Chapter 23
Lainey
Pregnant.
The word sounds surreal, like it belongs to someone else. But it’s mine now.
I’ve always wanted a family of my own, a dream I’ve clung to for as long as I can remember. I envisioned meeting Mr. Perfect, having the dream wedding, and then starting a family. That was the plan. The plan I’d held onto so tightly for years.
And yet, here I am. No Mr. Perfect. No wedding. Just a baby on the way.
I glance down at my hand resting lightly over my stomach. The thought of being a mom stirs a small flicker of joy, quickly overwhelmed by a tidal wave of uncertainty. Two days. It’s been two days since I found out, and I’ve been floating in a fog of disbelief ever since.
I’ve always wanted to be part of a big family.
Spending time with Zach’s family at their reunion reminded me of that ache.
They’re loud, loving, and completely unapologetic in how much they care for each other.
It was everything I imagined a family should be.
But that wasn’t real for me. I was just playing pretend.
Now, though, I’m not pretending anymore. I’m having a baby.
A soft ping from my computer snaps me out of my thoughts, but I barely glance at the notification.
My mind isn’t on work or the dozens of emails waiting for me.
I’ve been avoiding Chloe and Janelle too, letting their calls go to voicemail and sending a quick text to assure them I’m fine.
Right now, I need space to figure out how to share this news without falling apart.
I close my laptop and grab my phone, scrolling to Anna’s name. She’ll know what to say. She always does.
The phone rings twice before Anna picks up, her familiar face filling the screen. “Hey stranger! I haven’t heard from you since we moved here. How are you?”
“I’m good,” I say, my voice unconvincing, even to my own ears. “Sorry I haven’t called. Life and work have been… hectic.”
Before Anna can respond, my nephew’s head pops into the frame, his wide grin lighting up the screen. “Hi, Auntie Lainey! I miss you! I wish you could visit.”
My heart squeezes. “Hey, buddy! I miss you too. How’s the new house? Are you liking your school?”
Joshua nods enthusiastically. “Yeah! I made a new friend, and we’re building a treehouse in his backyard. You’d like it—it’s really cool!”
I laugh softly, the warmth of his excitement melting away some of the tension in my chest. “That sounds amazing. I can’t wait to see it. I’ll visit soon, I promise.”
My brother in law, Ron, leans into view, offering a quick wave. “Hey, Lainey! Long time no see.”
“Hey, Ron. How’s everything?” I ask, grateful for the distraction.
“Busy, as always,” he says with a chuckle. “You know Anna keeps us all in line.”
“Someone has to,” Anna retorts with a playful roll of her eyes. She shoos Ron and Joshua away, then turns her attention back to me, her expression softening. “Okay, spill. What’s going on?”
I hesitate, chewing on my bottom lip. “How did you know I had something to tell you?”
Anna arches an eyebrow. “Lainey, I know you. Now, out with it.”
Taking a deep breath, I let the words tumble out. “I’m pregnant.”
Anna’s eyes widen, and her hands fly to her mouth. “Oh my God! Lainey, are you serious?”
I nod, a shaky smile breaking through. “Yeah.”
“Oh, honey, congratulations!” she exclaims, her voice bubbling with excitement. “I’m so happy for you. I have so many questions, though. But first, how are you feeling?”
I let out a small laugh, grateful for her enthusiasm. “Strangely, as soon as I found out I was pregnant, the nausea went away.”
Anna chuckles. “Lucky! Some women have it through the whole first trimester, or worse, the entire pregnancy.”
She pauses, her gaze turning thoughtful. “So… when do we get to meet the daddy?”
My smile falters. “Um, yeah. About that.”
Anna’s face falls. “Lainey?”
I hesitate before sighing. “It’s complicated.”
Her brow furrows in concern. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine. I’m fine,” I say quickly, though my voice wavers. “It’s just… we had a one-night stand. Well, it started that way. Then it got more complicated. But he hasn’t called me since we found out.”
Anna’s expression softens with sympathy. “Oh, Lainey,” she says gently. “You’re in love with him.”
“Maybe. I don’t know. But like I said, it doesn’t matter. He’s not Mr. Perfect.”
“You can’t plan love. It just happens.”
I let out a shaky laugh, brushing a tear from my cheek. “You sound like a Hallmark card.”
“Maybe,” she teases, “but it’s true. So, what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to have this baby,” I say firmly. “And if I have to do it alone, I will.”
Anna smiles, though her eyes are misty. “You’ve always been strong. I’m proud of you. And I’m here for you, no matter what.”
