Page 12 of Hash

The bathroom door bursts open as Frankie rushes in.

“Shit, babe. Are you okay?” Frankie asks frantically as she pulls my hair back from my face. “Oh, no.” She starts rubbing my back. “It’s okay. We’re going to get you through this. I’m behind you every step of the way with whatever you decide to do.”

“How did this happen?” I cry as I sit back on my calves. “I mean, I know how, but what the fuck?!”

“You think you’re done blowing chunks?” Frankie asks, making a laugh bubble out of me. It’s more from shock than anything.

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s get you up and out of here.”

Frankie helps me to my feet and leads me over to the small loveseat we have in the reception area.

“I know this is a lot to process, but how are we feeling?”

“I honestly have no idea. I’m still stuck on ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’ I’m not ready for a kid! I barely have my life together.”

“Does anyone really have their life together? We’re all out here winging it.” Frankie sighs as she slouches next to me. “Let’s play a game.”

“Now?” I ask incredulously. A game is the last thing I want to do right now.

“It’ll take your mind off it.”

“Fine.” I sigh as I rub my temple. How do I tell a man who walked out of my life that I’m having his baby?

Would he even want the baby?

“You have to answer the rapid-fire questions without thinking about it. Just say your initial answer.”

“Okay.” That sounds easy enough.

“Would you rather have coffee or tea?”

“Tea.”

“Would you rather vacation at the beach or in the mountains?”

“Mountains.”

“Do you want to keep the baby?”

“Yes.”

My hand slaps over my mouth at my admission.

Frankie squeals. “I’m going to be the best auntie!”

A small smile slowly spreads across my face. There’s no way in hell I would be able to do this without her.

Now, I just need to figure out how to tell Hash.

I should be sleeping considering it’s almost two in the morning and I have a ten o’clock appointment, but I can’t.

The second I close my eyes, I can hear the doctor telling me I’m eight weeks pregnant for the first time all over again.

I promised myself I would tell Hash once I had it doctor-confirmed. I figured that way if he had questions, I would actually have answers.

Every single time I picked up my phone, I chickened out. Is it a bad thing to tell someone through text?