“Are you sure?” I ask. I can hear the shock and disbelief in my voice when I speak.
“Yes. Both the blood and urine tests confirm it.” His words are like a sucker punch to my gut.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Indiana
The devastation I see on Carter’s face hurts. A lot. Sure this wasn’t planned. To be honest I’m not sure how I feel about it, but the look on his face pisses me off. I’m not sure if I want to cry or punch him. He hasn’t said a word to me all the way home.
“Carter. I’m sorry,” is all I say reaching for his hand. This wasn’t planned he’s got to know that.
“We have to get married,” he replies, taking his eyes off the road to glance at me. Umm, no.
“I’m not marrying you just because I’m pregnant, Carter,” I snap. That’s ridiculous. He pulls the car immediately over to the curb, screeching to a stop.
“You don’t want to marry me?” he asks in a whisper as the colour drains from his face.
“Eventually maybe, but not now.”
“What? Why?” I can see the hurt etched into his features and it makes me feel bad. Of course I’d hoped one day we would get married, but I’m not going to force him into marrying me just because we’re going to have a baby.
“Because it’s ludicrous to get married just because of this,” I state.
“Bullshit,” he snaps. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself. Turning my body in my seat, I face him and reach for his hand again.
“Look, Carter. I’m not going to force you into marrying me just because I’m pregnant. That’s wrong. I want you to marry me because you want to, not because you feel you have to.”
“For fuck sake, Indiana. I want to marry you,” he says raising his voice.
“Eventually maybe, but not now. You only said it because I’m pregnant.”
“We’re getting married, Indiana, and that’s final.” He lets go of my hand and starts the car again before pulling into the traffic. God he’s infuriating sometimes.
“Like hell we are,” I spit. I turn my face to look out the passenger side window when I see his head snap in my direction. This conversation is over.
When we pull up outside the tattoo parlour, I immediately get out of the car and start walking towards the clinic. “Where are you going?” he calls out.
“To work,” I reply without turning around. He made me sit at that damn doctor’s surgery for over two hours. I’m behind now.
My head is all over the place as I try and concentrate on the job. I feel awful about what happened with Carter. I’ve been tempted to go next door for the past few hours, but it’s probably best we both calm down first. We can hash it out tonight. One thing is for sure; he will not be forcing me into marrying him.
When Mrs. Kennedy and her cat, Felix, leave, Meg knocks on my door. “Are you gonna tell me what’s going on?” she asks placing her hands on her hips. She’s been trying to get it out of me since I came back from the doctors.
“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out. She’s going to find out soon enough anyway.
“What? Oh. My. God,” she squeals throwing her arms around me. “Why are you in such a mood then? Aren’t you happy?”
“I’m happy, but shocked. It wasn’t planned.”
“So, who cares? You and Carter love each other. You’ll make great parents. You’ve only gotta look at the way you guys treat LJ to know that.”
“He wants to get married now,” I say sighing.
“No fucking way. He proposed?”
“More like demanded. I’m not marrying him just because I’m pregnant,” I snap.
“Why?” she asks, giving me a strange look.
“Because it’s preposterous.”
“It is not. It makes perfect sense,” she says, rolling her eyes like I’m being ridiculous. “You know why he’s doing this right? The bastard thing.”
“I know,” I reply. “People have children out of wedlock all the time these days. It’s no big deal.”
“It’s a big deal to him. You know how he is, Indi. He’s not going to let you win this.” That’s what I’m afraid of. I don’t want him to feel like he has to marry me.
When Meg leaves, her words play on my mind. The thought of being married to Carter excites me, but I don’t want to rush into things. I don’t want to get married for all the wrong reasons.
Not even ten minutes pass before she’s knocking on my door again. “A delivery just arrived for you,” she says smirking. I roll my eyes because I can tell by the look on her face it has something to do with Carter.