Chapter 22
Zach
I step into the private poker venue with Wyatt and the guys, nodding at the bartender as he sets out our drinks on a side table. The place is decked out for a bachelor’s night, dim lights casting shadows over the tables, the air thick with excitement and competition.
Wyatt and I have been looking forward to this evening for weeks, and now that it’s here, I can’t help but grin as the crew filters in one by one, each of them just as ready to blow off some steam.
Mark gives me a nod from across the room as he takes a seat at the poker table, shuffling his chips like the seasoned player he is. Wyatt slaps me on the back, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Ready to lose all your money, Darling?”
I laugh, setting down my drink and cracking my knuckles. “Only if you’re ready to watch me take all yours, Banks.”
We start the night off strong, everyone diving into the poker tournament with the kind of intensity that only comes from years of competition.
But after a couple of rounds, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high enough to keep everyone’s attention.
Mark raises an eyebrow at Wyatt as if to say, is that all you’ve got?
And one of the younger guys, Mason, yawns, clearly ready for a change of pace.
Wyatt stretches back, grinning. “Alright, boys, I think it’s time to shake things up. Who’s up for a change of scenery?”
The suggestion is met with a collective cheer, and within minutes, we’re heading out to a VIP nightclub a few blocks down. The energy ramps up as soon as we step into the club, the thumping bass vibrating through the floor and the neon lights giving everything a surreal glow.
I’m barely two steps inside when I spot a familiar face on the dance floor.
Lainey’s out there, her blonde hair catching the lights as she moves with Chloe and a group of friends.
She looks incredible—radiant, laughing, fully immersed in the moment.
A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. Even after all the time we’ve spent together lately, seeing her like this, completely in her element, still makes my chest tighten.
Lainey’s eyes catch mine, and she immediately narrows them, crossing her arms as she walks toward me. “Oh no, you guys need to leave,” she says in a mock-serious tone, her voice just loud enough to carry over the music. “We were here first.”
“Nice try,” I shoot back, giving her a teasing grin. “But I think this place is big enough for all of us.”
Wyatt catches sight of Chloe and heads straight for her, leaving me with Lainey. Chloe practically beams as Wyatt reaches her, pulling him into a tight hug. “I missed you!” she exclaims, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.
“Missed you too,” Wyatt replies, grinning as he holds her close.
Lainey rolls her eyes, letting out an exaggerated sigh. “Great. My plans for a girls’ night just went right out the window.”
Wyatt lets out a hearty laugh, followed by Chloe, who nudges Lainey playfully. Janelle joins in, adding her own laugh to the mix. Lainey finally relents, throwing her hands up in defeat. “Fine. You guys can stay.”
“Wouldn’t want to ruin the fun,” I say, raising an eyebrow at her. She shoots me a look, but there’s a glint of amusement in her eyes.
We dive into the evening, dancing, laughing, and toasting to Wyatt and Chloe’s upcoming wedding. Everyone’s letting loose.
Half an hour later, I realize that Lainey and Chloe are missing. I glance around, scanning the crowd, but they’re nowhere in sight. A small pang of worry hits me, and I weave through the crowd toward the bathrooms, figuring I’ll check there first.
Just as I’m about to head down the hall, I spot them emerging from the bathroom together. Chloe has an arm wrapped around Lainey’s shoulder, and Lainey looks a little pale, her brow furrowed.
I step up to them, my concern growing. “Everything okay?”
Chloe gives me a reassuring smile, but there’s a hint of worry in her eyes. “Yeah, we think Lainey might’ve eaten something that didn’t sit right. She’s been feeling sick all week.”
Lainey waves a hand dismissively. “It’s fine, really. I’m not going to let a bug ruin Chloe’s night.”
Chloe frowns, clearly not convinced. “Lainey, it’s been a week. I think you should go to the ER. The urgent care is probably closed by now.”
Lainey tries to brush her off, but I can see how exhausted she looks. “Chloe, it’s your night. I’m not going to bail just because of some lingering bug.”
Chloe’s expression softens, but her tone is firm. “I’d feel better if you got checked out. Seriously.”
I step in, my own worry solidifying. “I can take you, Lainey. No need for Chloe to leave.”
Lainey opens her mouth to protest, but after a beat, she lets out a sigh, clearly too tired to argue. “Fine. But let’s make it quick.”
Chloe gives her a grateful hug, and I guide Lainey out of the club, helping her into the car. The drive to the ER is quiet, a mix of tension and uncertainty hanging in the air. I keep glancing over at her, trying to read her expression, but she’s too focused on staring out the window.
When we arrive, the ER is relatively quiet, and Lainey gets checked in quickly. I wait with her, resisting the urge to tap my foot as we settle into the waiting room chairs. Lainey leans back, closing her eyes for a moment, looking as exhausted as I feel.
Lainey sighs, rubbing her forehead. “This is so ridiculous. Chloe’s probably going to worry all night.”
I give her a reassuring squeeze. “She’ll be fine. I’ll text her once you’re feeling better.”
She protests, but just then, a nurse calls her name. She looks at me, as if to say I don’t have to come, but I shake my head. “I’m not staying out here alone, Lainey.”
She doesn’t argue, just gives me a soft, grateful smile as we follow the nurse down the sterile hallway to a small examination room. She hands Lainey a gown and tells her the doctor will be in shortly.
When Lainey’s ready, I sit beside her on the examination bed, holding her hand as we wait. She leans her head back against the wall, closing her eyes for a moment. I keep quiet, letting her rest, my own mind racing with the possibilities.
