Page 31 of Katie 2

Brad shifts closer. “What else could it mean?” he snaps. “Pretty hard to misunderstand that.”

“Don’t you talk back to me. Speak up, Katie. What do you—” Henry starts and edges closer.

A flicker of violence sparks in Brad’s gaze and he speaks in a low growl through his teeth. “Back off, Henry.”

But Carter’s eyes haven’t left mine. He takes a step forward, his expression a mix of worry and something else I can’t quite place. Everything plays out in his eyes. I can see his thoughts churning, piecing things together.

He processes the news in record time. “How far along are you? How long have you known?”

My mind races, calculating days and weeks, remembering missed pills and reckless moments. “A few weeks along, at least, if not… more,” I admit, shame coloring my cheeks. “I didn’t want to believe it with the first test two weeks or so ago, but I’ve been feeling off, figured it was stress, but I took another one and… and I can’t argue with two positive tests.”

The room falls silent and I wrap my arms around myself. Brad’s already made it clear a baby changes nothing between him and me, but there’s more than him and me in this relationship.

And suddenly, this relationship, this mess, everything feels wrong. Even with Brad’s hand on my belly, our half conversation about my being pregnant… it’s all terriblywrong.

My throat closes up, bile rises in my stomach, and I push Brad’s touch away. Their voices ring in my ears as I hurry from the couch and run up the stairs. Tears cloud my sight and a sob breaks free once I’m in my room. My legs give out and I fall to my knees.

What have I done? This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like this. Not now.

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