Page 58 of Baby By my Best Friend's Daddy

“Are you going to talk to Landon?”

“I did,” I said. “He was waiting for me at my place when I got back from the fundraiser.” I told her how that conversation had gone down. Celine frowned while I talked.

“He really said he didn’t want you to be a nurse?”

“Not in those words, but he made it clear that I didn’t have to do it anymore, that he would rather have me home. After what Brad said…” I let out my breath in a shudder. “I’ve never felt so small. I can deal with a lot of things, Celine, but I won’t be told I’m not good enough. I get more than enough of that shit from my parents. It’s over.”

“You called it off?”

I nodded. “I owe myself at least that. If he won’t respect me and who I am, I will.”

I reached for the cup of coffee and brought it to my lips. The moment I got a whiff of the hazelnut, my stomach twisted again.

“Oh, shit,” I said and jumped up. I ran to the guest bathroom and threw myself down. I threw up, retching and heaving. I hugged the bowl, and my stomach contracted and convulsed, making me gag long after I’d deposited the little bit of food I still had in my system after last night’s dinner.

Celine appeared at the door behind me.

I groaned and sat back on my heels, pressing my hand against my forehead.

“Sorry,” I said.

I stood and splashed cold water on my face, rinsed my mouth, and dried my face with the hand towel next to the sink.

When I turned around, Celine watched me with narrowed eyes.

“This doesn’t usually happen, huh?”

I shook my head. My stomach still twisted dangerously, but I risked walking away from the toilet.

“So, did you use protection with Landon?”

I stilled. “Of course.”

“Just a condom?”

I hesitated before I nodded.

“You’re a nurse… you know the success rate on those, right?”

“I’m not pregnant,” I said firmly.

“How sure are you about that?”

I thought about the time Landon had been inside of me without a condom. He hadn’t come inside me, and we’d still taken the right precautions after that, but it had been a moment of weakness.

“I’m not pregnant,” I said again. As if my body protested against my statement, more vomit pushed up my throat, and I spun around and threw up again.

When it finally stopped, I sat back and shook my head.

“Damn it, Celine, I can’t be pregnant.” Fear dug its claws into my chest. I’d just dumped Landon because of all this, because we weren’t on the same path, and now…

“Come on,” Celine said. “Wash your face and put on your big girl pants. We’re going shopping.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah, pregnancy test.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head firmly. “I can’t do it. This isn’t how it was supposed to go. I can’t…” I let out a shuddering breath. “I can’t do it.”

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