Page 204 of Triplet Babies for my Ex's Best Friend

He looks at me then.

His mask cracks just enough for me to see the terror underneath.

Oh.

Oh, that hurts.

Dr. Patel must sense the temperature of the room dropping because she softens her voice. “We don’t have to discuss everything right now. You’re stable, but given the fainting, dehydration, and the fact that we don’t yet know how far along you are, we’d like to keep you overnight for observation.”

“Overnight?” I repeat.

“Yes. Mostly precautionary. We’ll continue fluids and repeat your vitals. We’ll arrange an ultrasound with OB in the morning to confirm dating and check that everything looks appropriate.”

“In the morning?”

“The emergency department can confirm pregnancy tonight through bloodwork,” she explains. “Because you’re stable and not reporting severe abdominal pain or bleeding, the formal ultrasound can be done with the OB team during morning rounds. If anything changes overnight, we’ll reassess immediately.”

I nod like that makes sense.

Dr. Patel explains a few more things. Hydration. Observation. A nurse will come check on me. Try to rest. Press the button if I feel dizzy, nauseous, or have pain.

I retain maybe twelve percent of it.

The rest of my brain is standing in the middle of a burning field holding a positive pregnancy test like a tiny white flag.

When the doctor leaves, the room feels too small, too quiet. Ethan remains standing beside my bed. Not touching me. That’s what I notice.

Before, he was all controlled closeness. Hand near mine, eyes on my pulse, body angled like a shield.

Now there’s space.

“So,” I say, because silence is worse. “That’s new.”

He looks at me. “Yes.”

One word.

Very Ethan.

Very useless.

My laugh cracks. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.”

“That’s not helpful.”

“I know.”

I swallow hard. “Are you…?”

I can’t finish.Are you angry? Are you horrified? Are you already regretting me? Are you thinking about your dead wife and your little boy and how I’ve just dropped a bomb into the life you barely let anyone enter?

Ethan steps closer, finally. “I’m not angry with you.”

My eyes sting.

Annoying.