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We make it through dinner with Cooper pretending everything is normal. We must put up a good show of casual, functional friendship, because Cooper gives us each a relieved hug at the end of the night and announces he’s going to book a plane and head home.
Naturally, Luke offers to give him a free flight on Helius Airlines.
Naturally, Cooper refuses.
I’ve seen them do this dance more times than I can remember, but this time there’s a weird masculine edge to it I can’t explain. I’m sure there’s something going unsaid between them, but I’m too exhausted to worry about it. The afternoon’s fight—and make-up sex—took more out of me than I want to admit. Also, my breasts are feeling weirdly tender.
As I ride home in Luke’s town car, I make a mental note to google if it’s medically possible to havetoo muchsex. Because Luke and I have certainly been having a lot of it.
The next morning is Saturday. Luke decides to head into the office to make up for the stuff he missed yesterday as a result of the Dawson siblings' emotions.
I sleep in.
But when I wake up, I still feel tired. Actually, I’m in a weird mood in general.
I wonder if my period is coming.I think as I brush my teeth.
Then I freeze.
I start to do the math.
I didn’t notice, what with everything else that’s been going on in my life. But my period is definitely a week late. And yes, Luke and I haven’t been using condoms since he got the test results saying he’s healthy. But I’m on the pill.
This isn’t possible...right?
Ten minutes of googling later, I discover that there’s a whole host of things that can make the pill less effective, including taking the pill later or earlier than you normally do, accidentally skipping a day, drinking too much, and storing your pills in a location with high humidity and frequent temperature changes. Like, you know,a bathroom.
I stare at my phone in horror. I’ve done all these at least once in the past month.
The day I accidentally skipped was before Lucas and I started sleeping together, so I didn’t think of it. But the rest of it...honestly, I didn’t realize it was a big deal.
It took my mom forever to get pregnant both times.
I guess a part of me just assumed it would be the same for me.
This is probably nothing,I tell myself.A coincidence. Everything will be fine.
I tell myself that as I leave the apartment, and buy a pregnancy test, and come back to the apartment. I tell myself that as I pee on a stick, and place it on the counter, and wait for the results.
I keep telling myselfThis is nothingright up until the moment the “positive” sign appears.
“I’m pregnant,” I say out loud, testing the words. “I’m having a baby.”
I spread my hand over my stomach. “I’m having Luke’s baby.”
My wedding ring sparkles in the afternoon sunlight.
And all at once, this feels meant to be. I’ve always wanted kids, but my career and dating life were such a mess, I hadn’t let myself linger in that want, in case it never happened for me.
But now that’s happening, I know.
I want this baby.
I see my reflection in the mirror and realize I’m smiling.
Luke raps on the door. “Hazel, you in there?”
On instinct, I shove the pregnancy test in a bathroom drawer. “One second.”
