Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
HARPER
“ W hy did you swap tests with me?” I ask Ava as we walk into Blake’s house and dump my bags on the kitchen island. We were dead quiet on the drive home because I think I’m numb.
What the fuck is going on?
“Uh, duh .” She rests her hands on her hips and tilts her head to the side.
“You’re clearly not thinking straight, which is valid.
Honey, Billie is Blake’s sister , and the others are all either with his brothers or are good friends with him.
If they found out that you’re pregnant before Blake does, you can’t control that information.
They might call him immediately. I mean, I like them all, but I don’t know them very well. I bought you time, babe.”
“Shit, you’re right.” I lean against the countertop and feel faint. “Ava. Holy mother of fuck, I’m pregnant. ”
The word doesn’t even make sense to me right now.
“How did this even happen ? ”
Her eyebrows climb. “Well, when a mommy and a daddy?—”
“Shut the fuck up.” I roll my eyes as she snickers, and I pace away. “I know how. But I don’t know how. ”
“Because that makes sense.”
“I’ve had an implant in my arm for four years, Ava. They last five years. Mine hasn’t expired.”
“Are you sure? Because maybe you counted wrong. You’ve been pretty busy the past few years, you know.”
I frown and think back. “I got it the year before Nathan and I got together, and we were together for two years?—”
“That’s three.”
“And I’ve been away from him for two years?—”
“That’s five.”
I blink at her.
“Babe, it expired.”
“But … fuck. ”
“Yeah, you fucked, and now you’re knocked up.”
I hang my head and moan.
“He’s going to be so mad.”
“Whoa.” Ava hurries around the island and wraps her arm around me. “You don’t know that. He’s a doctor, and I may not know him well, but he seems level-headed. Not to mention, the man worships the ground you walk on. It’s almost disgusting. I’m totally jealous, by the way.”
“Aves, Blake and I have had these conversations. Neither of us really wants kids. Hell, neither of us really wanted a serious relationship. ”
“Well, you have both.” She leans her head on my shoulder. “Unless you don’t. You know, you have options. You have choices. But you really need to talk to your man about this because he deserves to know.”
“I won’t keep it from him.” The mere thought makes me so uncomfortable that it’s not even an option. “I wouldn’t do that. I’m not scared of him or anything. I just hate the idea of disappointing him or having him think that I’m trapping him.”
“He asked you to live with him,” she reminds me. “That was his idea. He’s smarter than that, Harper. Give both of you some credit.”
“I know.” I let out a breath that I didn’t realize I was holding and feel the thump of my heart in my ears since it’s beating so hard. “I’m kind of freaking out.”
“Of course, you are, babe. But we’re going to figure this out. If need be, I’ll raise this baby with you. You have a village. You’re not alone.”
I pause and frown down at her. “I don’t feel alone, you weirdo. And yes, you’re going to help me raise this baby because you’re Auntie Ava, and you’re the cool aunt who lets her eat ice cream for dinner and takes her to Seattle on the weekend for a Swiftie concert.”
“Oh my God, I can’t wait to do that. What do we need to do to make sure it’s a girl? Do you need to like hang upside down during a full moon or what, because I’ll get the rope.”
I shake her off and pace to the other side of the kitchen.
“I’m not hanging upside down. Jesus, we went off on a tangent. Ava, I’m pregnant. ”
“I know. I’m actually a little excited and grateful that it’s not me. What’s next?”
I cringe. “Well, Blake’s working late again tonight and he works at the clinic tomorrow, and I start nights for two nights, but then we get three days off together, so I’ll tell him then. I think I should probably see a doctor and get an ultrasound and stuff.”
Ava’s nodding. “Do you want me to go with you?”
No, I want Blake with me.
I want my man. I want him so bad right now, but he’s busy saving lives, and I need to suck it up and deal like a big girl.
Because if we’re going to make this work, I’ll be dealing with his schedule for a long, long time.
How can we possibly do this? How are we going to raise a baby together when we hardly see enough of each other as it is?
I shake my head and feel the energy move right out of me. “No, I’ll do it. It’ll be okay.”
“I have to say, you might think you’re freaking out on the inside, but you seem to be taking this remarkably well. Do you want to yell? Cry? Break something?”
“I don’t think it’s real yet,” I admit. “I think the major freak-out is still to come.”