Page 294 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

“For what?” she asks, resting her chin on my chest and looking up.

“The surprise and not warning you.”

“If you would’ve warned me, it would have ruined the surprise.” She laughs humorlessly and then leans against me, this time facing the mirror. “I guess we were both surprised.”

“Tatum,” I say, shifting to the side to put space between us. Not to push her away but I need room to think. “I don’t know what to say or ask. I’m confused. You’re on the pill.”

“I am. I missed a day but made up for it the next. I just . . .” She sits back down on the toilet again. “I don’t have an explanation, Harrison.” Picking up one of the sticks, she stares at it a minute before breaking down in tears.

Quick to kneel before her, I bring her to my shoulder, holding her and letting her comfort me. “It will be okay, Tate. I promise it will be.”

It takes another minute before she swipes toilet paper to wipe under her eyes and looks up. I hate that her makeup is messed up, knowing that will only add to her upset.

“There’s a house full of people out there waiting to see me, and I’m a mess—my face and my emotions,” she says.

“We don’t have to stay. We’ll go. Everyone out there will understand.”

“They’ll understand because I just announced to everyone that I’m pregnant. Oh God.” She drops her head into her hands again. Speaking through her fingers, she says, “I can never leave this bathroom again. Just have my mail forwarded. Do you think I can get food delivery in here?”

As much as I like that her sense of humor is intact, I worry that she’s not fully processing what’s happening. “If Natalie is the delivery person.” Taking her hands away from her face, I then ask, “Did you know at dinner? Is that what was on your mind?”

“No. If I had, I wouldn’t have announced my pregnancy to a room full of people.” Her arm flies out. “I don’t even know who’s out there. Please tell me not my parents.”

“I don’t know.” I take her spot on the toilet, needing to get my thoughts on this situation together. When I scrub my hands over my face, I feel her standing against me.

She takes one of my hands and opens it to expose the palm. Her lips press to the skin, the kiss unhurried, her lips lingering. I watch her kneeling before me with her eyes closed, taking in everything about me, and notice how our roles have changed.

When she looks up, she asks, “Are you okay?”

“You’re pregnant, and you’re asking me if I’m okay?”

“Yes.” Worry weaves through her eyes as she stares into mine.

How can she even think of me at this time? I caress her cheek, seeing the change in her happening before my eyes. “I’ll be okay. How about you?”

“A little numb. A little okay.”

It’s not what I expected from her. This news is . . . well, not what I thought I’d hear for years. “What do you want to do?”

“I’m thinking I need to face my demons and join the party. They already know, so maybe I should join the party and have a laugh with them.”

“Laugh?” I ask before realizing who they really are to her. “Maybe so. They’re your friends who care most about your well-being.”

A beat doesn’t pass before she picks up on what I said. “Friends, not family?”

“I don’t know, Tatum. I didn’t put the party together.” Angling toward the door, I add, “I can go do reconnaissance.”

Nodding, she adds, “And can you ask Natalie to bring some of her makeup?”

“Sure.” I open the door and look out. Natalie is leaning against the wall with a clear bin in her hands. I still close the door behind me, needing to talk to Natalie alone for a minute. “Are her parents here?”

“No,” she whispers. “I got a card, though.”

Hrm.I’m not sure how she’s going to feel about that. Yes, she’s embarrassed over the pregnancy announcement, but I’d like to know what their excuse is for missing her birthday? That seems like a lot to deal with at this moment, though. “She wants makeup.”

Holding up the small bin, she grins—not full of happiness like it should be on this occasion but sympathy instead. “I got her covered.”

I see Nick across the way. He’s sitting like a nervous soon-to-be dad in a waiting room.

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