Page 91 of Give Me Perfect Love

She licks her bottom lip, and her eyes leave me. “I haven’t been completely honest with you,” she says.

I look back at the test, almost frozen in place. Claire’s not one to sleep around. She also hasn’t told me she’sbeensleeping around.

I cross my arms, careful of my bandages.

“Austin and I…” She stops herself. “You know how I feel about him. You know I’ve been in love with him for a while.”

“Yeah,” I say, trying not to smile. Is she about to confirm what I think?

She nods. “Whenever Cain showed back up and I started staying over at Austin’s, things changed between us.” A light shade of pink spreads over the good side of her face. “I tried to fight it. I didn’t want to complicate our friendship, and I was scared it might ruin it. Also, there’s my family to consider. My brothers and dad.” She rolls her eyes. “We’ve been keeping it really quiet.”

“Really?” I ask sarcastically.

She looks at me, fighting her own grin. “Anyway, none of that matters now. I’m pregnant, and it’s his.”

“Oh, Claire,” I say, my hand covering my mouth, trying to hold back the enormous grin I have.

My two best friends are going to be parents together. They love each other, and I couldn’t be happier. My heart does backflips and dances like no one’s watching.

“Are you mad?” she asks.

“Nope. I’ve been in my own world, Claire. I’m sorry I haven’t paid closer attention. You two are perfect for each other. I’ve thought it since the day you told me you loved him.”

She exhales. “I’m so glad to hear you say that.”

I walk over, and she stands up on sore thighs. We hug tightly. “I love you,” I say. “Life’s going to be good for us. From here on out.”

She sighs. “I love you, too. You’re the sister I never had.”

“You’re the family I’ve never had,” I say, hugging her tighter, and for some reason, I start to cry. I cry because I’m happy. I cry because we’re lucky to be alive. I cry because my best friend has something amazing about to happen to her. Out of all this shit, we get to have a happy ending.

And the biggest reason I’m crying? I’m happy to be me, and I’ve never felt that way before.

I’ve found a love that compares to no other. I’ve found a family that makes me forget about the one I never had.

Life’s full of shit, man. But moments like this…they make it all worth it.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Bryce

After Claire revealed the news to Austin about her being pregnant, we four got back into my car and headed inside the girls’ apartment. Claire and Austin went to her room, and Kat and I went to hers.

The sound of the door clicking shut behind me signals that we are alone. Kat slips her Converse off and lies down on her bed.

I walk over and sit down at the end. Resting my forearms on my spread knees, I clasp my fingers together and look down at the floor.

Tension builds as we say nothing, but man, if we could hear what the other was thinking.

I grow tired of the silence, so I twist my neck and look at her. She’s lying with one arm behind her head. Her other hand rests on her stomach.

“Ask,” I say.

Her eyes move from the ceiling to me. She looks hesitant, like she isn’t sure she wants to know the answers, but doesn’t she already?

No, I haven’t told her anything, but the truth is in my actions. It’s easy to see if you’ve been paying attention.

I’d do anything for her.

---