A few minutes later, there’s a soft knock, and a doctor steps in, clipboard in hand, wearing the kind of calm, practiced expression that suggests he’s done this a thousand times.
He introduces himself, giving Lainey a quick examination and asking about her symptoms. She describes the nausea, the tiredness, the lingering sickness that won’t seem to go away.
The doctor nods, jotting down notes. “We’ll do some routine tests,” he says, “just to rule things out. We’ll start with bloodwork. It shouldn’t take long.”
Lainey nods, giving him a small smile as he leaves the room. The silence stretches as we wait for the results, Lainey’s hand gripping mine a little tighter than usual. Her expression wavers between nervous and tired, and I squeeze her hand back, hoping it offers some comfort.
“Maybe it’s just stress,” I say quietly. “You’ve been doing a lot for Chloe’s wedding and juggling work, too.”
She shrugs, looking unconvinced. “Maybe. But something doesn’t feel right.”
The doctor finally walks in, clipboard in hand. His expression is unreadable, professional, and he greets us with a polite smile.
Lainey stiffens beside me, her hands gripping the edge of the exam table like it’s the only thing keeping her steady.
“Ms. Carrey,” he begins, his tone measured, “we’ve reviewed your test results, and they explain the symptoms you’ve been experiencing.”
Lainey leans forward, her voice tight with worry. “Am I okay? Is it… is it just a stomach bug?”
The doctor shakes his head gently. “No, it’s not a stomach bug,” he says, his tone softening. “Ms. Carrey, you’re pregnant.”
Lainey freezes, her breath catching. “Pregnant?” she repeats, the word coming out as a whisper.
“Yes,” he confirms, nodding. “You’ll want to schedule a follow-up appointment with an OB-GYN for prenatal care and to discuss the next steps. In the meantime, I recommend taking it easy, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest.”
Lainey’s lips part, but no words come out. She looks at me, then back at the doctor, clearly trying to process what he’s just said. I feel my own thoughts scrambling for purchase, trying to wrap around the word pregnant like it’s written in neon lights.
I clear my throat, finding my voice. “How far along is she?”
The doctor glances at the clipboard again. “Approximately nine weeks, based on the timeline of symptoms and hormone levels.”
Nine weeks. My chest tightens, and my mind immediately goes to the engagement party. That night. The memory hits me like a tidal wave—the hallway, the kiss, the rushed, heated moments that followed.
Lainey’s face is pale, her hand moving automatically to her stomach as if the realization is just starting to sink in. “But… we used protection,” she says, her voice shaking.
The doctor offers a sympathetic nod. “Condoms are highly effective, but no method is 100% foolproof. These things happen sometimes.” He hesitates, his gaze shifting between us. “This news often comes as a shock. I’ll give you both a few moments to process. If you have any questions, let me know.”
“No,” Lainey says quickly, her voice tight. “Thank you, doctor.”
He gives us a final, reassuring smile before slipping out of the room.
The silence that follows is heavy, almost suffocating. Lainey sits frozen, her hand still on her stomach, her eyes fixed on some point far away. I’m not sure if she’s going to cry, laugh, or run.
Finally, she lets out a shaky breath, breaking the quiet. “How… I don’t understand.”
Lainey’s eyes suddenly widen, and she starts rummaging through her bag with frantic energy. “No. No. No,” she mutters under her breath.
Alarmed, I put a hand on her arm to stop her. “Lainey, what are you doing? Are you okay?”
She freezes for a second before blurting, “My lucky condom.”
I blink, completely thrown. “Your what?”
“My lucky condom!” She’s practically tearing through her purse now, her movements desperate. When she finally sits back, her face is pale, and her hand covers her mouth. “Zach… did you use the condom that was in my wallet?”
My stomach sinks as the memory sharpens—the condoms I’d grabbed from her clutch, one of them marked with a little sticker. I thought it was just Lainey being her usual over-organized, control-freak self. A cute quirk, maybe. I didn’t think twice. “You mean the one with the sticker on it?”
She freezes, her face going pale as she stares at me. “You used it?” she whispers, her voice shaking. “Zach, that condom was expired.”
The room tilts slightly, the air growing heavier with each passing second. “Who keeps an expired condom in their wallet?” The words leave my mouth before I can stop them, my frustration bubbling over.
“I didn’t think you’d use it without checking the expiration date!”
“I didn’t exactly have time to read the fine print!” I snap back, running a hand through my hair as I pace the small room. My voice softens as guilt creeps in. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just… this is a lot to process.”
Her laugh is shaky, more a sound of disbelief than humor. “Yeah. Tell me about it.”
For a moment, neither of us speaks. The weight of the situation presses down like a lead blanket. I want to pace, to do something—anything—to shake off the surreal feeling twisting in my chest.
“Lainey,” I finally say, my voice low, careful. “You know I’m not… I’m not ready to settle down. That was the whole point of us doing this fake dating thing. To avoid… all of this.”
She nods slowly, her expression unreadable. “I know. This wasn’t part of the plan.” Her voice cracks on the last word, and she looks away, blinking rapidly as if trying to hold herself together. “I mean, I’ve always wanted children, but I didn’t think it would be like this.”
The plan was simple. Fake dating to keep our families off our backs, no strings, no complications. But now? Now the lines are so blurred they’re practically nonexistent.
This isn’t what either of us signed up for, and yet, here we are, caught in the fallout of one impulsive night.