Page 68 of Sticking Around

My phone finally chimes and I hurry to the bathroom. I pick up the stick, expecting to see negative results when two of the biggest, pinkest lines I’ve ever seen kick me in the gut.

What the ever-loving hell?

I take two fast breaths, sure this is a mistake. I sink to the floor and grab the pamphlet, reading it for the second time. But there’s no mistake about it. Two pink lines means I’m pregnant. But how, when? The room closes in on me and I pretty much catch my breath. Seconds turn into minutes, and I have no idea how long I’ve been sitting on the floor when I reach for my phone, although I don’t even know who to call.

A car outside draws my attention, and I jump up and run to the window in time to see Noah pull out of the driveway, Camryn in the back seat. That must mean they haven’t left for the cottage yet and Brighton could still be home. I hurry to my door, tug it open so hard it hits the wall, and bolt across the hall. I knock hard, and hear Brighton call out, telling me it’s open.

I fling the door open and when I enter, she’s nowhere to be found. “Brighton,” I practically yell. “I’m pregnant.”

She comes from the kitchen, a cup of coffee in her hand as her eyes go wide. “What did you say?”

I hold the stick out. “I’m…pregnant. Two pink lines. Ohmigod, how did this happen?” I begin to hyperventilate, and she comes hurrying over. She sets her coffee down, puts her arms around me and rubs my back as she leads me to the sofa.

“It’s okay. We can figure this out.”

“No, we can’t,” I shriek. “This is bad. Ohmigod it’s so bad. Brady…oh, God, Brady. How can this be real?”

“Did you have a period?”

“Yes.” I pause and think about it. “I mean I was spotting, and I figured that was my period. Sometimes when I’m stressed, my periods get messed up. I’m on the freaking pill, Brighton.” I take it regularly.” Wait, did I miss a day or two when studying? Oh God, what is happening in my life.

Brighton lifts her head, and looks toward the kitchen, her lips twisted in worry. I follow her gaze and that’s when I spot Dani standing there. Oh, shit. I didn’t know she had company and I certainly don’t want anyone knowing my private business.

“I should go.” I’m about to jump up when Brighton puts her hand on my leg to stop me. “No, you should stay. I think there’s something you need to hear.”

My gaze goes from Brighton to Dani back to Brighton. Brighton frowns and I’m guessing whatever it is she needs me to hear, I’m not going to like. “I’m having a hard time believing it,” she begins quietly. “I mean, I know Brady quite well and this doesn’t sound like him, but Dani overheard something that night at your party. It’s been eating at her, and she came here today to talk to me, trying to figure out what to do.”

By now my heart is in my throat and a new kind of panic overtakes me. “What’s going on?” Dani drops down next to Brighton, her bottom lip red and raw from chewing on it. “Dani?”

“I didn’t know whether to say anything or not, but now that you’re pregnant, I think you need to know.”

Heart beating so hard against my ribs, I lean forward and hug myself, but there was nothing I could do to brace myself, or prepare for what she said next.

“You were a bet, Melanie. I’m so sorry.”

“A bet?” I grip the stick tighter, nearly snap it with my hands. “I don’t understand.”

Dani swallows and glances at Brighton, who gives her a nod. Brighton turns back to me and takes my hands in hers.

“I overheard Gunther and Brady talking about double or nothing.” I lean toward Dani, her voice is so low I can hardly hear her. “Gunther said he owed Brady a beer because he got you into his bed. Then he said something about him owing Brady another beer for getting you to fall for him.”

I sit there, blink once, twice, three times as her words bounce around inside of my brain, making no sense at all. What is she talking about? I was a bet…and the prize was a beer? No, she must have heard them wrong.

“Melanie, are you okay?” Brighton’s voice cuts through the confusion in my head.

“Yeah. Sure. I think you must have heard them wrong, Dani.”

Dani and Brighton exchange a glance and I push to my feet. “I need to go.”

“Melanie, please. Don’t go. We need to talk.”

I have no idea how my wobbly legs carried me to the door, but the next thing I know I’m back in Brady’s suite, staring up at the ceiling from his bed. Soft knocks sound on the door, but I ignore them, and when Brighton texts, I message back that I need some alone time.

Brady was meeting the guys for a beer…

I wrap my arms around myself. A bet would explain why he was with me when he could have his pick of women. I take deep gulping breaths, as my mind goes through everything, from the first time we met, to this morning, when he was completely distracted by something. As old insecurities creep back in, I can’t seem to push them down. I lay still for a long time, my thoughts a chaotic mess, and when I hear the front door open and Brady call out to me, worry in his voice, I force myself to sit up.

Why is there worry in his voice? Does he know that I know?

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