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“No. I’m fine. I’ve been telling you. I’m exhausted. It’s been a hectic week. We’ve only been back in the States for three days. I thought I’d bounce back faster.”
I didn’t know how to be present with my sister. I didn’t know how to let my feet soak while she rattled on about the kids’ soccer teams and dance lessons. Marcus’s schedule was becoming a problem, she admitted. I tried to listen. I tried to stay engaged, but all I could think about was peeing on a stick.
“Oh, I need to text Jer about picking up something for Mom and Dad tonight. Is that ok?” I asked.
“Of course,” Frannie acted like she hadn’t turned into my cell phone warden.
I dug in my Vella bag and texted Jeremy. He was going to freak out.
I’m with Frannie. I just did the math. Can you pick up a pg test for me before I get back? Hope I’m home in 2 hours.
I held my breath, waiting for his answer. I stared at the screen.
Already in the car.
I giggled.
“What did he say?” Frannie looked over my arm, trying to take a peek at the screen.
I quickly threw it in my bag. “Just a joke.” I shrugged. “He makes me laugh all the time.”
“I don’t remember him being funny.”
“Well, he is. Very funny.” I wiggled my toes in the water. They had turned a bright pink in the heat. Where was the technician? I wanted to get this over with.
“Hmm. Can’t wait to get to know him better.”
“Everyone is going to love him.” I needed to see it out loud. Whether to make it a reality or to convince her, I wasn’t sure. It had to be true. Because tonight my parents could be welcoming the father of my child into the family.
10
Jeremy
The clerk at the counter scanned five different tests. His arms might have been pushing through molasses, he moved so slowly. I shuffled from one foot to the other. It didn’t make him scan any faster. Neither did the line of customers forming behind me.
I wasn’t expecting the text Evie sent. Not in the middle of packing the townhouse. Not today.
I had a reason for choosing this particular pharmacy. Being the most recognizable face in Newton Hills had its drawbacks. Today wasn’t the day for kids to ask for my autographs, or to run into my mother’s bridge partners picking up their prescriptions. I needed discretion and as much anonymity as I could create.
I decided to drive out of Newton Hills to buy the tests. I had time to kill before Evie would be back.
She said she did the math. I didn’t know what the window was. I didn’t know when we were supposed to try. I’d never paid attention to that shit. I wore condoms for a reason—to make sure I never had to face a slow-ass man behind a register, scanning every brand of pregnancy test I could get my hands on. The last thing I ever wanted to do was get a girl pregnant—until Evie.
“Thanks.” I yanked the bag from the guy’s hand and jogged to the rental car.
I cranked the engine and pulled onto the road. The tests rattled next to me in the passenger seat. I glanced at them at every stoplight. Our future was possibly going to be determined today. Evie could be pregnant. She could be carrying my baby. Our baby.
The car behind me honked and I looked up at the green light. When had it changed color?
I pushed the accelerator as I climbed into the Georgia mountains back to town. I thought too much on the drive home. I didn’t think enough. I kept zoning out, picturing Evie pregnant with my baby.
I spun into the parking space in front of the townhouse and hurried inside as if going faster would give me the answer I wanted. Evie wasn’t home yet. I was going to have to wait. Fuck. I didn’t know how to do that. I was unreliable when it came to patience. Why did the bridal luncheon take so long?
I tossed the bag of tests on the couch and went back to packing. The biggest thing that was supposed to happen today was a sit-down dinner with Evie’s family. There was a possibility I was going to meet her father after having just found out I’d knocked up his daughter.
My chest fucking swelled with pride. What if we had done it? What if we had made a baby together? I looked at my watch. Where in the hell was she? I wanted her to walk through that door. I wanted her to answer our prayers. The next hour was going to be torture. I could pack or I could watch baseball, but neither was going to distract me enough from what was about to happen.
The second the townhouse door swung open, I pounced like a tiger.
