Page 298 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

“Our.” Not a question, but just something to chew on. Taking a step back again, she turns away and then walks to the windows. “I guess this is all leading to the conversation I didn’t want to have.” Shadowed in the darkest part of the room, she looks back. I can still see the look of uncertainty in her eyes. “I was waiting to have everything confirmed at the doctor’s office, and you’re already making plans for more.”

“False positives are rare.”

“They happen, though, just like someone getting pregnant while on the pill. We’re the exception. It makes me nervous about finding out if we are when it comes to this as well.” Her hand sits on her middle like she might feel something.

“You should eat,” I say, the heaviness releasing from my chest.

Returning to the kitchen, she takes the spoon and sips the soup to challenge me. Setting the spoon down again, she says, “We should talk about what happens next.” I don’t know what to say. I want her to lead. I need her to. Not because I can’t, but I don’t want to plant hope where none is allowed to grow.

She reaches over and takes my hand in hers, studying it. Running the tip of her finger over the veins on top of my hand, and then with her gaze cast down, she says, “I can tell you’re nervous.” When those browns meet my blues, they’re filled with warmth, and comfort is found inside. “Maybe even scared. Is that what you’re feeling, Harrison?”

I can only bring myself to give the minutest of nods, but it’s enough to encourage her to wrap her arms around me, and confess, “I’m scared, too.”

Something real we share has me engulfing her in my arms and kissing the top of her head. “I don’t want to fight with you. I just . . .” I know better than to say the words sitting on the tip of my tongue. Words that would put a stake in the game, and if she chose otherwise, would leave me devastated. It might already be too late for that anyway. We’ve only dated for a few weeks, but it took years to get to this stage, and I don’t want to lose her before we have a chance for more.

She tilts her head up. “You just what?”

I swallow those words down, choosing different ones based on what’s best for her. “No matter what happens, I’m not leaving you.”

Her gulp is loud enough to hear, and tears sparkle in her eyes. “Will you go with me to the doctor’s appointment tomorrow?”

This is big.Huge.Her trust in me was revealed in the form of an invitation. Any other time, she would have asked Natalie.

This time, she asked me.

24

Harrison

“Harry, I need your help,”my sister says. It sounds like she’s crying, though, which isn’t like her.

“Are you okay?” I ask, already knowing the answer. Sobs fill the line. “Madison?”

“The hospital. I need you.”

The freeway under my tires is too loud to catch everything over my Bluetooth. “Madison, where are you? You’re at the hospital? Cedars?”

There’s a long pause that has me panicking more than I am already. “Yes, Harry. Hurry . . .”

“I’m on my way, Maddie.”

The phone goes dead, and I call my eldest brother, glad Nick caught a ride with Cookie. “Dawson?” I say as soon as the connection is made, trying not to drive like a demon on a mission, though I am.

“Hey, are you back in town?” His tone is too casual for an emergency. I don’t want to break the news to my entire family, but she called me first, so the job falls on my shoulders.

“Madison just called me. She’s headed to the hospital.”

“Why? What happened?”

I change lanes to pass this fucking slow car driving in the fast lane. “We didn’t get that far, but I’d assume it’s for the baby.”

“Cedars?”

“Yes. I just got off the ferry. I’m going straight there.”

“Why are you the first to tell me if you’re just getting into LA?” Dawson is the most competitive of my brothers, if you take me out of the equation.

“I don’t know. Call Mom and Dad. I’m calling Jameson.”

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