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“I’m pregnant and we’ll have to do DNA testing to figure out if Commando or Taz is the father.”
Avery grimaces and when I turn my attention to Beatrix, she’s staring at my still-flat belly.
“This is starting to seem contagious within our roller derby team.” Beatrix steps away from us and holds her hand up defensively before returning to Avery’s bedside. “Just kidding. Maybe they won’t care who the father is. They’ll both want to be in your life.”
“We were all pretty clear that we didn’t want strings attached. Someone will be happy to be off the hook.” I shrug, not wanting to make this awkward in front of Avery. Her baby daddy is into dangerous stuff and she made a conscious choice to protect her child from him.
Avery squeezes my hand. “Worst-case scenario, at least we’ve got each other.”
Not for the first time, I’m blown away by her strength. “How have you kept it together, Avery? I’m terrified. I’ve barely learned to support myself, and now I’m going to have to take care of another human. What if I can’t do it?”
“You’ve been paying rent to your mom, covering all of your own bills, and you know how to cook and clean. You’ll be fine.”
Her logic overshadows my panic. I know she’s right. Financially, I’m already making ends meet. I have basic domestic survival skills. But somehow, her platitude offers no comfort.
There’s a knock on the open door and Commando, Stonewall, and Taz file in. They stand beside each other, just inside thedoorway. Am I the only one who thinks they’ve made a blockade, so I can’t escape?
They’re just here to see… Wait? Why would they come see their friend’s little sister give birth?
Their expressions tell me this is more than a congratulatory visit. I think back to Beatrix’s words when I arrived.I won’t let her go anywhere.She meant me, not Avery.
“What’s going on?” I glare at Beatrix, not wanting to disturb Avery in her rest between contractions.
“The guys say you haven’t been returning their messages, and you ditched them after the bout.”
“So?”
“Cheri, we all know,” Commando says.
My body turns in slow motion to face him. I grab the hem of my shirt to stop my hands from going to my belly. “We all know what?”
“Let’s talk in private.” Commando steps closer and extends a hand.
I reach for Beatrix instead. She takes my hand, pats it, and says, “Go.”
She’s peeling my fingers from hers when Avery gets another contraction. I’m such a terrible friend. I release Beatrix so she can resume the support-partner role.
The least I can do is get the guys out.
I turn to my friends. “I’ll be right back.”
They barely acknowledge me. Beatrix continues talking Avery through the contraction. They don’t need me, and my mess isn’t helping anything. Whatever caused Taz, Commando, and Stonewall to show up here, I need to get this over with and find out what they think they know.
They can’t possibly know I’m pregnant, can they?
I allow the trio to guide me down the hall and we end up in a supply closet. I guess it’s the most privacy I can expect in ahospital. When the door closes behind us, Taz breaks the ice. “I guess there’s no better place for this conversation than the maternity ward.”
Fifteen
Taz
I reach into my jacket pocket where I have a pregnancy test. My brothers and I decided it would be a good way to show her we aren’t afraid of a positive result. And we also don’t want to play any games, like she’s been doing by avoiding us.
I hand her the package. “We want to know.”
She stares at the box. I wait. Denial can be huge.
“Have you taken one already?” Commando asks.