There’s a knock at my office door, and I glance toward it. “Someone’s here. Thanks for the talk, Anna. I needed it.”
“Anytime,” she says. “I love you.”
“Love you too,” I reply, ending the call and taking a steadying breath. “Come in,” I call, bracing myself.
Chloe and Janelle step into the room, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity. “Lainey, you’ve been ignoring our calls,” Chloe says, crossing her arms. “We were about to show up at your place.”
“Yeah,” Janelle chimes in, giving me a pointed look. “What’s going on?”
I take a deep breath, motioning for them to sit in the chairs across from my desk. My heart pounds as I gather my thoughts, knowing there’s no easy way to say this. “I have something to tell you guys.”
They both sit, leaning forward with expectant looks. Their concern only adds to the pressure swirling in my chest.
“I’m pregnant,” I finally blurt out, the words rushing out in a single breath.
Chloe’s eyes widen as she grips the arm of her chair. “You’re what?”
Janelle nods slowly. “Oh, that’s huge news.”
I nod, feeling my cheeks heat under their combined gazes. “Yeah. That’s why I didn’t pick up your calls.”
Chloe tilts her head, something clicking in her expression. “So that’s why Zach didn’t pick up Wyatt’s call, either.”
My stomach flips. “You called Zach?”
“No,” Chloe says quickly, “but I was worried about you. When you didn’t pick up, I asked Wyatt to call Zach.”
“Wait,” Janelle cuts in, her sharp gaze darting between us. “Zach’s the baby daddy?”
I nod again.
Janelle’s jaw drops. “Holy shit! I thought maybe you had a one-night stand with one of your dates.”
“Gross. They were not one-night stand material,” I say with a laugh. The absurdity of the idea breaks some of my tension.
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Janelle teases, earning a glare from me.
Chloe smirks, leaning forward. “I guess now we know Ms. Independent sleeps with anyone.”
“Hey, not anyone,” Janelle chimes in, her mock-serious tone pulling a laugh out of me.
“I’m not judging,” Chloe says, her hands raised in surrender.
I can’t stop the laughter bubbling up, relief washing over me at their humor. “I haven’t laughed this hard in a while. Thanks, Janelle. You just made my morning.”
“I’m glad to be of service.” Janelle grins, getting up and walking over to give me a quick hug. “I guess this is congratulations then.”
Chloe follows, wrapping me in a warm embrace. “Congrats, bestie. I’m going to be number one best auntie.”“You’ll have to fight Anna for that title. She put dibs on it already,” I say, smiling at the memory of my sister’s excitement.
“Anna’s in another state,” Chloe argues. “I can be the best auntie here, and she can be the best auntie there.”
“I guess that makes me the cool auntie,” Janelle adds with a grin, earning a chuckle from all of us.
Chloe’s curiosity gets the better of her, and she settles back into her chair. “Okay, I have to ask, Lainey—and I’m sure we’re all thinking it. How did this happen?”
I sigh, my cheeks heating again. “Long story short, Zach used my lucky condom.”
Chloe gasps. “You mean the one with the sticker?”
“Yep. The one and only.”
Janelle shakes her head in disbelief. “I guess Zach was in too much of a hurry to check the expiration date.”
“Zach said that too,” I admit, grinning despite myself.
As Chloe and Janelle exchange a knowing look, I can’t help but think about the absurdity of it all.
I’d kept that condom for years, half as a joke and half because of what it symbolized.
Every time I’d had it with me, the guy I was with ended up being incredible in bed—not Mr. Perfect, but memorable enough to make me believe in its so-called luck.
Chloe’s smile fades slightly as she tilts her head. “Is Zach blaming you for this?”
Before I can respond, Janelle adds, “Yeah, do we need to handle Zach for you?”
“Ladies, stop,” I say firmly, holding up my hands. “No one is blaming anyone. We’re both grown adults.”
“So,” Chloe presses, her tone softening. “What’s the plan? Zach’s a sweet guy, but we all know he doesn’t do relationships.”
I hesitate, my heart twisting as Zach’s words from the ER replay in my mind. “I don’t know,” I admit. “He… he said he’s not ready for commitment. That was one of the reasons for our fake dating arrangement.”
The room falls silent, the weight of my confession settling over us. Chloe and Janelle exchange a look, their expressions softening with sympathy.
Janelle reaches out, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Whatever happens, you’ve got us.”
“Yeah,” Chloe agrees, her voice warm. “We’ll figure this out together.”
Their support wraps around me like a safety net, and for the first time in days, I feel like I can breathe a little easier. Whatever comes next, I won’t have to face it alone.