AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I walk over, barefoot, in my bra and thong. I grab one test from the floor before heading for the bathroom. When I turn to close the door, he’s standing in the doorway.
“No.”
He looks amused. “I’ve seen you naked before, you know.”
“I’mnotnaked.”
Blue eyes flick down to the sheer lace bra and back up. “Sure.”
I act like he said nothing. “I’m peeing alone.”
“How long does it take?”
“Do you have somewhere to be?”
He heaves a sigh. “I’m justwondering,Scarlett.”
I rip the box open, grab the stick, and hand him the empty box. “Read the directions, then.” I shut the door on him and then walk over to the sink. I pull in long, deep breaths as I stare at my reflection in the mirror for a minute.
Despite the full face of makeup, including my red lips, I look young. Nervous. This feels like a big moment. If I were closer with my mom, I’d call her. But she’ll tell my dad, who will call his lawyer and start redrafting all the documents that were just finalized following the wedding. Nadia and Sophie would freak out, and any of my other “friends” would probably call the press.
I wash my face and brush my teeth. I’m stalling. I don’t know what I want the result to be. In the past few days, I’ve started to accept that I must be pregnant. If I’m not, I won’t be disappointed, exactly, but some other emotion adjacent.
This is soon.
Way too soon.
We’ve been married for less than three months. Things between Crew and me are new and volatile. I’m supposed to debut my clothing line in the spring. If I’m pregnant now, I’ll beverypregnant then.
“This one says two minutes,” Crew calls through the door. “But the other two say five. Does that mean they’re more accurate? Why did you get three? Are you supposed to take three? Did you take that one?”
I don’t answer any of his questions, but I do pee on the first stick. Once I have, I don’t know what to do with it. Just hold it, I guess? Wave it around like a Magic Eight ball? I peed on it, so I’m not setting it down on the counter surrounding the sink.
“Scarlett?”
It’s bothering me less and less that Crew is here. It actually feels nice, not that I’ll tell him that. I open the door and hold out the test. “Here. Hold this one while I take the other two.”
“What?” He fumbles with the boxes. “Why?”
“Because I didn’t want to get pee on the counter.” I give him aduhlook.
“What does it say?” He squints at the stick.
“Nothing yet.”
I take the other two tests from him. I pee on them both at once, which might affect the results. At this point, I’m past caring. I just want a somewhat definitive answer before I go to bed.
When I open the door again, Crew is staring at the test in his hand like it will disappear if he looks away. “It’s, um, positive.” He clears his throat. “Pregnant.” It’s the first time I’ve heard him sound unsure about anything, and it’s while looking at a black-and-white answer.
After a quick glance down to determine if the two I’m holding show results—they don’t—I look back up. He’s looking at me now, and I have no idea what to say or do. I think he was hoping for some direction from my reaction, because he stays just as blank and immobile.
“Do you think this is normal? Do other couples stand here holding these?”
He smiles, and I smile back. “Who cares what other people do?”
I exhale. “Yeah. You’re right. You…want this, right?”
“A kid?” he clarifies.
