Page 75 of Protected By the Billionaire Ex-SEAL

Hell, contraceptive pills are more effective than condoms, anyway. But I’ll never know until I take some tests.

I’ll never know until I have a piece of paper in my hand telling me that I’m not pregnant.

* * *

“You’re pregnant.”

I stare at Dr. Thompson like he has grown two other heads. Eric Thompson is a nice doctor, who surprised me when he stepped out of the clinic since he’s young, too, and quite a looker. The whispers of the hot town doctor make sense now, but his announcement turns my mind blank.

“I beg your pardon?”

“The results have come out, and here they are.” He hands over the paper to me. I switch from staring at him to staring at the paper, where it shows the results of the blood test: my hCG hormone levels, and right next to it, in bold letters, the word “pregnant.”

“Right. I see it.”

My hand trembles slightly. This isn’t the news I expected. I lean forward, my voice urgent.

“Doctor Thompson, I take birth control regularly and on time. Shouldn’t it have worked?”

“It should, but no contraception is entirely guaranteed other than abstinence.” He hands me some pamphlets. “When it comes to birth control, one out of a hundred women getting pregnant is rare, but it’s not unheard of. Congratulations. It looks like you’re one of those rare ones.”

His congratulatory greeting is sincere, telling me he has no idea of my situation or the speculations this town has cast upon me. Or maybe he knows and just isn’t the judgmental type. My body weakens as I try to grasp at straws.

“So, it’s not the stomach flu?”

“No flu. All your tests are clear, as you can see on the lab results. That’s just your morning sickness acting up, which might be a common occurrence, especially during your first trimester.”

He talks about it in detail and the things I can do to reduce it, then what I can take starting now. I absorb everything in a daze, my mind spinning and body frozen in shock as I still can’t comprehend the truth that’s slapping me in the face. But I recover and thank him for his time, then step out of the clinic, where Honey Lee is waiting patiently in the lobby.

She takes one look at my face and places a hand over her mouth. Then she flies out of her chair.

“Oh, sweetie. Is it what I think it is?”

I nod. I can lie, but I don’t want to lie to her about this. Honey Lee hugs me fiercely, then glances around subtly.

“Come on, Raven. Let’s find a more private place to talk.”

She takes me to the car and drives, but she doesn’t go home yet. Instead, we drive around the town, then she parks beside the park when I assure her that I can use some fresh air. The place is empty during the early afternoon, but we find a bench in an isolated area shaded by a bunch of big trees.

“Churros?” She waves a piece in front of me from the pack she bought mid-drive, then gasps. “Oops, sorry. The smell might…”

“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind the smell…so far.” I bite my lip, my mind still swirling. Then I look at her helplessly. “I wasn’t expecting this.”

“I wasn’t, either. Does Christian know you’re still sick?”

I shake my head. “He’s been calling me every night, but I keep telling him I’m fine and there’s nothing to worry about. Like I said, I don’t want him to worry.”

Silence.

“How about tonight’s call? Will you be telling him?”

“I…I’m not sure.”

Her eyes widen. “Why not?”

“This was supposed to be casual. Just us having fun and slaking our attraction for each other.”

“I know that. But now you’re pregnant.”

---