When You're Back(61)

Staring at them, I tried to remember when I should have started my period. I grabbed my birth-control pills out of the medicine cabinet and checked them. Two weeks ago. I should have started two weeks ago.

My hands trembled as I put the pills down and walked to the bedroom so I could sit down a minute. I’d been through a lot two weeks ago. My mind had been on everything but starting my period. I’d just missed that one pill the morning after seeing Marco.

I’d taken two the next day, though. We hadn’t even had sex that night. I’d been a mess. Something had to be off. I couldn’t be pregnant.

Putting my hand on my stomach, I let myself imagine for a moment that I was. That I was carrying Mase’s baby. Joy coursed through me, but it was quickly replaced by unease. Mase hadn’t even asked me to marry him yet. He wasn’t ready for a family. I couldn’t force this on him. He trusted me to take my birth control, and I’d let him down.

How could I be a mother if I’d never had one myself? I had no example of a mother. The one I’d been given hadn’t been anything I would want for my child. Touching my stomach, I knew I had to go to a doctor. Without Mase. There was no reason to panic if I didn’t have to, but how could I go see a doctor without telling someone?

Piper. I’d ask Piper tomorrow at work if she could take me. I trusted her, and I knew she’d understand. Well, I thought she’d understand.

I shoved the tampons back under the counter and finished my list. I couldn’t worry about this now. There was a chance I wasn’t pregnant. I could just be late. I would hold on to that until I couldn’t.

“Hey, baby,” Mase called out as the front door opened.

I took my list and walked back into the living room. Seeing him standing there in his dusty jeans, cowboy hat, and boots never got old. Believing that he was mine was hard sometimes.

He smirked and walked over to me. “You keep looking at me like that, and we won’t make it to the grocery store like you wanted to.”

I knew exactly what we would do instead, and as tempting as that was, I was too scared to chance it. What if I wasn’t pregnant but still could get pregnant after messing up my pills? I patted his chest and smiled up at him, hoping I didn’t show the worry in my eyes. “We need groceries,” I reminded him.

He lowered his head and claimed my mouth with a soul-searing kiss that made me forget everything but how good he made me feel. “Whatever you want,” he whispered near my ear, then gave me a swat on my bottom. “God, I love that ass,” he added.

I held up the grocery list. “Priorities,” I told him, and I walked over to pick up my purse.

“I got one priority, and it sure ain’t a damn grocery list,” he said in an amused tone.

Was it possible to love someone as much as I loved Mase? Was it even healthy?





Mase


Reese called to tell me that Piper was taking her out for lunch on Tuesday. I was glad she was bonding with Piper. I wanted her to have friends here. This would be our world, and having Reese fit into it was important. I needed her to love it here as much as I did.

When lunchtime arrived, I headed up to Momma’s to get something to eat. Aida’s truck was parked outside, and I paused. If there was going to be drama, I wasn’t sure I could deal with it today.

She hadn’t left on good terms, and I wasn’t sure why she was back. But then again, I didn’t want to confront her in front of Reese later. Reese had dealt with enough this past month.

Sighing, I hoped this wasn’t going to ruin my lunch. When I stepped through the door leading into the kitchen, Momma turned to give me an apologetic smile. She had been expecting me; I’d called to let her know I didn’t need her packing a lunch for me and Reese today and that I’d just be eating with her.

Reluctantly, I turned my gaze to see Aida sitting at the table across from my stepdad. “Dad,” I said, then, “Aida.”

“You got that list ready for me to give to Johnson? He’ll be by later today.” Dad knew about the drama with Aida, and talking ranch stuff was his way of keeping things level.

“Yeah, I’ll get it to you after lunch,” I assured him, then walked over to kiss Momma on the cheek and take the plate she had been fixing for me. “I got this. Sit down and eat.”

“Sorry,” Momma mouthed as she let me take the plate from her. She hadn’t been expecting Aida, either. I nodded and finished filling my plate before turning to the table to sit down.

I figured ignoring Aida was pointless and tense for everyone. “So, what brings you down here, Aida?” I asked before taking a bite of the creamed potatoes.