Page 9 of Tusk's Fury

“Considering the man I’m madly in love with is not only getting back with his ex-wife but apparently considers me a whore, I’d have to say this is pretty damn bad.”

“What are you going to do?” she asks.

“I don’t know what I can do. I definitely don’t make enough to support a child.” I don’t tell her about my dark past—about how a kid wouldn’t even be safe with me.

I bring the cup of tea to my lips with a shaky hand and drink. This can’t be happening to me, not when I finally start to get my life in order.

Clara grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. “First things first, we have to verify whether or not you’re pregnant. Once we figure that out, you’ll be in a position to decide on the next step.”

I nod, feeling numb, like I’m having some kind of out-of-body experience.

Clara says decisively, “And I’m going to drive. You’re shaking too much to be behind the wheel.” Coming to her feet, she adds, “We’ll stop at a pharmacy and pick up a few pregnancy kits and something to settle your stomach.”

I stand up on shaky legs and follow her lead. We get into my car, and she drives. I don’t want my car left at the clubhouse. Clara tries to make polite conversation along the way, but I’m too numb to engage properly.

***

By the time we pick up the pregnancy kits and get to my apartment, it’s around eleven in the morning. She hands me the bag and ushers me into the bathroom.

I open all six packages and lay them out on the counter. Why did I buy six? I have no idea. Maybe it’s my go-big-or-go-home thought process.

Getting undressed, I step into the shower and pee on each stick in turn. Then, I line them all back up on the counter.

Afterward, I take a short shower—just for something to do. Standing around staring at those pregnancy tests for ten or fifteen minutes would drive me insane.

The whole time I’m in the shower, I try to reconcile the Tusk I know with the man I saw having family time with his ex-wife and kids. I wonder if this was a spur-of-the-moment thing or something he had planned for a while.

The best case scenario is that he arranged a birthday party for one of his kids and got momentarily nostalgic for how his family used to be. Maybe he had good intentions and ended up getting sucked in? He’s probably planning to tell me after the party is over. I’m not even going to think about the worst case scenario, the one that I dread. That Silver and Brenda were telling the truth, and he thinks I’m nothing but a whore.

I step out of the shower, dry off, and get dressed before walking over to look at the tests.

I can’t believe it.

All of them are positive.

Every. Single. One.

Then, I turn right around, walk into the living room, and lie to the one person I trust most in this world.

Flashing my biggest smile I say breezily, “They were all negative. False alarm.”

The relief on Clara’s face makes me feel guilty. I asked for her help, and then I lied—because I’m the kind of woman who keeps my secrets close.

“One less thing to stress about, right?”

I force a smile and say, “I guess.”

Glancing away, I speak words I never thought I’d say. “Look, you know Tusk pretty well. He was married to your sister, had kids with her, and was part of your family for a long time. Do you think what they’re saying is true? That he’s getting back with Gina?”

Clara’s brow creases in confusion. “Normally, I would have said no. But seeing them together today makes me think it’s possible. They’re usually at each other’s throats.”

I try and keep my expression neutral, but inside I’m falling apart.

Clara continues, “My husband Chris—who was her affair partner—left her right after our divorce was final. Since then, she’s been trying to get back with Tusk, but he wouldn’t have anything to do with her.”

She trails off, pausing for a moment as if searching for the right words to express her thoughts.

“But today was different. They were relaxed, laughing together—like a real family. It was… confusing.”

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