Page 16 of Dump and Chase

“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you they were going to be here. It was all last-minute. I was hoping to catch you before you saw them. I should’ve just sent a text. My bad.”

“Well, you didn’t. And I just learned all about Brandi.”

Jill cringed. “I didn’t even know she was in town until about an hour ago. How bad was it?”

“It’s fine. I’ll survive, but I’m not sure how long I’m going to hang out. I don’t want to hear any more about how perfect Brandi is.”

“I don’t blame you.”

I hung out with Jill for a while. She was my security blanket. I met a few of her coworkers, some of the town’s movers and shakers, and finally got to say hello to Wolseley as she scurried around the event. But I didn’t want to keep my two friends from their work, so I slipped out early.

And of course, Ethan was standing outside. He didn’t see me at first, and I thought to turn around and go back inside, but then decided I wasn’t tiptoeing around him. I wanted to go home, and he wasn’t standing in my way.

He jumped when he saw me coming down the stairs. I thought to walk right past him, but he decided to speak to me before I could do that.

“I didn’t know you were going to be here.”

“So you’re waiting outside to stalk me?”

“No. I was getting some air. There’s a lot of people and I can only mingle for so long. Brandi is hitting up some deep pockets to donate to her mission.”

“How nice. See you.”

“Wait,” he said, grasping my arm. My skin tingled at the touch, and I hated that. I hated how much my body betrayed my brain. “I wasn’t trying to rub her in your face. I had no idea you were going to be here.”

“It’s fine. Have a nice life.”

But he didn’t let go. “I’m never going to stop being sorry for how things ended. You’ll always mean a lot to me.”

“Okay. Goodbye.”

“Tang, really?”

Heat flushed my body. “Yes, really,” I said, seething. “What do you want from me? Forgiveness? Just stop talking to me and leave me alone. All right? Do you understand?”

I pulled my arm away and started walking. I didn’t stop until I reached my car, even though my eyes were filled with tears. I would never let him know that he’d always mean a lot to me too.

ChapterNine

Tangi

Iwas busy for the rest of the summer, mostly dealing with older patients and their pickleball injuries, but by the beginning of September, the clinic wasn’t as busy. As the new person, I was given the fewest hours. I had tried to build up a clientele base, but it was hard when the clinic kept screwing around with my schedule. I needed to find another place to work if I ever wanted to move out of my parents’ house.

After another short shift at work that had me leaving early in the afternoon, I was heading home when my phone beeped. My menstrual cycle app was having a hissy fit. Apparently, it wanted an update. I stopped walking. It wanted an update? I tapped on the app and froze. Not only had I missed one period, but I was late for another one. No, no, no. My brain instantly went to that day with Ethan. He’d used a condom the first time, but had he the second time? I was worried I was about to face-plant, so I leaned against a car and was happy I didn’t set off an alarm.

I didn’t have any symptoms. Where was the nausea? Although I had been feeling more tired lately. Maybe it was just stress. God, I hoped that was it. I rushed to my car and drove straight to the CVS. I bought every kind of pregnancy test they sold, and as I drove home, my hands shook. If I was pregnant, what was I going to do? How would I tell my family? Mom and Dad would be happy to have a grandchild, but Leah would want to kill me. And my friends? Wolseley would tell me it was meant to be, and Jill would give me a lecture about sleeping with an ex and not using protection. Dread came over me.

I’d have to tell Ethan.

I got home, and thankfully the house was empty. I downed a few glasses of water and peed on the first test. I didn’t think I had enough in me to do any others just yet. Why had I gone to the bathroom before leaving work?

I tapped my foot on the bathroom floor as I waited. Now I was nauseous, but more about this damn test. If it turned out I was pregnant, everyone would know it happened the night of Rick’s funeral. The utter humiliation I’d face knowing that everyone else would know. It would be like a billboard in downtown Minneapolis.

And then something settled in my heart. If I was pregnant, I was pretty sure I was going to keep it. I didn’t care what anyone thought of whatever decision I made. And I wouldn’t expect Ethan to do anything. If he wanted to, that was up to him. If I had the baby, I would find a way to raise my child alone if I had to. My parents would help out, and Leah would be a fantastic aunt even if Ethan was the father.

My phone buzzed as the timer ended. I took a few deep breaths, then looked down at the test.

Pregnant.

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