14. Beau
14
BEAU
M y stomach is churning. Marley went into the bathroom just a moment ago, promising to let me in as soon as she was done and to not look at the results before I was with her.
I’m standing outside the door to the bathroom, trying to give her privacy, but also not willing to go too far. I never expected the day to end up like this. I thought maybe I’d find her at the studio and finally tell her how I feel, how I want our future to be.
The toilet flushes, and the sink turns on. Marley opens the door a moment later, her beautiful eyes red and glassy. “It’s okay, Mar. I’m here,” I say. I pull her into a hug, noting three tests laying face down on the counter top.
My heart thumps rapidly in my chest as anxiety, excitement, and so much more run through my mind. I hold Marley while we wait. This will be a life changing moment, regardless of the result. I don’t know what I have to do to prove to her that either way, I’m hers. I’m not letting her go.
The alarm on her phone goes off and she pulls away abruptly. I let her go, but stand behind her as she faces the mirror, setting her hands palm down on the counter. I slide my arms around her waist, holding her close to my chest, needing to feel her in this moment. “Whenever you’re ready,” I say.
Marley takes a deep, long breath, and flips over two of the tests at the same time. These two are dye tests, one a bright bold blue plus sign, the other two dark pink lines.
With shaking hands, she flips over the digital test and I hold my breath.