“I don’t want to wait.”
“No, but you can take a few days and wrap your head around the news. Nothing’s going to change that quickly. Tell him when you’ve had some time to think and breathe.”
Pesky tears fill my eyes once more, and I swipe the stray ones that fall away. “How do I do it? How do I tell him?”
She shrugs. “Hell if I know. I mean, you could try the one thing that got you into this mess. Men always pay better attention when their dick’s getting played with.”
I snort and shake my head. “That’s not going to happen ever again.”
She waggles her eyebrows at me. “Never say never, my friend. I saw that sexed-up glow you wore on your face afterward.”
I shake my head, trying to dislodge those images her words suddenly conjured up. The last thing I need to think about is the nights that got me into this particular situation. “I don’t know how this happened, Sommer. I’ve been on the pill and taken it correctly.”
“Did you use?—”
Again, I shake my head. “No,” I answer, embarrassment sweeping through me. I know better than to have unprotected sex, even while on birth control.
“Oh. Oh! Charli! You were sick and on antibiotics.”
My mouth drops open as the timeline pieces click together. I started on those antibiotics a few weeks ago. I was still taking them the first time we went at it in my massage studio. That also would have been about a week after I finished my period, putting me at prime baby-making time on the ovulation scale.
“Shit, fuck, shit!”
After a few minutes, she squeezes my hand a second time. “I know this is scary and a huge shock, but can I just say…you’re gonna be a kick-ass mom.”
My first real smile spreads across my face. “Yeah?”
“Oh for sure! Wanna hear what else I know?” she asks, and when I nod, continues. “This baby is going to be so loved. No matter what Quinn decides to do, you have a strong support system behind you.”
I nod, knowing she’s completely right. They’ll probably be overwhelming and overprotective, but it will come from a good place. The best of places. Because they love me unconditionally.
I just hope they don’t go overboard when I tell them I’m pregnant.
And not just that…
When I tell them who the father is.
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Quinn
I lift my welding helmet and check out the beads I just laid down. They’re perfect, if I do say so myself. With a smile, I set my gun down on my cart and take off my gloves. Just as I toss them onto my workbench, the garage door opens. Assuming it’s Camden, I don’t turn around. Instead, I keep my focus on the trailer hitch I’m repairing for Mr. Jones, knowing Cam will grab a drink from the fridge and come sit on the stool in front of my workbench.
“Quinn?”
I spin around, surprised to find Charli standing there. “Hey, sorry. I assumed it was Cam. He usually just makes himself at home, so I didn’t check who was here.”
She gives me a small, tight smile. “It’s fine. I was worried you didn’t hear me, and I didn’t want to startle you by just walking up.”
I turn off the welder and take my helmet off. Glancing her way, I can feel how nervous she is, so I walk over to the fridge and grab two bottles of water. “Come on in and have a seat,” I suggest, setting one bottle on the bench in front of the stool.
While I twist the cap from my bottle and take a long drink, she walks over to the stool. She’s hesitant and lacking the normal upbeat demeanor I’m used to. “Thanks,” she says, opening the bottle of water and taking a small sip.
“Of course,” I reply, unbuttoning my welding jacket and hanging it on the hook beside where I keep my welder. “You okay?”
She nods. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just thought I’d stop by.”
