Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“Do you think you’ve caught something?” she asks in concern.
Yeah, I’ve caught something all right. And if my calculations are correct, in November, my sickness will end when I push a baby out of me.
I’ve been throwing up almost every day for the past few weeks. I’m not an idiot. I know what this means. But I’m choosing to remain in denial. Because if I am pregnant, what the hell am I going to do?
“I’m fine,” I say, not wanting to voice my concerns yet. That will make it real.
“Okay, then get up. Today is our book club and barbecue.”
Damn it, I forgot about that.
Every month, we read a new romance novel and get together to talk about it, along with Kira, and Kira’s husband, Ryder. After we’ve discussed it, we go online—Ana has an online group, where they all read it as well—and talk about it with the group.
After I’m showered and dressed, I follow Ana back to her place in my car so I can drive home later. When we walk in, Kira, Ryder, and Ana’s husband, Julian, are sitting on the couch, chatting, while the kids are running around and playing.
“Hi, Auntie Paige!” Kingston, Ana and Julian’s almost two-year-old son, calls out from where he’s setting up his train tracks. The boy is obsessed with trains.
“Hey, King.”
Julian comes over and gives me a quick kiss on my cheek, and then Ana, Kira, Ryder, and I head into the library so we can start our book club discussion.
Waiting for us is a table filled with food. My stomach growls since I haven’t eaten today, but I make it a point to take it slow, hoping it will all stay down.
“I knew she was pregnant,” Kira says, snapping me from my thoughts.
“What?” I breathe. How the hell could she know I’m—
“I knew Sadie was pregnant,” Kira clarifies, referring to the female main character in the book we read. “The second she threw up, it was obvious.”
“Yeah,” Ana agrees. “The first couple of months, I couldn’t keep anything down.”
“Ugh, and my breasts were sore,” Kira adds.
“And I was an emotional mess,” Ana says with a fake shiver. “I swear, I cried over everything.”
Throwing up—check.
Sore breasts—double check.
Emotional—fuck!
“I think I’m pregnant,” I blurt out, tears filling my eyes.
“What?” Ana gasps at the same time Kira says, “How?”
“Wait…” Ana’s eyes go wide. “The guy in London? Nate?”
“Who’s Nate?” Ryder finally jumps in.
“You met a guy in London?” Julian steps into the room with Emilia, their eleven-month-old daughter, on his hip.
“Yeah,” I admit. Kira and Ana already know about him, but the guys don’t. “After I caught John cheating, I went to the hotel where the wedding was being held…”
I explain how I met Nate and we hit it off. When I get to the part about how I threw away his card, Julian and Ryder both curse under their breath. Every time I tell this story, it never gets easier.
“I thought I was saving myself from more heartbreak,” I whisper, tears stinging my eyes. “But now, if I’m pregnant…” My hand protectively goes to my stomach even though there’s nothing there yet. “He or she will never know their father.”
The tears slide down my cheeks, and Ana and Kira are both on me instantly, pulling me into a hug.
“Maybe you’re not even pregnant,” Ana says, trying to be positive. “When was your last period?”
“In February, before I left for London for the wedding.”
“That was two months ago,” Ryder points out. “Have you had any symptoms?”
“Only all the ones Ana and Kira mentioned,” I mumble, knowing I’m screwed. “I always wanted a family, but not like this.” I shrug, feeling helpless.
“Don’t go thinking the worst,” Kira says. “If you are pregnant, we can try to find him.”
“Really? How?” I ask. “I have a couple of selfies we took, joking around, and the name Nate. Hell, Nate could be short for Nathan or Nathaniel. I know he’s a businessman of some sort, but I don’t even know the field he works in. Oh, and he’s long-distance.”
“If you’re pregnant, we could do a reverse image search,” Julian points out.
“But first, we need to know if you are pregnant,” Ana says. “And lucky for you, I have plenty of tests left over from when Julian and I were trying for Emilia.”
After checking on the kids, who are playing in the playroom with their nanny, Diana, we go to Ana’s bathroom so she can grab a test.
When she hands it to me, my stomach knots.
“I’m scared,” I admit.
“We’re right here,” Ana says. “Oh! How about we all take one?”
“I’m down,” Kira says. “We’ve got you, Paige.”
The three of us take turns peeing on a stick, leaving them on the counter next to each other. We’re waiting for the timer to go off when Julian comes in with Emilia, who’s whining to be fed.