Page 86 of Parker

As for having one with Quinn?

My lips wobble into a smile at the same time my eyes fill with tears.

I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about Quinn. He was sewn into the fabric of my life before I was five years old, and he’s been a steady, albeit often reviled, part of that life ever since. I know he loves me. I feel it. And what’s more, Itrustit. And what’s even more than that? I know I love him, too.

To be clear, I would’ve waited. A hundred percent, I would’ve wanted.

But if I’m pregnant? If this is happening?

I whisper out loud. “We’ll be okay.”

Knock, knock, knock.

“Park? I’m coming in!”

The door opens, and Harper slides into the tiny powder room. Handing me a First Response box with wide eyes, she’s literally panting from running through the snow to my cabin, back to the lodge, and up the stairs.

“You didn’t have to run.”

“Are you kidding?” she asks, leaning against the sink. “Of course I did!” She grimaces. “By the way, I think that was one of my old ones. I checked the box. It expired three months ago.”

“Think it’s still good?”

I take it out of its packaging, pull off the plastic cover and pee on it before handing it to my sister.

“It’s all we’ve got. You can always get another in town tomorrow…” she says, covering the tip. She stares at the windows, her eyes growing wider and wider. “But I don’t think you’ll need to.”

She holds out the wand, showing me the results. It hasn’t even been thirty seconds since I handed it to her, but two dark pink lines have already appeared in the window.

It’s definitive. I’m pregnant.

“Holy shit,” I murmur, taking it from her to stare at the twin lines. “I’m…I’m…”

“Congrats, Park!” Harper throws her arms around me. When I don’t hug her back, she drops her arms and draws away. Her eyes scan my face for clues. “Or…not.”

“I’m keeping it,” I whisper, like I’m daring her to challenge me.

“Yeah? Okay. I wasn’t sure for a second there,” she says, her voice super soft and gentle. Her lips tilt up in a smile. “Congrats, honey.”

“Yeah,” I say, gulping in a deep breath before sitting back down on the toilet seat cover. I look up at my sister. My voice squeaks when I ask, “ShouldI keep it?”

“Do you want this baby, Park?”

“I want this baby,” I tell her, no hint of indecision in my voice.

“Then you should keep it.”

“But what about…what about…”

“Quinn?”

I nod.

Her smile widens. “He loves you so much, Parker. He’s going to be over the moon.”

“But we just got together. I mean, we’ve been together for, like, a month, Harper!”

“Yeah, but it’s not the same as meeting someone four or five weeks ago. You’ve known Quinn your whole life.”

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