Page 27 of Mending Scars

I groaned before sarcastically replying, “Thanks for the help.”

“Sorry, babe. Call me as soon as you find out. I want to know whether or not I’m going to be an auntie!” Nori squealed.

Her enthusiasm brightened my mood, getting a small laugh out of me. “I will. Bye.”

I put my phone back in my purse and grabbed one of the tests off the shelf. I read the back, then did the same with a different box. I went through about five or six before I finally decided on the one that I thought was the best.

Looking down at it, I sighed before walking to the register. “Here goes nothing.”

I stared at the pink pregnancy test in my hands.

Just open it and pee on the damn thing, Kaiya.

Blowing out a long breath,I ripped open the box and took out one of the tests. I had read the directions about a hundred times—one more time wouldn’t hurt.

I sat on the toilet and positioned the stick as indicated.

Great, now I can’t pee.

My leg bounced nervously as I tried to get myself to go to the bathroom.

Waterfalls. Showers. Oceans. Rivers.

I still couldn’t go, so I got up with a huff and turned on the sink, then sat back on the toilet. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the sound of the water as I repositioned the pregnancy test under me.

After several seconds, I finally started peeing.

Thank God.

When I finished, I put the test on the counter and washed my hands. Then, I set the timer on my phone and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

I paced the bathroom and chewed on my bottom lip as I waited for the designated amount of time. The minutes seemed to last a lifetime as I waited for the answer that would change my life.

The timer went off, and I froze. My heart pounded, ready to burst from my chest as I slowly inched toward the sink. My mouth went dry as I approached, and my stomach twisted in anticipation.

What if it’s positive? I can’t be a mother.

But what if it’s negative?

My heart sank into my stomach as I considered that I might not be pregnant.

Do I really want to be? Am I ready?

Is Ryker ready?

I rested my hands on my flat belly and rubbed it. A smile formed on my face as I thought about having a little Ryker inside me.

I grabbed the test off the counter and looked at the result window. Two pink lines.

Two pink lines.

I’m pregnant. Holy shit, I’m pregnant!

My mind ran a mile a minute as I stared at myself in the mirror.

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