Page 11 of Forever Oblivion

“Pee on a stick? I can’t be pregnant.” I shook my head. “I have to get married first.”

Jenna patted my shoulder. “The order of things doesn’t matter. You and Nash worked through all that.”

My lip trembled. “Not really. Nash still doesn’t want kids. At the very least, not anytime soon.”

“Darling, you didn’t get here on your own. These boys’ll knock you up faster than you can shiver with pleasure,” Kate said, tossing her red ringlets back. “They’re a potent bunch.”

“You’re—” I asked.

She smirked. “Nope.” She winked. “But it’s not for lack of trying.”

“Right.”

“So, point is, take this, pee on it, and we’ll do the honors of letting you know what’s what,” Jenna said. “Jumping June bugs, I am excited about this. Cash may get a playmate!”

I clutched the box holding the pregnancy test as Jenna and Kate continued to banter. I leaned against the closed bathroom door and read every tiny word of the instructions before I opened the test.

Once done, I locked the cap in place and set it on the back of the toilet. I washed my hands. A knock rapped.

“You done? We thought you might’ve drowned or something.” Jenna stood in the doorway, frowning.

“I…”

She slithered around me and scooped up the test. She hooted, waving the small pen-shaped hunk of plastic.

“Yay! We’re going to have another little one to snuggle.”

My breath turned choppy, painful. “Um…”

Kate crowded into the small room, jumping up and down, her hands on my shoulders. “You’re having a baby,” she screeched.

The room spun and my knees started to buckle. Jenna caught me under the armpits with a grunt. “Shit. Help me, Kate. She’s going down.”

I didn’t faint, but reality turned darker and swirly. I blinked and found myself leaning against the sink cabinet, Jenna and Kate close by with concern lighting their eyes.

“Are you…not happy about a child?” Kate asked. Her voice was gentle.

“I…”

I scooted to the floor, laid my forehead on my pulled-up knees, and sobbed. I heard the women shuffle and then both their heads rested on my shoulders.

“It’s okay to be overwhelmed,” Jenna murmured. “Cam pretty much took me over, the delicious ass.”

Kate made a gagging sound. “Still my brother.”

“Still hotter than sin. Dammit. I am going to jump him tonight,” she said with a sigh.

“Gross.”

“Ladies, focus,” I choked out. “My father is selfish and terrible. Brad was even worse. Like, actively hostile to raising Nash. And again: Nash doesn’t want kids. We…we haven’t talked about a family since I flew to Charleston, and—”

“Well, that sucks. And the timing isn’t ideal. I get that. But Nash loves you, and he’ll love the baby you two made, too,” Kate said, her voice firm.

I accepted the tissue she passed me. “What if he thinks I got pregnant on purpose for that godawful trust fund my mother set up? What if—”

Kate popped up and helped Jenna to her feet. “I think you’re about to get your answers,” she mumbled.

I lifted my head and saw Nash leaning against the wall. His long legs were crossed at the ankles, and he shifted his shoulders to let my friends pass. My lower lip wobbled as he closed the door and squatted in front of me.

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