Chapter Twenty-Four
Linc
“ W hat?”
“I’m pregnant. It’s yours.”
I have her shoe still in my hand as my ass hits the floor. Thank God I was already kneeling. I feel like my heart is about to beat out of my chest. I sit in silence, staring at her shoe. I startle at the sound of her blowing her nose.
“You’re sure? We used a condom.”
“Well, unless four tests were wrong, I’m pretty sure. And if you remember, we didn’t use a condom the entire time, or maybe it broke. And with all the wedding craziness, I missed a couple of my pills, but I thought we were fine with the condom. Whatever happened, I’m pregnant.”
“Give me a minute here.” I run my hand through my hair.
A baby.
She’s pregnant.
Our baby.
“Come sit on the couch, Linc. You look pale.”
I rise and sit beside her. I lean forward, elbows on my knees, my face in my hands, trying to control my breathing.
I twist my head to look at her. “When can you go to the doctor?”
“I called my OB/GYN this afternoon. I have an appointment in a couple of weeks.”
“Okay. If it’s alright, I’d like to be there.”
“That’s fine.”
I sit up and turn to look at her. Her eyes are red again. I reach over and take her hand in mine. My mind is racing. I need to ask questions, but I need to tread lightly.
I clear my throat. “How do you feel about it?”
She blows out a heavy breath. “Well, besides being in shock and feeling like crap, I don’t know, really. This isn’t how I imagined my first pregnancy would happen.”
“Do you want to keep it?” I fight the tears burning in my eyes. This is the scariest question I’ve ever asked someone. “I mean, you don’t have to answer that if you’re not ready. I feel like I shouldn’t have a say in it—it’s your body—but I’ll support you no matter what. It’s completely your decision, and I will be by your side whatever you choose. But if I can have a say in it, let me know, but it’s totally your choice.” I close my mouth to stop my fear-filled rambling.
She wipes the tissue across her eyes. “Yeah, I want to keep it.”
I tilt my head back and I feel a tear fall. I feel too vulnerable right now. “Thank God.”
“You’re okay with me keeping it?”
“Like I said, I would support any decision you make. Even if you change your mind, I’ll still support you. But if I had a say, yeah, I’m more than okay with it.” I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “Shit, you’re pregnant.”
“Yeah.” She stares down at our hands. “I know this is a lot right now. I don’t expect anything from you. You can be as involved or not involved as you want.”
Reaching up, I take her face in my hands, running my thumb over her cheekbone. “I’ll be as involved as you’ll let me. I’ll be there for everything if I can. I want to be there for everything.”
Another tear falls from her tired eyes.
“Come here.”
I wrap my arm around her and pull her head to my chest. I think I need this as much as she does right now.
“I’m sorry, Linc,” she says in a broken whisper.
“Why are you sorry, Mel?”
“Your life has to change because of me. You didn’t ask for this.”
I hook my arm under her legs and pull her into my lap, wrapping my arms around her, pulling her close. “Melonie, I need you to listen to me. We were both there that night. Both of our lives are going to change—yours more than mine—over the next few months. And I need you to understand something. I’m not only here for the baby, but I’m here for you, too.”
“Okay.” She snuggles into my neck, and I wipe my eyes. I rub her back as we sit in the quiet room. A weird realization comes over me as I think about the fact that, right now, I’m not only holding her, but also my child inside her.
“Can you stay?”
“There’s no way I’m leaving you right now, Mel.”
“Thank you. Here’s the remote. I might fall asleep.”
“Actually, is it okay if I use your restroom? I need to text Audrey, too.”
“Yeah.” She looks up at me. “Hey, don’t tell her. I sort of want to wait, at least until after the doctor’s appointment, to tell the group.”
“I’ll follow your lead on telling everyone. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
She shifts off of my lap. I take her head in my hands and pull her to me to kiss her hair. I lower my forehead to hers.
“I’ll be right by your side, Mel. I promise.”
She looks into my eyes. “Okay.”
I stand from the couch; she lays down, and I cover her with the duvet.
I walk through her room to the bathroom and close the door. I sit on the edge of the tub, text Audrey that I’m going to stay to keep an eye on Mel, and then I try to process the last thirty minutes.
I’m going to be a father; I’ll be tied to Melonie for the rest of my life. It might be too fast to say this, but I think I might be okay with both of those things.