Chapter 52
My gaze was fixed on the ceiling, thoughts racing as I lay between them, both of them pinning me gently by the waist. It was strange to think that, maybe right there in my stomach, a life could be growing. I tried to push that thought away.
I felt so cared for, yet at the same time, an urge to run kept stirring inside me—especially at the idea of seeing a result I didn't want on a pregnancy test.
All night, I reassured myself that I wasn't pregnant, but the doubts kept creeping in.
I knew I should just take a Plan B and be done with it, but something felt off.
I had no concrete reason to have missed my period other than.
.. well, pregnancy. Still, I kept trying to stay positive, hoping for a negative result like I'd never hoped for one before.
The idea of having a baby now terrified me.
All I could think about was the possibility of becoming a single mother, and at the very moment I finally felt cared for, this happened.
I heard the warm bodies beside me stir, and my heart started racing as their fingers traced the edges of my body. I stayed still, feeling almost frozen.
If they found out I was pregnant—which, hopefully, I wasn't—they would be furious.
Just imagining their anger sent a shiver through me.
But as their touch trailed slowly over my skin, it was almost distracting, breaking through my anxious thoughts.
They held me close, and soon their lips started brushing along my neck and shoulders, each kiss pulling me away from my worries.
"You tasted sweeter last night," Wade murmured, her voice husky.
I chuckled softly. "Does that mean something?
" I looked over at her, and she smirked, making my heart skip a beat.
I had to stop letting every little look send my pulse racing.
As soon as they left for work, I'd rush to the pharmacy, grab a test, take it.
If it was negative—and it had to be—I'd go to the farthest dumpster and toss it, then head back for a contraceptive. Easy. The plan settled my nerves a bit.
Meanwhile, Jager's fingers gently traced over my skin, sending shivers down my spine.
"You're stunning in the mornings," Jager whispered, "and in the afternoon, evening, and night." Her compliment helped calm me, if only for a moment.
"Don't you two have work?"
"We do," Wade replied, "but we're in no rush."
I knew the pharmacy wasn't open yet, but I felt desperate for them to leave so I could think.
Their presence alone was overwhelming, especially with both of them on either side, their hands roaming over my skin.
As grateful as I was for how they treated me, I had to face reality.
Kids weren't part of this arrangement. They'd asked me countless times to fully commit, but I couldn't bring myself to say yes.
Maybe others would've agreed without hesitation, but I couldn't.
Wade and Jager had plans for me. And I'd been working hard to embrace whatever path we were on together, to ride the wave while it lasted. But I couldn't afford to be left stranded, and that's why I kept working a few days here and there, saving up.
"Will you be joining us for lunch today?" Wade asked, her tone warm.
"I think I'll stay in and catch up on my show, but I'll definitely join for dinner."
"You skipped both lunch and dinner yesterday," Jager pointed out.
"I know, and I'm sorry." The truth was, I'd been avoiding her sister and their friends.
I couldn't stand the tension, especially with that unspoken tension between Wade and Jager.
They all assumed I was with Jager alone, completely unaware of what went on behind closed doors.
How would they react, knowing two friends were sharing one girl?
They already judged me for working at the club.
"But I'll be there for dinner this time—I promise. You two really should get going to work."
"We can't be late," Jager smirked, "that's just not possible.
And we haven't made you breakfast. And we haven't gotten our morning taste of you, or so many other things.
.." Her warm breath against my neck made me wrap my limbs around her, pulling her close.
Maybe one last time before finding out my fate wouldn't hurt.
I wandered down the pharmacy aisle, glancing around for the pregnancy tests, my heart racing. I'd take it right here in the bathroom if I had to. My plan was simple: if it was negative, I'd stay. If positive, I'd disappear before they even had a chance to react.
My face scrunched as I stared at the wall of different pregnancy tests.
Maybe I should take two, just to be sure.
Or none at all and just wait for my period to show up.
It was probably just being shy. Oddly enough, Wade and Jager hadn't noticed I'd missed it.
Normally, they'd scent it and make a game out of it. That was kind of the whole plan.
I reached for one of the tests, flipping it over to read the instructions on the back. This one looked a bit complicated, so I put it down and picked up another. The box was larger, and when I turned it over, I saw why—it came with a pump and a small container for the sample.
I sighed, reaching for yet another test.
"What are you doing?" a voice shouted suddenly. Startled, I dropped the box, and as I bent to pick it up, I looked up to see a man glaring down at me.
"Are you stealing that pregnancy test?" he accused.
I quickly put the box back on the shelf, bristling. "Let go of me! I wasn't stealing anything—I was going to buy that!" I snapped, yanking my arm back, though his grip hurt.
"Which cage did you crawl out of?" he sneered.
"Excuse me?" I tried to stall, glancing around. "You're human too."
"I'm here to protect this place from thieves like you," he growled, dragging me toward a back room. He shoved me against the wall and began patting me down. "Steal anything else?"
"I wasn't stealing anything!" I tried to turn to face him, but he shoved me back against the wall again.
"That's what they all say," he muttered dismissively.
He appeared to be a guard, which was unusual since they typically didn't employ human guards around here. Yet I had seen plenty of them throughout town lately.
"I didn't steal anything!" I protested, my voice echoing against the wall as he continued to pat me down aggressively. He pulled out my cash and phone. "Give those back!" I shouted.
"We're going to keep you here until someone comes to get you," he said, counting my money. "This can't even buy a pregnancy test, and you know it—that's why you kept looking around."
"What?" I stammered, incredulous.
"You look like you crawled out from one of those cages. Who's your keeper?"
"I don't have a keeper."
"A girl like you living in a place like this doesn't go unguarded by a vampire."
"Let me go!" I growled, anger coursing through me.
He yanked me away from the wall and led me down a narrow hallway, my heart racing as I spotted a cell.
"I was just looking at pregnancy tests! Are you really going to treat me like a damn prisoner for that?"
"I've been watching you on the camera," he snarled, the sound of keys jingling filling the air. I struggled to break free from his grip, but he tightened his hold, throwing me across the hard floor of the cell. I grunted as my body hit the ground. "Stay down!" he barked.
"Okay! Okay!" I croaked in response.
"Because of that, you're not getting a damn phone call until I say so. Looks like you're going to spend the day getting to know every corner of that cell."
"I didn't do anything!" I yelled as he hoisted me up and shoved me into the cell, slamming the cell door shut behind me and clicking the locks into place.
"Get to know the damn cell!" he snapped.