Page 72 of Keeper
My eyes cut to him perched on the edge of the tub. “Can you please save the Pinterest inspirational quotes and tell me what I should do?”
He frowns like my statement is ridiculous. “Well, I’m all for a woman having options. But since ye love him, I cannae imagine ye daeing much else than having the baby and daeing the whole happy family bit. Yer already living together, so that’s done.”
“Temporarily!” I screech and shove the tests away from me. They slide on the floor and clack when they hit the tiled wall. “And I haven’t told him I love him. God, he’s going to want to go running for the hills when he finds out.”
“Oh, weesht. He’s yer best friend. And it takes two tae shag in yer birthday suits, so he’s just as responsible as ye are. He wouldnae run.”
“You don’t understand,” I whine and pinch the bridge of my nose as a massive migraine approaches that will certainly top all migraines.
“What’s no tae understand? In the gay world, tons of lads have babies with their best friends. It can work oot.”
“That’s not what this is,” I argue.
“Educate me then.” He crosses his arms over his chest and awaits my reply.
“I had to push Booker just to consider being more than friends with me. I tricked him, and connived him, and convinced him, and made grand promises that we would always be friends until he had no choice but to go for it. I let you kiss me to make him jealous! He just told me the other day he doesn’t even want kids. He’s going to think I’ve trapped him!”
Anxiety grips my throat. I cover my face with my hands as Andrew leans forward and rubs my back. “He’d never think so little of ye tae say ye tried tae trap him. There’s nothing tae trap anyhow. That boy is smitten with ye. Friends or lovers. This is going tae be okay.”
I pull back and look up at him. “You really think so?”
He nods, his face sincere. “The question is, how dae ye feel aboot it?”
My brows lift. How odd is it that I get a positive pregnancy test and all I’ve thought about is what Booker is going to think? I haven’t even let myself consider how I feel about it. “I guess I don’t really know. I’m still…processing.”
“Did ye fancy yerself a young mum aboot London? Yer a school teacher, so ye must like wee kids.”
Horror overwhelms me. “God, I haven’t even thought about my job yet! I’m going to have to tell them I’m pregnant before I start. How ridiculous will that make me look?” I run my hands through my short tresses and attempt to calm the fuck down.
“Yer no ridiculous,” Andrew states firmly. “Calm down, Poppet. Take some deep breaths.” He breathes in and out a few times, and I straighten my posture and try to do the same. “Yer going tae figure this oot. And besides, happy accidents can sometimes bring aboot the best adventures.”
I huff out a self-deprecating laugh. “Ye think this is a happy accident?”
“It’s a baby,” he shrugs. “What’s more exciting than a wee baby?!”
I’m not able to accept those words just yet. I’m too busy worrying about how I’m going to tell Booker that he’s going to be a daddy! Maybe I won’t say it in those exact words, but more than anything, I need my best friend’s support.
My stressed-out state is completely forgotten when my eyes drop to Andrew’s knees that are currently eye level from my spot on the floor. Frowning, I look a little closer. “Andrew, is that your penis I see up your shorts?”
“It’s certainly no a bratwurst,” he deadpans.
I eye his clothing, noting he’s still wearing his gym gear. “Do you not wear underwear when you exercise?”
“Christ no!” he baulks, clearly offended by my question. “My baws need tae breathe! And I’ve heard that if ye let the skin stretch, it increases yer penis size.”
My face crumples. “Well, warn me next time before I prop myself in sniffer’s row.”
He waggles his brows. “Dinnae act like yer no impressed.”
MY STOMACH IS ROLLING ASI walk back from the out-of-hours clinic that’s located four roads from Booker’s flat. I rushed over straight from Andrew’s in a fit, trying to convince myself the tests could be wrong. The on call doctor tried to give me another pregnancy test, but I demanded more proof. So here I am, with blood results in hand as if Booker might ask to see them. The doctor definitely spoke English and explained the birth control I was on is a low hormone kind, resulting in a lower effectiveness than others. That would have been a great side effect to be aware of in Germany. Luckily I never shagged anyone without a condom there.
I stride into Booker’s flat and hear the shower running. I have to tell him. I can’t wait. He’ll see it on my face and dig it out of me. This secret would be so much harder to hide than the secret about being in love with him for years.
Maybe because there’s another life involved..
I push the door open and hot steam billows out of the small space. Booker is standing in front of the shower wearing nothing but a pair of jeans that are unbuttoned at the top. My favourite look on him, especially now because the steam is clinging to his abs and drizzling down the divots all the way to his trim love arrow. He was helping his brothers haul some sort of flowers up to Vi’s rooftop garden, so he’s covered in dirt, some even smudged on his cheek. I glance down at his dirty shirt on the floor and it makes me sad. Like at any moment this will all be taken away.
“Hiya, Sunshine” Booker says, snapping me out of my reverie. “I thought I heard you come in.”
