Page 55 of Knocked up By the Minotaur

Tears sting the back of my eyes at her tone, and I squeeze her fingers. “No, it’s not.”

“Have you taken the test yet?”

I nod and pull out the clear bag the three tests are in. “I haven’t looked yet. I can’t.”

I hand it over, and she gingerly takes it from me with a napkin to protect her fingers, which makes me glare. “I haven’t peed all over the bag, Ella.”

She ignores me and inspects the tests through the plastic.

“Oh, honey.” A southern drawl wafts over our table, and I look over to see Darleen come to a stop before us. She has a pen and notepad in her purple-skinned hands, and her bright eyes flash between me and the tests my sister holds. “Again?”

I groan and flop my head down against the table. “Yes. Again.”

“How often are you bumpin’ uglies with our minotaur, little lady?”

“Don’t you ‘little lady’ me, Darleen,” I mutter into the wood, choosing not to comment on the fact that the waitress at the diner seems to know exactly what’s going on in my personal life, since that’s apparently the MO of this entire town. “I must be double your age.”

“I’m three hundred and seventy-two.” She cocks a hip and raises one blonde brow. “And you seem to be in quite the predicament. I hope that—” she tips the two little horns on her forehead meaningfully to the sticks in Ella’s hands, “—doesn’t mean you’ve got three buns in your oven. I forget how your human contraptions work.”

“What?” I sit bolt upright, and snatch back my baggie.

“Is it one positive marker for every pup?”

The sounds around me fade away as Ella awkwardly explains that it isn’t one stick per fetus, and I stare down at the tests.

Positive.

Positive.

Positive.

They’ve all come up with clear positive markers, and my stomach drops with fear even as my chest warms. I’m going to have another baby.

I’m going to ruin Oli’s life.

***

One hour later, and I’ve finished my dinner with Ella.

“What am I going to do?” I moan, as I shovel chocolate lava cake into my face.

“About the baby?”

“About Oli.” I sigh. “He’s been so good to me during this ridiculous fiasco with Brad. Always coming to my defense, looking after Lucas, looking after me. Ella, the man has let me take complete advantage of him this whole time, I can’t continue doing that. If I tell him, I’ll practically be forcing him to change the entire course of his life!”

“Well…” Ella starts, but I steamroll over her, shoving my spoon back into my cake.

“He doesn’t want a relationship or kids, that isn’t what he has planned for himself. But he’s a good guy underneath all his shameless flirting, I think he might put his own plans aside if he knew I was pregnant. That would changeeverything, don’t you see?”

“Grace…”

“He’s shown me such a kind, selfless side of himself.” I shove my spoon in my mouth and try to swallow down my emotions with the cake. “You should see the way he is with Lucas, he treats my son as if he’s family. It melts my heart—and I think Lucas is getting attached to him, too.”

“Okay, but Grace…”

“If Oli finds out about my condition, I don’t think he’d hesitate to drop everything to support us.” I look down as I scrape my spoon over the last of the chocolate sauce on my plate. “How could I do that to him? How could I be that person?”

“Grace,” Ella says firmly, reaching over to grab my hand again. “Look at me.” I look up, and her expression softens. “What exactly is the problem with this scenario you’re building? It sounds like you’re afraid that he’ll be in the child’s life as a supportive figure.”

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