Page 53 of The Boss's Hideaway Baby

“Um, yeah,” I stammer, trying to hold back my panic. “I just… need to get home.”

“Take care of yourself.” She gives me a warm smile as I stand up to leave.

“Thank you,” I reply, barely able to meet her gaze. My mind is racing, and all I can think about is the possibility that I might be pregnant — and what that could mean for my future.

I jog away, my heart rate increasing. Panic takes hold of me, pushing my legs to move faster until I find myself in front of a drugstore.

Taking a deep breath, I push through the doors and make a beeline for the aisle with the pregnancy tests. My hands are shaking as I grab a few different brands, not caring about the prices or details. All I need is an answer, and I need it now.

“Did you find everything okay?” the cashier asks, looking concerned as she scans my items. I nod, forcing a tight smile. I can’t help but feel embarrassed, even though this is a perfectly normal purchase for many people.

“Thanks,” I manage to say as I swipe my card. The second the transaction is complete, I all but run out of the store, clutching the bag tightly in my hand.

Back at my apartment, I tear open the first pregnancy-test box, my hands still trembling. I glance at the instructions briefly before proceeding, hardly able to believe that I’m in this situation. As I wait for the three minutes before the results show, I pace back and forth in my living room, my thoughts spinning wildly.

Could I really be pregnant? Nathan and I were only together once, and we used protection… But nothing’s foolproof, right?

The seconds tick by, each one feeling like an eternity. My panic increases with every passing instant, leaving me short of breath and lightheaded. Is it even possible for me to be a mother? I’ve spent so much of my life alone. The idea seems utterly overwhelming.

“Okay, Maria, just breathe,” I tell myself, trying to calm down. “You don’t even know the result yet. It could be negative, and all this worry will have been for nothing.”

Or it could be positive. And my life will change forever.

As the weight of that possibility settles on me, I can’t help but remember the woman on the bench and her stories of morning sickness. Will that be me soon, dealing with the challenges of pregnancy and motherhood? Will I be able to handle it all on my own, especially if Nathan wants nothing to do with our child?

And then what will I do once the baby gets here? This apartment is so small. Should I look for a bigger place, or maybe leave the city entirely?

“Stop it,” I chastise myself, rubbing my temples. “You’re getting way ahead of yourself. Focus on the here and now.”

I glance at the timer on my phone, watching as it counts down the final seconds. My heart races and I feel a bead of sweat roll down my temple. The moment of truth is almost here.

“Three… two… one…” I gnaw at my fingernails, a bad habit that I thought I’d kicked years ago.

The timer goes off, and I hesitate for just a second before picking up the test. I squint at the tiny screen, and there it is — a plus sign. It’s positive. I’m pregnant.

My jaw just drops. I’m too stunned for any other reaction.

My hand flies to my still-flat stomach. Can this really be happening? There’s a life growing inside of me?

A burst of excitement flutters in my chest, but it’s quickly overshadowed by the crushing weight of reality.

I’m having a baby… and probably alone. Nathan isn’t part of my life anymore, and if he doesn’t want me, why would he want our child?

The thought brings fresh tears to my eyes, but I stubbornly wipe them away. I don’t have time to wallow; I need to figure out a plan, because soon I’ll have someone else depending on me.

“Okay, Maria, get it together,” I murmur to myself, pacing around my living room. “What do I need to do first?”

Telling Nathan seems like the logical answer, but the thought terrifies me. What will he say? Will he even answer the phone if I call?

I don’t want to tell him. I don’t want to hear his shock, his potential disgust. I don’t want to have him throw money at me, hoping that will make this issue go away.

Because that’s a real probability. After Montauk, he gave me a check, probably hoping that would be the end of our personal relationship. I can see him doing the same thing once he finds out I’m pregnant.

But he deserves to know, right? Even if he might reject our child, too?

My hands shake as I pick up my phone and find his name. I stare at the screen, unable to press call. The mere idea of hearing him say that he doesn’t want to be involved with our baby is too much to bear. My finger hovers over the screen, then I scroll further down my contacts list, opting for another course of action.

I press call on my sister’s name, and she picks up after a couple of rings.

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