Page 73 of Kissing Her Rescuer

And her chest.

Cleavage where cleavage shouldn't be.

Pulling her tank top away, she looked down her shirt.

Her mouth ran dry. She licked her lips. No way. No. Damn. Way.

She dropped to the floor, jerking open the cabinets under Eva's sink. It was beyond rude to poke around, but if she knew Eva…

“Bingo,” she muttered as she grabbed a pregnancy test. She'd replace it later.

After the longest three minutes of her life, she finally peeked at the test.

Then sat down hard on the cold tile floor.

Shit.

She dropped her head into her hands. Not to cry. Shock. Amazement. How in the hell had that happened twice?

“Eliza?” Eva's soft voice called through the door as she knocked. “Did you finally get sick?”

Her hand went to her stomach. She should tell Dewey first.

But right now, she needed a friend to help make sense of it all. She reached up and opened the door, not moving from the floor and not having any plan for what to say.

“Are you alright?” Eva crouched down, shaking her head. “I know you're scared about Dewey, and I've tried to be as nice as I can about this, but I can't hold my opinion back. This entire thing is making you sick.”

“Eva—”

“Please, listen.” She stood up, reaching down to help Eliza stand. Then the “teacher” finger appeared, pointing at Eliza like she was a bad student. It almost made Eliza smile. “You do not get to sit around and mope about how hard it is having a wonderful man want you in his life. You love my brother, right?”

Eliza nodded.

“Of course, you do. And he loves you. And Carrie. You're not being fair to him or to your daughter. If you have problems or concerns, you stay and work them out. You don't run like a scared eighteen-year-old who can't handle her mom's death.”

The breath caught in Eliza's throat. The comment struck at her core.

“I know that it was an impossible situation. Juliana was off at college. Your dad locked himself away after your mom's wreck. Everyone was so shocked by the death, that they didn't even look twice your direction, did they?”

That feeling, being eighteen, alone, flooded back. She placed a hand over her stomach. She was alone then. But now she had Carrie. And the small life inside her.

But she hadn't really been alone. Dewey had been with her, even then. He'd sought her out immediately after the wreck, staying with her after Uncle Jimmy delivered the news, holding her while she cried. They’d fallen asleep, finally, on the sofa together. That was the first time Dewey had kissed her. Nothing sexual or romantic, but she’d felt the small press of his lips against her temple. And she’d felt safe.

And then, two days later, Dewey had stopped her on her way out of town. He’d been pissed she was leaving. She assumed it was because he hated Zach. Cameron did, too. It was such a big brother move, making her promise to keep in touch that she didn’t think twice.

She rubbed her clammy hands together. Had he loved her since then?

“Then you went from one shitty situation to another with Zach. You grew up, quick, but not emotionally. And now Dewey scared you, and you ran again. He doesn't deserve it. Carrie doesn't, either.” Eva reached out and took Eliza's hands, pressing them between her warmth of her own. “And neither do you. You're hurting everyone around you, including yourself. I think that's why you're sick.”

Eliza squeezed her eyes shut as the reasons she’d run away from Statem, both times, became instantaneously superficial considering her pregnancy. “You're right that no one deserves it. And about needing to talk to Dewey. I hope it's not too late.”

“Dewey loves you, and he's worried sick about you. Now, let's go—”

Her mouth dropped open, her eyes pinned on the pregnancy test laid out on the counter.

Eliza shrugged. “I borrowed one.”

“How? When?” Eva shook her head. “No. I don't want details, but wouldn't you know to use a condom or something after last time?”

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