Page 11 of Last Minute Fiancé

“My stomach hurts a little too much for flavoring.” We looked at each other but didn’t talk about it. Because maybe it was just a stomach flu. A lot of stomach flu. That would not bring a baby into the world.

I took the sports drink and chugged a good third of it while not making eye contact. Neither one of us said anything as we waited for the clock to wind down. The next two tests said pregnant, and we stood there, hands shaking.

“Addison.”

“I can’t be on birth control.”

I blinked at the topic change, but nodded. “Okay. That’s fine. I mean, I guess that makes sense?” I was rambling at this point.

“Luca, I can’t have hormonal birth control because I have blood clot issues. That’s why even when completely drunk I made sure that we used a condom. We made sure. It doesn’t make any sense. I…I can’t believe this is true…that life could do this…but…I’m pregnant, Luca.”

I was still trying to catch up with what she had said.

We stood in her small guest bathroom in her cozy house that she loved and had put so much work into when she wasn’t working sixty- and eighty-hour weeks. I painted this bathroom because it had been an odd olive color, and she wanted to brighten it up a bit, so we had added dark blue batten board with a very light white paint on the top. It had almost felt nautical, so she added a few more tree and barren wood paintings. All in all, it felt welcoming, and I was happy to have helped make it what it was.

That I could be a part of it.

She pushed past me after setting the test down on the counter and began to pace the living room. I followed her, my hands in my pockets because I didn’t know what to do with them. If I did what I wanted to do with them, I’d have her in my arms and we’d be pretending this hadn’t happened.

“I cannot believe this is happening. I’m always so careful. We were so careful. I’m not on birth control because my body can’t handle it.”

“And we used a condom.”

“And we used a condom, but we know it’s not a hundred percent.”

“And we were so drunk, I’m honestly surprised that I could even get it up,” I said, trying to lighten the situation a little.

She snorted before her eyes went wide. “Why couldn’t you have had whiskey dick?”

I snorted. “Because I had tequila. And I didn’t have tequila dick. So, we slept together, and then we purposely didn’t talk about it other than knowing that we were just going to remain friends, right?”

“I know. I know. Oh God, I’m pregnant. And I have no idea what to do about it. I’m not ready to be a mom.”

“Okay.” I didn’t have anything to say to that. I was still catching up to about eight sentences ago.

“I’m not ready to be a mom. I work too much, I don’t eat right, I barely work out. The only times I get to see you guys are when everyone forces me to group events, or when you show up to help me with something on this house. A house that I could barely afford. And it doesn’t even feel like my home yet because I’m rarely here. And now I’m supposed to be a mom?”

“We’re not going to panic. We’re going to be okay.”

“I am clearly panicking here. Please panic with me. I need you to panic with me.”

I moved forward and gripped her shoulders, taking a deep breath. “Addison. We’re friends. We’re always going to be friends, no matter what happens. We’re going to figure this out.”

“Your voice is going a little more high-pitched as you’re talking, so I don’t know if you’re supposed to be calming me down or if I’m supposed to be calming you down.”

“Okay. This is what we’re going to do. We’re going to panic, but we’re also going to make an appointment with the doctor. Because no matter what, you’re not going through this alone. Even if you got pregnant by some random guy and not me.”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

“I’m trying to put out a hypothetical here, not actually say anything. What I’m saying is even if I hadn’t been the one with the super sperm, I would still be by your side. So, now me and my super sperm are going to be by your side.”

“Please stop calling it super sperm.”

“I promise never to use those words again.” I sighed. “We’re going to figure this out. We’re going to go to the doctor and they’re going to tell us you’re not pregnant.”

“We both know that is a lie.”

“Fine. We’re going to go to the doctor, and they’re going to tell us what happens next. And they’re going to make sure you’re okay.” I swallowed the panic in my throat as she met my gaze. I had a feeling she knew exactly why I was panicking.

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