Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Jo
No, this couldn't be happening.
I looked down at the seven tests on my bathroom counter with disbelief.
Yes, seven because there was no way I could believe the first six.
Seven damn pregnancy tests that confirmed I was indeed pregnant.
How was this my life?
Oh, wait, I knew. Hate sex without a damn condom was how I ended up in this damn predicament.
Now I was stuck with a decision to make.
To keep the baby or not to keep the baby?
Unfortunately that decision was easy enough for me. I couldn't punish the baby for my mistake, so abortion would never be an option. But adoption was a serious consideration, considering I never saw myself being a mother.
Although that would be tough in a small town like Willow Creek. Everyone would know what I’d done, and I wasn't sure I could live with that. I might have a don't-give-a-fuck attitude, but even I had my limitations, and it would appear this was one of them.
With a sigh, I knew what my next step had to be, and I wasn't exactly excited for it.
Better to get it over with so he couldn't say I kept even more secrets from him.
Throwing the pregnancy tests in my purse, I stormed out of my house and straight to my car.
I drove well over the speed limit on my way to Maverick's house just on the outskirts of town. Dust kicked up as I drove down his long driveway and pulled right in front of his house.
I didn't even make it to the front porch before Maverick was flinging the door open with a surprised expression on his face.
"Jo? What are you doing here? Last time we spoke, you told me to leave you alone, or you were going to call the sheriff on me."
"Yes, well, some things have changed since then." I pushed my way into his house and waited for him to close and lock the door behind us.
It was always the same. Maverick never took security for granted, and even in his own home, he was determined to have things secure.
"Now are you going to tell me what's going on?" Maverick said from behind me.
I dug in my purse and pulled out all seven tests, then turned around and flung them at him. "I didn't want you to think I was keeping any more secrets from you, so how is this for honesty?"
The tests hit Maverick square in the chest before falling to the ground at his feet.
I watched as he bent over and picked one up. "What's this?"
"Read it. I think it's self-explanatory."
I got the tests that specifically said pregnant or not pregnant. I didn't want any blurry lines that could potentially leave me confused. I was the kind of person who liked concrete evidence, and I think I had it. Although I would wait for the doctor’s appointment to be sure.
"Pregnant." Maverick looked up at me with disbelief in his eyes.
"Apparently. I guess your super sperm was no match for my birth control." I crossed my arms over my chest with a huff.
"But ..." Maverick looked back down at the test. Then leaned over and picked up the next one and read that too. He did this until all seven tests were in his hands. "You're sure?"
I rolled my eyes up to the ceiling. "Pretty sure seven-out-of-seven tests saying the same thing means I'm pretty damn sure." I couldn't keep the malice out of my voice. I certainly wasn't happy about this, and it wasn't something I would ever joke about.
I could practically see the wheels turning in Maverick's head. I just wasn't sure what they were telling him.
"Say something." I threw my hands out to the sides.
"I don't know what to say."
Well, wasn't that just great.
"Fine. I came and did what I planned to do. I told you, and now I'm leaving."
I made it two steps before the nausea I had been feeling the last few days decided to rear its ugly head. With a hand over my mouth, I took off toward the downstairs bathroom at a fast clipped pace.
I barely made it to the toilet before I threw up the little that was in my stomach. And by little, I meant the two saltine crackers I forced down along with a little ginger ale.
My head was still hovering over the bowl when I felt my hair being moved away from my face and a hand on my back moving in a circular motion.
"It's okay. I got you," Maverick whispered in my ear as I set my head down on the side of the bowl. It wasn't the most sanitary place, but I couldn't be bothered to care. Not when it hurt too much to pick my head up.
"This is all your fault," I hissed, but it lacked its usual heat.
"I know, and I'm sorry about that."
Damn him for sounding genuine in his response.
"You can go now. I'll be fine."
Maverick had the nerve to laugh. "Did you forget this is my house?"
I groaned. I actually had forgotten I was at his place. Damn, just the thought of getting back into my car and driving the short distance to my house seemed like a lot.
I would do it though. I was too stubborn not to.
"You're right." I pushed myself up off the floor with help from Maverick. I stumbled my way back through his house.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked from his position next to me. He was probably standing there in case I fell flat on my ass. My stubborn attitude wasn't about to let that happen.
"Home. Where I belong."
"I don't think so. You're in no condition to drive."
I really hated when men tried to tell me what to do. I hated it even more when I knew they were right. I was in no condition to drive, but hell would freeze over before I admitted that.
"Women have been having babies since the beginning of time, and they've been driving themselves for nearly a hundred years. I don't plan on being any different."
"That might be true, but I'm guessing women would also realize when they're about to fall over from dehydration and seek some help."
I scoffed at his assessment. "I'm not dehydrated."
That was probably a lie. I hadn't been able to keep anything down for days. Even water came back up. It was actually pretty damn annoying.
"You most certainly are, and I'm tempted to take you to the hospital to get fluids in you."
"Over my dead body," I hissed back.
"Then be smart and stay here for a bit. Otherwise I'm taking the decision out of your hands."
I hated Maverick in that moment. I wanted the old Maverick back. The one who never challenged my rules. This new Maverick I wanted to strangle and not in a fun sexy kind of way.
"That's blackmail."
"So it is, but I'll do whatever it takes to keep you and our baby safe. Even if it is from yourself."
Our baby. I wasn't sure I would ever get used to that.