Page 30 of Emerald Malice

Six rounds later, my bladder is empty and my spirits are low.

I arrange the six tests in a toilet paper nest around the sink, but the doorbell rings before I can start my nervous pacing. I dash out of the bathroom to answer, once again grateful for the universe intervening to keep me from my own thoughts.

But my gratitude is short-lived. I open the door, only to come face to face with?—

“Katya.”

Her smile falters. She’s got a beanie pulled down over her eyes. But she can’t adjust it because her arms are supporting a huge gift basket filled with fruit, chocolates, and nuts.

I’m in the process of closing the door on her, but her foot shoots into the gap. “Wait!”

I scowl at her expectantly.

“Um… there’s a cake, too.”

She gestures to the floor, where there is indeed a pink cake box from one of my favorite bakeries in Brooklyn.

“I had it custom-made.”

Sighing, I bend down and flip the lid up. Inside sits a beautiful cake in vanilla buttercream frosting with the words I’M THE WORST AND I’M SORRY AND I HATE ME, TOO in deep blue frosting.

One look in her earnest eyes and my resolve wavers.

How easy it would be to forgive her. How easy it would be to pull her into my apartment and pick up where we left off.

I could tell her about my little secret. I wouldn’t have to deal with this on my own.

“Nat…”

No.

We’ve done this before. Too many times.

“You can keep the cake,” I say instead. “I’m cutting back on sugar.”

Katya withers. “Nat, please. I know you hate me and I deserve that. But I love you! You’re my best friend and I hate that we’re not talking. It’s been months?—”

“I’m not a pushover, Kat!” I explode as the very real pressure of those pregnancy tests in the sink weighs on our friendship. Then my anger deflates. “You know what? I can’t even be mad at you for thinking that. Because I am a pushover. I do go along with things I’m not comfortable with. That’s on me. That’s not on you.”

“Listen, Nat?—”

“No, you listen for a change. I’m done being your sidekick, Katya. I’m done being the pawn in your games. I’m just done, period.”

Her eyes are filled with tears. “I really am sorry.”

“I know you are. But it doesn’t change the fact that I went through something that night. And I’m not sure it can be undone.”

Taking advantage of her shock, I push the door closed and deadbolt it.

I walk back to the bathroom, but I’m so preoccupied with seeing Katya again that I don’t understand what the soft, tinny music coming from the sink is until I see the six pregnancy tests…

All winking up at me with big, fat, undeniable positive signs.

11

NATALIA

“… is it gonna be painful?”

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