Page 86 of Forgot to Tell You Something

Okay, I likely do. Peeing has become my new favorite pastime, aside from chronic vomiting.

I am the definition of a hot mess.

Stefani pulls up to her house, handing me the bag. I love her home. It’s an old Craftsman-style bungalow, and I hope one day to afford a similar place with a stained-glass entry window.

Unless Owen and Idoget married.

Stop with the overactive imagination. One hurdle at a time, Tallulah. One massive, scary as hell hurdle.

I pause by the bathroom door, my fingers tightening around the bag.

“Open the boxes, Lu. They don’t work via osmosis.” Stefani is so helpful. And impatient. I get it. She wants to know if her best friend is having a baby. Her best friend, on the other hand, isn’t surewhatto feel.

I flip her the bird, grab the menagerie of pregnancy tests and shut myself in the bathroom. Turns out, I have no issue using all those tests. Hey, no one can call me a quitter.

I stand over the sink, uncertain what the hell I’m supposed to be hoping for.

Do I want a baby? Do I want a baby with Owen? Do I want a baby now on top of everything else I’m juggling?

The instructions state that the tests take three to five minutes. In my case, it takes less than sixty seconds. There are blue lines and plus signs everywhere. Even a couple that scream out pregnant, in case my feeble brain can’t figure out how to read the other ones.

Stefani pops her head into the bathroom. “Did you take all the tests?” she inquires.

At least, I think that’s what she said. I’m so lost in my thoughts that all I hear is garbled noise.

I maintain my focus on the tests, gripping the edge of the sink so tight I’m shocked the ceramic hasn’t cracked.

“Are you listening to a word I’ve said?”

Nope, Stefani, not one word.

“Tallulah!”

I jerk my head up to meet her piercing gaze, forcing my thoughts away from the little blue line that’s forever changed life as I know it. “What?”

“Did you take the—” The question dies in her throat as she sees the collection of tests. “Knew it. Okay, it’s going to be fine.”

I don’t know that it’s going to be fine. In truth, I’m not sure what the hell to do now. Even though I knew I was pregnant before, this validates every fear. I gaze at my belly. It’s still flat, no signs of life anywhere, save for the omelet that will soon vacate the premises. “I’m pregnant.”

Stefani hugs my shoulders, but it offers little comfort. “You’re pregnant. I guess I have to find someone else to hang out with at Wicked Chucks.”

“Why would you hang at Wicked Chucks without me? Oh…” I grin, gathering up the tests and chucking them in the trash. “You miss Dan.”

I always know when Stefani is avoiding a topic. She looks everywhere but my direction. “Believe it or not, I like Wicked Chucks.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Why not?”

I smirk. “BecauseIdon’t like Wicked Chucks. It’s a total dive. I just love the music. That and Dan is easy on the eyes. Didn’t think he’d be your type, though. At least not for anything long-term.”

“He’s not my type. He treats women with respect. I find that very enticing.”

“Dan is a hell of a guy.” I try to bite back my smile. Time to mess with my best friend—just a bit. “If I were you, I wouldn’t wait to scoop him up. Tons of women have a thing for him.”

I’m not lying. Dan is very popular with the ladies, but I also know that he’s had eyes for Stefani since they met. But what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t up the ante a bit? Her look of horror tells me all I need to know. She’ll be stopping by to visit the comely bartender soon.

Stefani shakes her head in disgust. Jealousy is rare with my friend, but when it strikes, it’s potent. “Enough about Dan. When are you going to talk to Owen?”

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