Page 175 of The Right Move

Just as I’m heading out the door to chase after her, it busts open. But instead of my girlfriend, it’s my sister who is barreling into our home.

“Vee? What are you doing here?”

She doesn’t look up or answer me, she simply rushes through my apartment, lifting pillows and pulling out drawers. She jogs into my bathroom, and I follow to watch her comb through every inch. I finally put a stop to her when she begins frantically sifting through the bathroom’s trash can.

Bending down with her, I take the it from her grip. “Stevie, what the hell is going on?”

She stands with me, panic and worry covering her features. Her blue-greens gloss over as her chin begins to wobble.

“Ryan, I’m—” Her attention darts to my hand. “Where did you find that?”

Looking down, Indy’s pregnancy test is sticking out of my closed fist.

Fuck. This isn’t how she should find out. Indy should be here too, but I can’t exactly lie to my sister in the moment I feel my most vulnerable.

Studying my face, her eyes narrow. “Have you been crying?”

“Vee, Indy is pregnant.”

Stevie closes her eyes, exhaling a deep breath as tears stream down her freckled cheeks. “No, she’s not, Ryan.” Opening, her lashes brim with tears but at the same time, a smile pulls at her lips. “I am.”

“What?”

“That’s my test.” Her smile widens but holds an apologetic edge. “Zee was home yesterday, and Indy was out running errands. I knew the apartment was empty, so I came here to take a test. Well, six tests.” Chuckling, tears continue to stream down her face as she wipes them away with the sleeve of her shirt. “This morning I could only find five and I didn’t want Indy to be the one to find the sixth.”

An odd pit in my stomach forms as the realization settles in that this test isn’t Indy’s. Disappointment washes over me, but I shake it away, taking in the words that my sister just said.

“Stevie.” My voice cracks as tears prick my own eyes. “You’re pregnant?”

She nods with a laugh that quickly turns to a sobbing cry.

“Hey. Hey,” I soothe, wrapping her in a hug, cupping her head to hide in my chest. “Why are you crying?”

“I don’t know. Why are you?”

“Because my twin sister is going to be a mom, and you’re going to make me an uncle.”

“I’m scared.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t spend my entire life dreaming of this the way you did. I didn’t think about kids until I met Zee.”

“Stevie. You two are going to make the best parents. I mean, if they’re anything like their dad we might be in trouble, but…”

Finally, Stevie laughs into my chest. “I hope they’re just like him.”

“Does he know?”

She shakes her head against me. “Not yet. I’m going to tell him today.” Pulling away, she cleans up her face. “Do me a favor? Let me be the one to tell Indy. I’m… I don’t know. I want her to hear it from me. I’m happy, so happy, but I don’t want to rub it in her face. This is everything she’s ever wanted.”

A tsunami size wave of regret crashes over me as the blacked-out fog lifts, every single one of her words barreling back into my mind.

I’m not pregnant.

It’ll be a miracle if that ever happens.

Thank you for reminding me that the last thing you want in life is the thing I desire most.

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