Her frown does zilch to mar the beauty of her face. “Ain’t buying it, Rons. Give it.”
I narrow my eyes at her outstretched hand. “Best friends are a pain in the ass.”
She grins. “It’s a thankless job, but I love to do it.”
I pull out the dreaded purchase.
I slap it into her palm, holding her gaze. “Here, you—you—smiling, deranged…sloth.”
“Sloth? Good. That one’s creative.” She cheeses all the more, showing her teeth. “Well—you—you’re a sneaky…”
Her eyes drop to the purple and white box in her grasp. For a moment her mouth works like she wants to say something but can’t. When her eyes come to mine, they’re huge. “You—you sneaky prego-momma.”
I hold up my finger. “We don’t know that yet. It could be nothing.”
She lifts one eyebrow. “People don’t buy these for nothing. What makes you think you’re pregnant?”
I pick at the edge of my jacket. “Well, once the condom split down the side. Then another time he forgot, and I was too stupid to think about it. Missed a period.”
Shay throws her arms around me. “Oh my gosh! I’m gonna be Auntie Shay!”
“Hold up. Hold up. Let’s see if I am before we start picking out names.”
Her eyes go wide again. “Oh—will you want to stay with me? I’d love it if you did. I’m never having kids. I’d so love to live vicariously and help you out. Well, that is, if you and Jackoff aren’t going to become a real couple.”
An ache in the back of my throat stops me from talking.
After a few moments, Shay turns to the steering wheel. “Well, whatever you decide.”
The pinpricks behind my eyes force me to shut them. I swallow the panic welling inside.
Shay lays her hand over mine. “Aw, Rons. Don’t worry. You aren’t alone. Not for any of it. I’m here. We got this shit.”
I wipe the tears that escape in spite of my best efforts. “Thank you. It means the world to me that you’re being supportive and not treating me like an idiot.”
“No one is going to treat you like an idiot. If they try, I’ll kick their fucking asses.”
For the fifth time, I tuck the white stick into the box. I wish I could put the results into a box as easily.
Positive. As in, I’m positively pregnant. And so screwed.
I need to get a place of my own. Shayna insists I stay here. But the glamor of a new baby will wear off in a hurry, and I plan to move out before it strains our relationship—no matter what kinds of arguments she throws at me.
I trash the box, wash my hands, and head to the kitchen for something to settle my stomach. Bread might work. When I hit the doorway, I stop.
Jackson sits at the table.
My queasy stomach turns a somersault. I dash for the sink.
I hang onto the counter as the small bit of food I was able to hold down for breakfast comes up.
Big hands pull my hair away from my face. “Wow. Never had that reaction to my presence before.”
I turn on the water and rinse my mouth. A towel appears in my peripheral. I take it and swipe it across my chin and neck.
“What are you doing here, Jackson? I told you before that you should always call. This time I’m actually sick. You should leave before you catch something.”
“Are you going to break out with a case of uncontrollable, raging rabbit squirts next?”
I toss him a look.
He coughs into his hand. “Sorry. I—you don’t seem too inclined to take my calls lately.”
I close my eyes and do my best to swallow the next bout of nausea fighting to embarrass me. “I’ve been busy. Lots of time with Dave and working on my next book.”
If you can call staring at a blank screen working.
“You and Dave are still a thing, huh?”
I shrug. “Sure. Why wouldn’t we be? I told you my methods work.”
His arms come around me, and his eyes connect with mine. “I’ve been missing you, Peaches.”
My nerves go haywire. I bite the inside of my lip.
His hold tightens, and everything in me wants to melt into him.
But I’m not ready to get pulled back in. How do I tell him what he deserves to know? Or does he deserve to know anything? He’d only have one suggestion. Take care of it.
“Haven’t you missed me at all?” he whispers in my ear, sending a shiver through me.
No. It’s too fresh. I have to wait until I get a handle on everything. Plus, there’s no sense in telling him until I’m further along. It’s an unnecessary argument if something should happen that would make the conversation null and void.
I withdraw from his grasp. “Now that things have finally started working with Dave, I really need to focus on that relationship. I have a bet to win so my book doesn’t get ditched.”