Page 113 of Clinch'd

Thoughts of which bring me around to Cooper and I consider what our life would be like if I were pregnant. Foolish because there’s a mountain of distrust between us.

Still, I cover my stomach with a weird smile before it fades. Wait…

When was the last fucking time I had my period? Oh shit. Oh, fucking shit.

Is it possible? Counting back, I finally give up before grabbing my bag and hustling to the door. At the nearest pharmacy, I buy the first test I find and cross the street to a fast-food restaurant advertising the best burgers in town before locking myself in a stall.

It’s nothing. Stress. A fucking hormonal imbalance, anything but an unplanned pregnancy.

I know I was fantasizing about it before but that was a fucking hallucination. This could be disastrous. I don’t have the income for a child, and I can’t imagine looking Cooper in the eye and confessing I’m pregnant.

Not that it isn’t partially his fault. The pull-out method isn’t exactly one hundred percent effective and if I recall there was a time or two, he didn’t even do that.

After three minutes of hyperventilating, I glance down at the stick and stare blindly at the plus sign.

I am so fucking screwed.

All at once, a weird calm overtakes me and after shoving the test in my bag, I exit into the lobby. The greasy smell of burgers and fries assails my nose and my mouth waters.

Since I’m here and frankly I can’t remember the last time I ate, I order a meal and plunk it down on a table by the window.

Every bite tastes like ambrosia and when I’m halfway through, I set my burger down and rub my tummy.

“I don’t know what to do,” I say before tears fill my eyes.

What the hell do I do?

My thoughts are turned when my phone buzzes and with a wry smile I read a text from Cooper. It’s been a few days since I left. I guess he wasn’t feeling any urgency to check up on me.

We need to talk

Minnie:What about? Your asshole manager and his affiliation with the mob? Have you considered how this all leads back to you?

There’s an extended silence after my text and with a huff, I shove my phone in my pocket and gather my things.

At my car, it buzzes again, and I look to the sky before opening the message.

Cooper:If I knew the answer to that, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place, and you snuck out before we could talk anyway

Minnie:I didn’t sneak anywhere! I came home you dick

I'm in the car and backing out of the space when he calls. Sucking in a breath, I try to decide what I should do but grudgingly I answer.

I need the information. I do, although I also crave the sound of his voice. Foolish because it’s all fucking lies.

“What?” I snarl, turning on my blinker.

“Seriously? I see how this is going to go,” he huffs.

“Yeah, this is how it’s going to go! You lied, Cooper!”

“You lied too,” he says, and his calm tone sends me over the edge.

“You self-righteous prick! I was trying to save my sister—“

“So am I,” he roars, and I pause.

The silence between us is deafening and exhaling slowly, I say, “Okay. Fine. What happened to your sister who I assume is not dead.”

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