Page 26 of Remy

“I don’t have the money for this,” I tell her.

“It’s fine. Remy gave me his card and said to let you order whatever you wanted,” she says, pulling his card from her pocket and passing it to me. I flip it in my hands as she keeps scrolling.

“That’s what he said?”

“Yeah. He didn’t think you’d take it from him, so I took it for you,” she laughs. She’s right. I probably wouldn’t have taken it from him.

“After everything I put him through,” I mumble under my breath.

“He loves you, Tianna. And that baby,” she says. My stomach churns as I stand and race into her bathroom. I’m hanging my head in her toilet when she walks in.

“You okay?”

“I’ve been sick. I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Tianna, don’t get mad, but are you pregnant?” My heart nearly stops in my chest. Could I be? No. I can’t. That would mean this baby is Brad’s. No. I shake my head rapidly as she passes me a rag. I grab it and wipe my mouth before standing next to her.

“I honestly don’t know.”

“Do you want a test? The club girls keep them around,” she tells me. My stomach rolls as thoughts of Remy with the club girls cross my mind, and I rush back to the toilet.

“I’m going to get one,” Kiki says before leaving the room. Oh my God. What if I am? What if the baby is Brad’s? What will Remy say? He isn’t going to want me after that.

Tears well up in my eyes, and I quickly blink them away. No. I can’t keep crying. I have to be stronger than that.

Kiki returns with the test and helps me off the floor for a second time.

“I’ll wait outside,” she says, but I shake my head.

“Stay. Please.” She nods her head, and I pull my shorts down to take the test. I’m nervous. I’m scared to death that if I am this baby is Brad’s. My stomach churns at the thought.

I pee on the stick and cap it, setting it on the edge of the sink before cleaning myself up.

“Are you scared?” Kiki asks.

“Shitless. I don’t know what Remy would do or say if I am.”

“He’s not going to love you any less, Tianna.”

“You don’t know that. He might not even want anything to do with me.”

“Have a little faith in that man. He loves you,” she tells me once more.

“I’m trying,” I tell her. She pulls me into her arms and holds me while we wait fifteen minutes for the test. I feel sick. I don’t know what to think. If Brad found out … oh God. He could never know. How am I going to hide it? How would I hide this from him?

“It’s time,” Kiki says after checking her phone. We both lean over the counter and stare at the test in front of us. Two pink lines stare back.

“He’ll take this baby from me, Kiki. He’ll take it, and I’ll never see it again,” I sob now.

“Fuck. Come here,” she says, pulling me back into her arms. “Remy won’t let him near you. Do you hear me? The guys will protect you and this baby.”

“How can I even have this baby? Do I even want it?”

“God, Tianna. I’m so sorry. I don’t know how to help you right now.”

“I can’t tell Remy. Not until I decide. Promise me you won’t say anything,” I beg her as I pull away and look at her.

“You can’t keep this a secret.”