Page 97 of Second Down Darling

We place the tests on a paper towel and wait until the timer goesoff.

When her phone buzzes, my stomach lurches. I’m not sure how Jake would react if I was, but I’m hoping I don’t have to find out anytime soon. We have sex with condomsandbirth control, so I’m guessing a second kid is not on his agenda anytimesoon.

I definitely want to have children together someday. Just not when he’s under so much scrutiny. Not when I’m being harassed by idiots at football games. Not when I’mbroke.

Hmm. I suppose Jake and I need to talk about how he feels about more kids down theroad.

Please, Jesus, don’t let me be pregnant rightnow.

Roxy grabs my hand. “We’ll look on three.Ready?”

I nod and she countsdown.

When I see the negative sign on my test, I’m hit with a tidal wave of relief. ThankGod!

Except when I turn to Roxy, her eyes are wide and her hand is trembling. A second later, her eyeswater.

“It’spositive.”

Positive? Asin…

Oh,crap.

She starts to cry. “I’mpregnant.”

The second test only confirmsit.

39

CHARLOTTE

Itoldyou I’d walk Duke when I gothome.

Jake’s text annoys me for some reason. When I told him I wanted space, I hoped he’d ignore me for a few days. It’s hard to get a lockdown on my emotions when he’s so damnconsiderate.

The streets are eerily empty tonight. Duke and I pause in front of my old apartment. It’s being condemned. Some of the charred remains have been bulldozed, but there’s a gaping hole in the side of the building where rebar juts out like fingers reaching out of a grave. I get chills when I think of what could’ve happened thatnight.

Jake saved your life. He charged into a burning building and saved you and yourdog.

It took my whole world going up in flames to find my way back to Jakeagain.

So much has changed since thatday.

Jake is the best thing to ever happen to me.He’s not going to hurt you,Charlotte.

The wall I started to build in my heart when I found out he’d kept Coach’s advice from me begins to meltaway.

I love Jake to the bottom of my soul, and I just have to trust that once the season is over, things will settle down. Especially afterThe Hot Housewrapsup.

We’ll befine.

Maybe by spring, AD Armstrong will see that I’m not some huge liability, and he’ll let me shoot baseball afterall.

Jake’s right. I have to be strong. Everything will workout.

Feeling better, I’m about to turn back to our apartment when Duke jerks and his leash goes flying out of myhand.

“Duke!” That damn dog charges across the street, hopping through weeds to reach the condos next door to my oldplace.

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