Page 75 of Nanny for the Doctor

“Then tell me this. Where is it going?”

I look up and meet Johnny’s eyes. “I don’t know. Things didn’t really end on a great note yesterday.”

My brother’s jaw clenches. “If he—”

“Don’t.” I hold a hand up. “Don’t do that. This is my situation to figure out. I’ll deal with it. I don’t want orneedyou to swoop in, all big-brother-protector mode.”

Johnny scoffs, but I raise my brows at him. “I can do this on my own. We’ll just see where it goes, I guess. Please, please be okay with that.”

“Fine.” Johnny throws his hands up, then reaches for a take-out bag and retrieves an egg roll. “Just take my advice, okay? Be careful.”

“Not that I want to tell my brother this, but we’re careful.” I go for one of the crab Rangoons.

“Good. But that’s not what I mean. ImeanReed has a long way to go when it comes to being emotionally available. He’s not exactly been a commitment type of guy for a while. After Clara…I’m not sure he’s ever really forgiven himself for not being there.”

“What’s that—”

“That’s his story to tell. I just want you to know what you’re getting into.”

I sigh, but I get it. Johnny doesn’t want to reveal Reed’s secrets. Reed should be the one doing that.

“Okay.”

We both nod at each other for a moment before Stevie comes in. “Care to take this to the living room? We can watch some bad TV.”

Johnny cocks a brow at me as a grin spreads across my face.

“No, no, no. Do not make me watch—”

“The Bachelorette!” I yell out in unison with Stevie.

“Fucking hell.”

Johnny grabs the bags while I help Stevie with the plates and silverware. We all head to the living room, and it’s like I can breathe again.

I was seriously concerned that mending things with my brother would take a lot more than a quick chat and some takeout, but thank goodness, China Bon Bon eggrolls still soothe Johnny like they did when we were growing up.

After watching for a while, nature calls, and I start for the guest bathroom. Stevie stops me, yelling back over the sofa.

“Hey, that one is being renovated. We decided to change it up. Use the one upstairs.”

“Okay!”

I bypass the powder room, sneak a peek inside to see it’s been totally gutted, and head upstairs for the master bath.

Flicking on the lights, I notice a box on the large dual-sink counter, and curiosity gets the best of me. I pad over to find that it’s a bunch of pregnancy tests, like a bulk box of twelve.

“Economical.” I flip the thing over in my hand, looking at the back. “Johnny did talk about wanting to start a family with Stevie.”

I set it back down, and just as I’m about to pull down my pants, my stomach does a flip-flop.Take one.

The thought is strange, out of nowhere, but then I remember how I’ve been feeling. Bloating, nausea, exhaustion—it’s all there.

I’ve been telling myself it’s due to my upcoming period, but I still haven’t had it.

“Shit. When is that supposed to be here?”

Pulling out my phone and checking my calendar reminder, I see I’ve missed the notification for it.

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