Page 119 of Kyle

“But obviously you weren’t doing much to prevent it,” Emmy shot back and Tatiana’s cheeks turned pink and a hint of a smile formed.

“We weren’t,” she confirmed.

“How late are you?” I asked.

“A month?” Tatiana laughed. “I might’ve been in denial.”

“Girl, that’s not denial, that’s straight-up crazy.” Emerson shook her head. “You get yourself sorted and Anaya and I are going to the store to get you a pregnancy test.”

“No way!”

“What do you mean no way?”

“Because if I take it and it’s positive, I’ll have to tell Brooks. Right now, I don’t know so I’m not lying or keeping a secret.”

I couldn’t stop staring at Tatiana, a woman I admired greatly for her strength and determination, and there was she was freaked the hell out. Bold-as-brass Tatiana Miller. It was then it truly hit me—even the bravest of women still had moments of insecurity and it didn’t make them any less brave.

“Are you happy?” I asked.

Tatiana’s body rocked back and she scrunched her face. “Of course I am.”

“Then stop freaking out, take the test to confirm you’re pregnant, then give Brooks the good news so he can be happy, too.”

“You’re right.” Tatiana nodded. “I don’t know what I’d do without the two of you.”

Shit, I felt that. It seared a golden path from my chest to my stomach and made me feel funny. I’d never had that either, gratitude from a friend.

“So? Can we go get you a test?” Emerson impatiently asked.

“Yeah and hurry. Oh, and while you’re at the store, please grab me Doritos. You know how the guys feel about, ‘my body is my temple, no junk food shall pass my lips’ and I’m dying for a bag.”

She was right about that. I’d never seen a fridge so full of healthy food in my life. Not that I ate a bunch of junk, but if I had to eat broccoli one more night I was considering forming a picket line in front of the kitchen.

“Okay. Pregnancy test and Doritos. Anything else?” Emerson asked. “Pickles? Ice cream? Ketchup?”

“Ketchup?” Tatiana laughed.

“What? I don’t know, I’ve never been pregnant. I thought you’re supposed to have weird cravings or something.”

“And ketchup is weird?”

“It is if you put it on your ice cream.”

No. Just no. That was so gross I wasn’t going to give ketchup and ice cream another thought.

“Let’s go, weirdo,” I told Emmy.

“I can’t wait to find out if we’re gonna be aunties.” Emerson tugged my hand but I was too light-headed to move.

“Aunties?” I breathed.

“Well, if she’s popping a kid out, we get to be aunts,” Emerson explained.

“I’ve never… I mean… an aunt.”

“Hey,” Tatiana whispered, now standing close. “You know you’re family.”

“Family,” I repeated. “I don’t—”