Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
“Tell anyone?” She blinks, a silent question hanging in the air between us.
I force a shuddering breath from my lungs. Here goes nothing.
“My period is late, and I’m pretty regular, so I needed to take a pregnancy test to make sure my assumption was right.”
A smile splits Lauren’s face. “Oh, all you had to do was ask.” She walks in the direction of the medicine cabinet, which I know is locked with a fingerprint code and password. It seems like a lot of security for a pregnancy test, but if I’ve discovered anything at this university, nothing is over the top. There is always a reason for a rule or stipulation.
Still, I find myself talking before I can stop. “You keep the tests in there?”
Lauren types her passcode in and then places her finger on the little screen.
“Yes. It’s really surprising how often students have to come and ask for a test or Plan B. Unprotected sex is on the rise, and as you know, this is a school for the offspring of criminals.” She pauses and opens the door to the cabinet. “It’s better to know the things your enemies are up to and develop any type of blackmail you can.” Turning, she places the white box in my hand.
Did she say what I think she did?
“Blackmail? Why would you blackmail them?”
“I wouldn’t. But I do take note of who comes to me and for what. All that info is passed on to the higher-up people. If they see anything that might be discrediting or useful to them, then it’s at their discretion to use that information.”
All I can do is shake my head. I’m not really surprised, but at the same time, I am. So many laws are being broken here, the government would have a field day in this place.
“So what you mean to tell me is that none of my information is secure or private?”
Lauren lets out a laugh. “Don’t act so surprised. You know as well as I do that nothing said or done in this place is private.”
That makes the anxious bubble in my belly bigger and the box in my hand heavier. I don’t want anyone else to know until Q and I are ready to tell them. “Would it be okay to keep this between us? At least until we’re ready to tell everyone?”
I know I’m asking her to do the opposite of what she’s supposed to do, but Lauren is trustworthy. Plus, she can always report the test later.
“Of course. That’s no problem, and if you’d like, you can go into the bathroom and take the test. I can help with the results if need be.”
I step from foot to foot nervously. I’m terrified that I might be wrong but also excited at the possibility. I didn’t know I was pregnant the last time, and things ended horrifically.
I know the same won’t happen now, but it’s just the fact that the past did happen, and letting go of it is something I haven’t fully mastered yet. Not that I’ll ever forget what happened or what I lost. It’ll forever impact me, but it doesn’t have to control me.
I nod, and she guides me toward the one-stall bathroom. My throat tightens. The stall door closes, and I force a ragged breath out of my lungs as I open the test. I’ve never had to take one of these before, so I read the directions.
It seems easy enough. I do my business and pee on the end of the stick before placing the blue cap on the end of the test.
All I can think about is Quinton’s reaction. I’m certain of the test results already, but I wanted to be sure. Now, I have to think of a way to break the news to him.
He should be back from his workout any minute now. I’ve paced our apartment ever since I got back from Lauren’s office, clutching the test almost like a weapon I didn’t want anyone to discover.
I pace like a caged animal. I’m not sure if I want time to speed up or slow down.
What’s he going to think? I mean, we don’t use birth control, so this was bound to happen.
Still, it’s one thing to know you want something and another to actually have it happen. We’ve only been married two years and are still so young. What if he wanted to take more time for us? What if...
That’s just it. I won’t know until I find out. Otherwise, I could drive myself insane by asking all these questions.
I’m not going to tell him right away. Maybe I’ll bring up the subject of children and family. Like I’m joking or something, speaking vaguely about what might happen in the future. Now that we’re leaving Corium, it only makes sense to talk about the future. He doesn’t need to know exactly why I’m choosing to bring it up at this very minute.