“It’s time,” Aubrey says, turning to the backseat to look at me.
“If we must,” I mumble.
Following Emma and Aubrey into the house, Emma goes to the bathroom upstairs and emerges with a small paper bathroom-sized cup and five test packages.
“Five?” My eyes widen.
“Trust me. You’ll want a few just in case. It’s just easier.” She puts the supplies on the bathroom counter and leaves me alone in the bathroom.
I wish Wyatt were here. He’s become my safety in stressful situations. Since being with him, more so since moving into his house, I’ve let my guard down and started entering my soft era. My edges are rounding out, and it’s his fault.
Washing my hands, I open each package and dip the ends into the cups, then lay them all out on the counter and sit on the tub while I wait the instructed three minutes.
Me:Sorry I ruined the day.
Wyatt:You didn’t ruin a thing. I’m sorry you’re so sick. And that my sister stole you. I was going to take care of you myself.
Me:I feel a lot better. I stole some of Olivia’s animal crackers and the juice helped.
Wyatt:Good. We don’t have to stay late at the inn tonight. We can even go home as soon as you get back. Whatever you want, you say the word. I feel bad I pushed you to go now.
Me:Who could have known? I’ll be okay, but I promise to tell you the second I want to go.
Wyatt:Good. I love you. >
Me:I love you too.
The timer on my phone goes off.
Sucking in a deep breath, I cross the bathroom and peek at the counter…
…Where five very bright, very positive pregnancy tests stare back at me.
My skin feels itchy. I hadn’t realized how anxious it makes me feel to have Sophia out of my sight until she left with my sister.
Emma and Aubrey will watch out for her, but it still makes me nervous. Knowing that James, or Hugh, or hell—maybe both of them—are out there somewhere looking for her, looking to cause her harm, stresses me out.
“Son, she’ll be alright. You can stop watching that driveway and start watching my steak,” Pops says, slapping my shoulder.
“I just don’t like her being away from me right now.”
“Get used to that feeling, son. It never goes away, and if it does, then you might have yourself a problem. Besides, it will only get worse when you have your own children. Then the feeling just magnifies by the number of kids.” He laughs. “And then they all decide to get married and give you grandchildren. That’s just one big rollercoaster ride.”
Tires crunch down the gravel driveway at the inn. Turning to Pops, I hand him the tongs for the grill. “You’re up, Pops.”
Taking off down the driveway before he can yell at me, I listen to the snickers from my brothers about me being a little bitch, as if they aren’t one themselves when it comes to their women.
Before the car is completely in park, I rip the back door open to see Sophia.
“Ems, could you have driven any slower?” I ask her.
She glares at me from the driver’s seat. “Did you want me to speed and risk getting into an accident, officer?”
Narrowing my eyes in her direction, I retort, “No, smart ass. You know I didn’t.”
“Then how about you just pay attention to your girl and not my driving?”
Since I don’t have a comeback, I turn to kiss Sophia on the cheek and tug her out of the car. Emma and Aubrey wait at the hood with big-ass, goofy grins on their faces. I furrow my brow.
