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Taylor sighed heavily then squinted her eyes while pressing her forehead as if her head ached. “I’ve been sick. I’m nauseated all the time and I can’t keep anything down.”
“So what? I told you many times skipping meals will make you sick.” Alina’s eyebrows were furrowed.
“If that was the only thing I skipped,” Taylor sighed once more and her friend released her.
Taylor was talking in circles, and it was very confusing. She did this sometimes, though, so Alina knew how to deal with it. “Taylor, take a deep breath and tell me exactly what the problem is.”
Taylor closed her eyes when she inhaled, pushing out her chest and then allowing it to fall again. When she opened her eyes, they seemed more focused and less wild. “I missed my period and I think I might be pregnant.”
Internally, Alina was awed. Taylor was in no way ready for a child, and being pregnant would be devastating to her. Her entire life would change and she would have to re-prioritize the job that she loved. But Alina said none of this to her friend. She wouldn’t dare cause more panic. Instead, she swallowed hard and said in a calm voice. “Well, you don’t know as yet, and it makes no sense panicking from the unknown. Just stay here and try to relax. I’m going to the pharmacy to get you a test, OK?”
Alina was about to leave when Taylor caught her arm. “No need,” Taylor said and tilted her chin in the direction of her handbag, which rested on the entryway table. The bag was unzipped, revealing several types of pregnancy tests. “I just need you to keep me company while I take the tests.”
“Taylor,” Alina looked at her friend with a wide eyes. “How many tests do you intend to take?”
Taylor’s jaw slightly dropped, her eyebrows raised. “As much as needed to give me a negative result.”
Alina’s next words were slow. “You know it doesn’t work like that, right?”
Her friend eyed her with her nose pushed upwards. “Humor me,” she said as she grabbed her bag and headed for the bedroom.
When Alina stepped into the room, Taylor already had four tests in her hand and was headed to the bathroom. Alina took a seat on the bed next to her friend’s bag and eyed the many tests still in there.
“She’s actually handling this better than I thought she would,” Alina said to herself before taking out her phone. She sent Dereck a message accompanied by several heart emojis and sighed moments later when the message remained unanswered. Putting back her phone, she shouted through the door. If Taylor was really pregnant, Alina had to make sure a panic attack did not follow.
“You know,” she said, tangling the comforter on the bed. “Having a baby may not be such a bad thing. You’re always complaining about how lonely your apartment is. It would be nice to come home to someone.”
“Honestly, I prefer if I come home to a lot of roaming men,” Taylor spat out. “That’s enough company for me. I don’t need some little person shitting and crying all the time.”
“I think you would love it,” Alina said. “Especially if it was a girl.” She spoke in a sing-song voice. “Imagine the world with another you in it. You can wear matching outfits and take her to spa days.” Then she pushed out her lips. “I don’t know Taylor. I think you will enjoy a little girl.”
Taylor moaned for a few seconds, then she said. “What if it’s a boy?”
“Then you dress him just the same. Just the male version of your outfit. And imagine when he gets bigger and becomes a powerhouse just like his mother.”
“Yeah, if I had a son, he would be totally unstoppable.” Taylor’s voice had a slight cheerfulness to it. “A girl would too, but she would do it in style.”
“And it’s not like you’ll be alone,” Alina added. “The baby would have plenty of god mother’s spoiling him or her.”
Taylor emerged from the bathroom. “You better not. I’m not dealing with a spoiled child,” she said, but there was a smile on her face.
“Did you get the results yet?” Alina was dying to know if she was going to be an aunt. She loved children and wouldn’t mind a sweet little face around.
“No,” Taylor leaned against the wall. “It’ll take just a few more minutes.”
The women remained silent for a while, then Alina broke it. “Taylor? Do you think you’ll get married someday?”
Taylor raised her head to the ceiling as if thinking, then she lowered her head. “I’m not ecstatic about the idea, but I’m also not against it, either.” She dropped her shoulders. “I guess if the right man came along, I could change my life for him.” Then she pushed out her lips. “By that time you and Dereck would long be married with several children running around.”
Alina sighed. “Dereck and I love each other, but sometimes I don’t know.” She shook her head. “We’ve already broken up once. What if it happens again?”
“That was a misunderstanding,” Taylor said. “I’m sure it won’t happen again. You two belong together.”
“You think so?” Alina didn’t confess the entire truth to her friend. She left out the part about her insecurities. Still, Taylor’s comment made her feel a little reassured.
“I know,” her friend confirmed, sprinting into the bathroom as the timer went off.
Alina remained silent as Taylor checked all the tests with wild eyes. Then she erupted into a celebratory dance and cheer. Taylor came out of the bathroom, twerking and swinging her hips from side to side.
