Page 72 of Claimed By the Cowboys

I can’t be out of control.

It snaps into place. Right now, I don’t know if I’m pregnant. Yes, I’ve wanted this for so long, it hurts. But it also means that things are going to change. No matter what, the relationship with the guys has changed.

I do love them. I know that. But if we have a baby together, it’s going to be nothingbutchange, from here on out. Adding another person to our mix, one that relies on us for everything… It’s not going to be the same.

I want it. And at the same time, it utterly terrifies me.

I take a breath. “What would Mary Marco do?”

Blaire sighs. “Listen, babe. That woman got caught falsifying her company records. I don’t think she’s going to be your best bet for advice in this situation.”

I snort. “Shows how much you know. She built a billion-dollar empire from nothing.”

“Piper. I make my living off of exposing the crimes of rich people. You’re not going to get me to like Mary Marco.”

I sniff. “Fine.”

“Go buy the pregnancy test.”

I bite my lip.

“Piper. If you don’t, I swear I’m going to call Nora and make her drive all the way from Foster Ranch to bring you one.”

“Okay,” I say. “I just put a whole bunch of cherries into the pot to can, but once they come out, I’ll go.”

“You can drive to another town if you’re worried about the gossip.”

I snort. “That’s the least of my worries right now.”

“It’s going to be okay, Piper,” Blaire says.

I shut my eyes. “I hope so.”

“Even if it’s not perfect, it’s going to be okay.”

I don’t answer that.

Blaire sighs. “Listen. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good, Piper. You have guys who absolutely love you and have since you were kids. You might be bringing a baby into the world. You at least need to know what you’re dealing with, so if you need to make the perfect nursery, you can get a head start.”

That gets a smile out of me. “I guess.”

“Okay. I love you. Call me the second that the stick is peed on.”

“Gross, Blaire. I love you too.”

Hanging up the phone, I grab it and tap out a quick message to the guys.

Me:Hey, I’m going to meet you in town tonight. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Can’t wait for dinner.

There.

I put the phone down and turn to focus on the cherries. There’s about thirty minutes on the clock until they’re done, and after that, I can take them out and walk away. The rest of the ones I haven’t put into a syrup to put into jars yet go into the fridge, where they’ll keep for a day or two.

With that task accomplished, I make a plan for the rest of the day.

It’s early. There are other things that I can do.

I also decide that it’s time for me to swap out some of the clothes that are here. I’ll take the cherries out, then pack up my stuff that I want to rotate, and head into town. I’ll grab the pregnancy test, and… I don’t know. Peeing on it in the bathroom at the grocery store seems weird.

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