Page 51 of Pieces

“Also,” the doctor continues. “Just to confirm this is the number to reach you on.” She angles the screen toward us, and Daphne nods. “Great. Here’s a list of recommended brands and prenatal vitamins to take, and at the bottom is a list of foods and drinks to avoid. Do you have any questions?”

Daphne hesitates, glancing at me. I can’t tell if she’s waiting for me to speak or deciding what to say herself. Her mouth opens and closes, but she finally shakes her head, and I feel like I should step in. “Uh, actually…I have one.”

Dr. Carter turns to me. “Of course.”

“What’s, um… What’s the best thing I can do for her? Right now, I mean. I don’t… I don’t want to mess this up.” The words spill out, not nearly as smooth as I’d hoped, but they’re honest.

Daphne’s head snaps toward me, her eyebrows lifting just slightly, her lips parting as if she’s about to say something but doesn’t. Dr. Carter smiles. “That’s a good question. The best thing you can do is to be supportive. Listen, be patient, and help her navigate the changes ahead. And if you’re not sure what to do, just ask.”

I nod, her words settling something in my chest. Daphne watches me for a moment longer before turning back to Dr. Carter. “Thanks.”

“Congratulations, again, Mom and Dad.”

Mom and Dad.Gulp.

Chapter twenty-three

Daphne

8 weeks

Walkingoutofthedoctor’s office is surreal. This whole day has been surreal. My nerves are completely shot. I’m going to be a mom, and the idea of it terrifies me. All this change feels big, and there’s so much I want to do before everything changes again.

And yet, having Hudson by my side today made me feel…something else entirely. Safe and supported.

We’re on our way back to my dorm. Liv just dropped us off to check into her hotel for the night, and we’re armed with a whole pharmacy of vitamins that rattle as I scale the stairs inside my building.

“So that wasn’t how I imagined our second date to go,” Hudson says with a laugh that’s too shaky for me not to notice.

I swipe my keycard to my room, frowning. “Second date? We’re dating?” I’m not sure when we agreed to that.

“Oh, uh, I don’t know why I said that. Nerves, I guess.” He shrugs, then plops into my desk chair with a heavy sigh. His wide shoulders seem to take up half the room. I don’t think I’ll get over how he looks completely out of place, like someone crammed a life-sized action figure into my tiny space. Yet all I find him is endearing, and insanely hot. In another life, one where I wasn’t, you know, pregnant, I’d absolutely date him. He’s exactly my type: tall, muscular, funny, and did I mention ridiculously handsome?

But this isn’t that life. And the fact that I’m carrying his baby kinda snuffs out the magic of casual dating. Plus, I’m a flight risk to nausea and sickness. The potential to hurl my guts at any given moment. No way he’d want to kiss me while I’m one dry heave away from disaster.

“But, like, humor me for a second,” he says, scratching his chin, clearly not done with the whole conversation. “Why aren’t we dating?”

“Because,” I start quickly, feeling my pulse quicken. It’s like he just heard my thoughts. “I don’t want you to feel obligated in any way. We shared one night, and that’s all it was supposed to be. But now we’re both here, in the same school, kinda stuck together.” I gesture vaguely between us. “That’s not exactly the kind of setup that screams romance, you know? Like, ‘Oh well, may as well, given the situation.’”

He hums, but it doesn’t sound like an agreeing sound.

“Also,” I add, pointing to my stomach, “there’s this.” I wave my hand around my body too. “You don’t want any of this. I’m bloated, 99% likely to puke at any moment, and if I don’t, I’ll probably just fall asleep on you.”

Hudson leans forward, elbows on his knees, eyes locked on mine. “Okay, first? I don’t care if you’re bloated or tired or whatever. You’re still you.” His voice is steady and clear, and I don’t have a moment to process what he means. “Second? You falling asleep on me sounds kinda nice, actually. If I remember right, it was really nice.”

My heart skips a beat, which is completely unfair, because I’m the one trying to figure out boundaries here. His hazel eyes swirl with warmth, pulling me in like a magnet. I blink hard to keep myself from falling into his charm. Letting him help feels like admitting I can’t do it on my own. But maybe that’s okay. Maybe strength isn’t about doing everything alone; it’s about knowing when to let someone in. Right now, I need us to be friends.

“Well,” I say, clearing my throat. “That’s sweet. But I’m still not sure it’s a good idea.”

“Okay, but here’s another thought process…” He drags the chair closer to the end of the bed where I’m sitting, and when he looks up at me, it’s like the wind gets knocked out of my lungs. He looks so adorable and…hopeful. “What if it turns out to be a great idea?”

I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. Because how do I answer that when my brain is screamingyesbut my situation is yellingno?

“Hudson,” I say softly, “it’s not that simple.”

“It is that simple. We’ve done the whole seeing each other naked thing, which, by the way, I know the outcome is this, but that night is imprinted in my memory for life. You’re having our baby… We should be together.”

“That.” I point to him with a shake of my head. “That right there is why. I don’t want to be with someone because circumstance or society says it should happen.”

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