Flinching, I drop the box. I pick it up and nearly fumble it again. “No, I’m all set.”
I knew we should’ve gone two towns over to buy this, but I didn’t want to keep the boys out that long. As upset as I am with Rhett, I want to talk to him about last night.
The older man glances at the pregnancy test and gives me a kind smile. Lowering his voice, he points to the one with the plus. “I’m told this is the easiest to figure out.”
“Th-thank you.” I look at the boxes. Maybe I need more than one? Because they’re not always correct, or so my friends have told me. So I grab a three-pack and tuck it beneath the bag of Doritos I’m buying to camouflage the real reason I’m here.
On our way home, I can’t stop bouncing my leg.
Baylee glances at the boys in the rearview mirror before whispering, “It’ll be okay. Whatever the results. Rhett loves you.”
But does he love me enough to have a baby when he said he didn’t want any more?
When we get back to the ranch, I let out a sigh of relief that the guys are still out. My car is the only one parked next to the house.
I don’t want to have to lie about anything, and it’ll be easier to find out the results first and have a little time to process that before I share it with anyone.
Maybe I missed my period because of stress.
Please, God, let it be stress.
Baylee and I get the boys out of the backseat. I’m wrestling with Austin’s car seat when I lose my grip and my purse slides off my shoulder, dumping its contents onto the driveway.
Gabriel picks up the three-pack of pregnancy tests. “What’s this?”
Shit.
Fortunately, Baylee comes to my rescue again and grabs it. “Just girlie stuff.” She shoves it into my purse.
We get the boys settled in the living room with their giant set of Legos before Baylee and I lock ourselves in the powder room with a pregnancy test.
She leans against the door as I sit on the toilet. After a second, I start to laugh. “Don’t watch me pee. I can’t handle the pressure.”
Baylee snickers. “Remember when we were in first grade, and Mrs. Jenkins wouldn’t let me use the bathroom, and I peed my pants? I never forgave that bitch.”
“Don’t be too hard on her. Remember when you almost stepped in dog crap in eighth grade, and I tried to yank you to safety, but I accidentally ripped your shirt open? I’ll never forget the way all those buttons went flying. You didn’t talk to me for a week.”
She gives me a droll look. “I flashed our entire class of boys. I should’ve disowned you then and there as my best friend.”
I finish up my test, set it down on a paper towel, and wash my hands. “I kept you from stepping on dog shit, dude. That’s a good friend right there. So the boys saw your bra. Was that really traumatic?”
Talking about all the dumb stuff we’ve done over the years relaxes me.
In the living room, a door slams, and male voices fill the house. My eyes widen as I look at the pregnancy test.
My stomach drops.
It’s freaking positive.
My eyes sting, and Baylee immediately hugs me. “You might not want to hear this right now, but I’m really excited about being an aunt. You can trust that my mom will throw you the biggest baby shower in Texas.”
I nod and wipe my eyes. She lets me go, and I look around. “I left my purse in the other room. What do I do with the test?”
“Toss it in the trash and put a bunch of toilet paper over it like we did when my mom almost caught us drinking that time.”
“Solid plan.” After I toss everything, she and I ball up the toilet paper until it covers the evidence.
Because I’m not ready to tell Rhett yet.
