Page 84 of Tangled

“Haven’t you been using protection?” My mother shakes her head at me like I should know better. And I do. I’ve been on the pill since I was eighteen. I know how to take it religiously and how other drugs can interfere with it….

“Oh, shit!” I whisper before throwing my hands over my mouth to prevent any more words from escaping.

“What?” My mother spits back, and if we’re not careful, Cooper or my dad will come back inside to check on us.

“I took some anti-biotics when I got sick a few weeks ago. I went to urgent care when I started feeling worse and completely forgot. Oh, God! How could I have been so stupid,” I shut my eyes and cry into my hands, my shoulders shaking as I realize that my fear could very well be a reality.

“Shhhh, it’s okay, Olivia. You’re not stupid, you’re human. But are you sure? Could that be the reason you’re late and not something else?”

“I can’t think of another reason, Mom. Christ, what is Kane going to think?”

“Hey, calm down. First of all, you don’t know for sure if you’re pregnant, and you won’t until you take a test. Second of all, I think you need to give him more credit than you are right now. This may come as a shock and be very soon considering how long you two have been together. But like I said, he obviously cares about you, hun. Get all the facts and then sit down and talk with him about it. But the sooner the better, Liv.”

I pick my head up and feel the tears cascade down my face while my mom lovingly communicates her support through her eyes.

“Shit…” I mumble before removing my apron and heading to the bathroom.

Kane

“Take a seat, son,” Olivia’s dad directs me to a camping chair placed around a small heater in the center of the garage. Tools line one wall and storage boxes are stacked along another, labeled with holiday decorations and various mementos. A flat screen TV is hoisted on the wall the chairs are facing and an ice chest rests between their two chairs.

I hunch down in a seat a little too small for my stature, but then notice Cooper and Mr. Walsh look very similar in theirs, so I make do.

“Mr. Walsh, it’s really nice to meet you,” I open up the discussion, not sure how to proceed.

“Dan,” he replies and I nod.

“Dan.”

“So, Kane. How old are you?”

“Twenty-nine.”

“Never married? No kids?”

I shake my head. “No sir. I was engaged once though.”

Cooper pipes up. “Really? What happened?”

I decide to go with brutal honesty, figuring it can’t steer me in the wrong direction here. Olivia warned me they would do this. So it’s best to present myself as the man I finally feel I am.

“She cheated on me while I was overseas serving my country, sir.”

Cooper winces before taking a sip of his beer. “Damn, that’s tough, Kane. I’m sorry to hear that. Did you know the guy?”

“Yup. It was my best friend.”

“That’s shitty, son. So, any other long relationships after that one?”

“No. Olivia is the first woman I’ve been interested in like that since that woman.”

“Any warrants out for your arrest? Ever broken the law?” Cooper asks and I huff in amusement.

“You already know the answers to those questions, Cooper, seeing as how you’re a sheriff deputy and all.”

Cooper glares at me while Dan pipes back up.

“Ever done drugs?”

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