A woman, who I didn't realize was standing next to me, cleared her throat before handing me a bottle of vitamins. "Here. These worked great for me, and I was able to eat them on an empty stomach, which was a Godsend considering I couldn't keep anything down for the first few months." She flashed me a sympathetic smile.

I glanced down at the bottle in my hand. Tears pricked the back of my eyes before I brought my watery gaze back to her. "Thank you," I forced out.

"Your first?" she said knowingly.

I nodded. "How could you tell?"

"Might have been the lost look on your face, the sheer panic in your eyes," she said teasingly.

I huffed out a laugh. "I'm that obvious, huh?"

The nice woman reached out and squeezed my arm gently, "Take it one day at a time. I know it feels scary right now, but I promise you it’s worth it." She turned to leave but then quickly spun back around. "Oh. And don't Google anything. Trust me."

I shot her a grateful smile. "Got it."

Later that night, I Googled.

Everything.

It was a terrible idea, and I immediately regretted it. I was now somehow even more overwhelmed than I’d been staring at seven positive pregnancy tests, but at least now I had a mile-long list of questions for my doctor in the morning.

Addison had already processed the shock of learning who the father was, so she was now firmly in big-sister mode. She insisted on coming with me to my doctor's appointment to confirm.

After my blood was drawn, I rapid-fire-questioned my doctor about everything and anything imaginable concerning pregnancy. She took it like a champ and took her time to ease my anxiety as best she could… but let's be real, there was only so much she could do when I was staring in the face of single-momhood.

When the results came back positive, the doctor scheduled an ultrasound for a few weeks later.

There was no denying it anymore. This was real.

Addison thought it was only fair to tell the father before the rest of our family found out. I didn’t argue. I couldn’t, even if every instinct in me screamed to delay it just a little longer.

I spent the next few days doing what I’d avoided since the bathroom floor—trying to wrap my head around what to say to him and how to say it.

I still couldn’t believe I’d let this happen. How could I have been so careless?

I prided myself on being in control. Yes, I was the rebellious, bold James sibling—but everything I did was calculated. Meticulously managed. I always knew what I was doing.

Until now.

I invited Cohen over the next day.