Chapter 9
A Shocking and Untimely Surprise
The weeks passed by with too much work, too little Trace, and way too much exhaustion. I had no idea what had gotten into me, but I could barely keep my eyes open most of the time. It didn’t matter if I got a full night’s rest or not, and coffee wasn’t even giving me the jolt I needed anymore.
As I yawned for the hundredth time, Harper narrowed her eyes at me. Caroline glanced at Annabelle, and they both nodded at Harper.
Sitting on my couch, watching my friends having an unspoken discussion about me right there while I shoved Mongolian beef into my mouth was all too unsettling.
“What?” I barked out with my mouth still full.
Caroline put her hand on my leg. “We’ve been thinking, and…is there any chance you’re pregnant?”
I straightened up as panic shot threw me. “No!” I yelled.
“You were complaining about your boobs hurting the other day while we were shopping,” Annie responded.
“And you can’t go ten minutes without yawning like a grizzly bear,” Harper added, patting my leg. “It only takes one time.”
I set my food down and took a deep breath. “I don’t need a sex-ed lesson. I know about the birds and the bees. I am still traumatized from hearing my father say the words penis and vagina over and over while he and my mother hadthe talkwith me in eighth grade.”
“Look”—Annie rummaged through her bag—“I brought you a test. It’s been three weeks since you were with Trace. It might be time to just be sure.”
I did quick math in my head. I was a couple days late, but that was typical for me when I was working as much as I was—the stress always got to me during wedding season.
“But I’m on the pill,” I explained, crossing my arms over my chest in protest.
“Then there is no harm in just being sure so we can stop speculating and move on to figuring out where this awful fatigue is actually coming from.
“Fine.”
With my three best friends in tow, I made my way into my tiny bathroom. They all gathered around as I sank onto the toilet and peed on a stick. Most people would find it weird as hell that it wasn’t weird for them to be in there with me, but I wouldn’t have had the nerve to go through with it without their support.
I replaced the cap and set the white stick on the counter.
“I can’t look. Y’all are going to have to tell me what it says.” I buried my head in my hands, praying for this to all be a nightmare I’d wake up from.
Harper put her hand on my shoulder. “Sawyer,” she muttered.
I gazed up at her. “It’s negative, right?”
They all looked away, silent.
“Holy fuck! You are screwing with me!” I gripped the pee stick and saw the stupid smiley face mocking me. “Dammit.”
I sank to the floor, tears welling up in my eyes.
“This is amazing, Sawyer. You’re going to be a mommy,” Caroline cooed as she stroked my hair.
All three of them joined me on the floor for a group hug.
“I don’t want to be a mommy—not yet anyway. I’m not ready, and Trace and I just met. How can this be happening?” I whined and sniffled.
“Well, sweetheart, it’s happening, and you’re going to have to come clean to Trace as soon as possible.” Leave it to Harper to not even put a little bit of sugar on it.
Annie squeezed me tighter. “We’re here for you for anything you need.”
Just then, a knock sounded on my door, and we all perked up.