Page 88 of The Fiancé Hoax

Which meant I would leave Cooper's house.

“You’re getting ahead of yourself,” I muttered to my reflection. “First things first. Make sure you are not knocked up.”

The timer went off, startling me. I grabbed the test stick and held it in front of my face. Then I jumped back, dropping the stick to the floor.

A big fat plus sign.

My stomach rolled, and for a second I thought I was going to be sick again. But I breathed through it and calmed myself down. Tearing open the package of another test stick, I repeated the process.

And was met with another pink plus sign.

I didn't bother to take the third test. I knew the first two tests were right. There was no sense in trying to deny it any longer.

I was pregnant by Cooper Pierce.

In shock, I threw away the evidence, washed my hands, and left the bathroom. Wrapping my arms around my waist, I squinted in the bright light coming in through the window.

How did this happen? And what will I do?

I sat in my chair and stared at the empty store for a while. My eyes didn't really fix on anything, and I just sat there blinking.

Rising to my feet, I walked to the front door and stepped out on the street. Thankfully, I had enough sense to lock the door behind me.

I turned right this time instead of left, trudging slowly down the sidewalk. I was in a daze.

I’m pregnant.

How did it happen when I was on birth control the whole time?

Then I thought back to the stomach bug I’d had soon after moving into Cooper's house. The girls and I had gotten that virus immediately after my first time with Cooper. I had puked my guts out for three days. Maybe that was enough to make the contraception ineffective.

Why didn’t I think of that before?

I shook my head, eyes on the sidewalk as I moved in a kind of stupor.

I’d always been on the fence about having kids. Like I told Cooper outside Lily's classroom, I'd never thought of myself as having much of a maternal streak.

But after spending time with Eva and Lily, I felt so many things I'd never experienced before.

I loved those little girls. I loved making them happy and seeing them smile. A protective streak rose inside me every time I thought of them. They were so sweet and innocent. I wanted to keep them safe.

Now that I had a life growing inside me, I recognized that protective streak again. I felt a new sense of hope, despite my panic about how I’d make it work.

I was going to be a mother. And I would love this baby forever.

I looked up to see I had walked several blocks. And on the next block stood a birth center.

I had driven past it a thousand times and barely noticed it. But today, the sage green sign out front looked warm and welcoming. I opened the front door and stepped inside to make a prenatal appointment.

The receptionist was friendly. She seemed to sense my anxiety, and her soothing manner calmed my nerves a little. I walked out holding an appointment card. A doctor would see me tomorrow, which was a relief.

Outside, the sun was low in the sky and cast long shadows on the sidewalk. But I wasn't ready to go home yet—if I could still call Cooper’s house home.

I wasn't ready to face him. He was angry with me about the ring, and I understood why. But every time I disappointed him, it caused me pain.

What will he say when I tell him? Will this be one more disappointment for him?

He'd already told me he didn't want any more children. His two daughters were enough.

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