Page 26 of Hooked On Them

The yacht.

“That’s the only sexual encounter I’ve had.” I sniffled, trying my best not to cry. “What happens now?”

“That depends on what you want to do. We can discuss all your options?—”

“I don’t know who the father is,” I blurted out, then immediately wanted to sink through the floor and disappear forever. I wasn’t ashamed of my sexual prowess, but the circumstances here were out of the ordinary.

Dr. Patel’s expression didn’t change. “That’s something we can address. There are non-invasive prenatal paternity tests available as early as seven weeks.”

“Non-invasive sounds good. I’ve had enough invasive things happen recently. Obviously, since I’m pregnant. Which happened because of... invasive... you know what? I’m going to stop talking now.” I pressed my palms against my burning cheeks.

“It’s okay to be overwhelmed,” Dr. Patel said gently. “This is a lot to process. How many potential fathers are we talking about?”

“Two.” I wished I could dissolve into the exam table. “It was the same night. Actually, it was the same... encounter.” At her raised eyebrow, I felt compelled to clarify. “They used condoms! Both of them! But apparently, when you have two condom-covered... appendages... in the same... area... at the same time, there can be friction issues that compromise the efficacy of the latex.”

To her credit, Dr. Patel maintained her professional composure, though I swear I saw her lips twitch.

She handed me some tissues to clean up the ultrasound gel. “We can schedule the paternity test next week. In the meantime, I’m going to recommend prenatal vitamins and give you some information about your options and what to expect.”

I nodded, still in a daze as she handed me a folder filled with pamphlets and papers. This was really happening. There was a blob on a screen that would eventually become a person.

“Do you have any questions for me?” Dr. Patel asked.

I had approximately eight million questions, starting with “How did my life become a soap opera?” and ending with “Is it possible to die of embarrassment?”

I took a deep breath. “None right now.”

“Once you’ve read through the information and processed it, feel free to reach out to the office with any questions or concerns. If you continue to have nausea, we can address that as well.” She patted my knee.

After scheduling the paternity test, I left the office feeling like I was walking through a fog. The chilly November air hit my face, grounding me slightly in reality. I found a bench in a quiet corner of a park and sat down, pulling out my phone. I had to tell them.

The thought of telling Dominic made my chest tighten. Things were already weird professionally between us. If the baby wasn’t his, there was no reason to make it worse.

Carter, on the other hand...

I pulled up our text thread, which consisted of him sending elaborate invitations to dinners, gallery openings, and weekend getaways.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard. What was the proper etiquette for this situation? Was there a Hallmark card forHey, remember that threesome we had? I might be pregnant with your child?

Me: Hey. I need to talk to you about something important. Can I come by sometime today?

I hit send before I could overthink it, then stared at my phone, waiting for three dots to appear. It took less than a minute.

Carter: Nora! I was just thinking about you. Of course you can come over. I’m home all day. Just say when.

Me: How about now?

Carter: I’ll send a car for you. Where should it pick you up?

I gave him my location and watched as a squirrel paused in front of my bench, seeming to judge me with its beady eyes before scampering off. Pretty soon, everyone would be judging me.

Just another day in the life of Nora Hastings, skating coach, unwitting IUD expeller, and now, pregnant woman of mystery.

Chapter10

Private Jet to a Non-Extradition Country

Carter

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