“Dude, I think she’s pregnant.”
Holy shit! I rolled my eyes. Logan, you idiot. Who the hell did he get pregnant?
“You have to get her to take a test.”
I snorted. What an ass. Were his legs broken? Why couldn’t he take his girl to get a test?
“Because, when I was home over Christmas break, my sister was the exact same way.”
I shook my head. I didn’t need to get involved in
that
fiasco.
Ten minutes later, he emerged.
“Go home,” he said.
“What?” Shit, I shouldn’t have waited to talk to him. “I don’t get off for another two hours. If you’re worried about me getting sick again, I won’t.”
“I’m not worried about that; just go home. I’ll cover you.” Logan grabbed my hand and helped me off the stool I was sitting on.
“Are you sure? I really don’t mind staying. I already feel better.”
“I’m sure.”
I slung my purse over my shoulder. Logan took a breath.
“Are you leaving Friday for spring break?”
“Yeah, Hailey and I are heading home.”
“I got your shift covered tomorrow. I’ll see you after you get back.” .
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure; see you when you get back.” He stopped me before I left. “Kenzie. Take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
As soon as I walked out of the library, I sent Hailey a text to see where she was. I didn’t see Dominic sneak up behind me.
“Damn it, Dominic,” I said.
“Sorry, thought you heard me coming up.”
I finished my text and slid my phone back in my purse. I felt a little awkward talking to after everything went down and now being with Hunter.
“Are you heading back to the dorms?”
“Yeah, on my way.”
He kicked a rock from his path. “You talking to Hunter yet?”
“No.”
The rock bounced into the street.
“How are you getting home then?” he asked.
“I asked Jackson to come pick us up.”
“Well, I can take you. I was actually getting ready to leave tonight anyway.”
“Let me call Hailey.” I reached in my purse and dialed Hailey’s number. I felt shitty using him for a ride home but it would get me home earlier and less of a chance of running into Hunter.
The radio lowered before she answered.
“Hey, where are you?” I asked.
“Out with Zeke. What’s up?”
“Logan sent me home because I got sick at work and gave me tomorrow off. Dominic offered to take us home tonight. You want to go?”
“Hell yeah! I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
I shrugged at Dominic. “I guess we’re heading home tonight. Thanks.”
“Great! I have a few last minute things to pack and take care of so I’ll come meet you in about an hour?”
“Sure.”
I walked off towards the dorms and Dominic took off the other way towards Brittany. Hailey and I got everything ready to go and put all our bags by the door, waiting for Dominic to come. He finally showed up right on time. We got all the bags loaded in his car and left to head home. After having a huge fight with Hunter about Dominic, I hope this didn’t further piss him off to the point where we couldn’t even be friends.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
We got into town late, but Dom wanted to stop at the store before he took us home. He was in and out and quick to take Hailey home. I promised to call her in the morning. Dom headed towards my house, but he pulled the car off the side of the road.
I raised my eyebrow. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I need to talk to you now that there isn’t anyone else around.”
“Dominic, please just take me home. I can’t do this with you right now.”
“Listen to me.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and stared straight ahead.
He cleared his throat. “Did you sleep with Hunter?”
Groaning, I dropped my head to the back on the seat. “I’m not talking to you about this, Dominic. I don’t ask what’s going on with you and Brittany; don’t ask about me and Hunter.”
“I know, but just answer the question. It’s important.”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Damn it, Kenzie, just answer the question!”
I was fuming, but I knew him well enough to know if I didn’t answer him, I would be here all night and I really just wanted to go home. Huffing, I said, “Yes.”
He ran his hand through his hair before reaching into the center console. He handed me the drug store bag.
“You need to take this.”
I opened the bag and shot my eyes up to him.
“Are you fucking kidding me? I’m not pregnant, asshole.” I shoved the bag back into his chest. He was silent for a moment.
“I can’t be pregnant, I’m on the pill,” I said.
“Then what do you have to lose?” He held my stare. “This isn’t you being upset. You’re different.”
“Take me home.”
Dominic put the car back in drive. I slammed the car door when I got home, but he pushed the bag back at me. I shoved it in my purse.
“Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you back at school.”
“Let me know if you need a ride back.”
I hauled my things out of the trunk and headed inside.
“Kenzie,” Dominic called out. “If you need to talk or anything, call me.”
He didn’t wait for me to answer; he got back in his car and backed out of the driveway.
My mom was pacing the floor when I walked in
“Oh, thank God.” She squeezed me into a hug.
“Mom?”
“Hunter has been calling nonstop looking for you. He said your phone is turned off, and he couldn’t get a hold of you.”
Nice, why was he calling now?
“Well, Hunter shouldn’t worry about me. He hasn’t for the last two weeks. Hailey and I got a ride home from Dominic.”
“What do you mean he hasn’t worried for the last two weeks? Are you fighting?”
“Yeah, because of Mason’s bullshit.”
“Oh, baby girl, I’m so sorry.” She gently rocked me back and forth. The swaying was doing nothing for my stomach.
“Look, I’m really tired and I just want to go to sleep. We’ll catch up later.” I kissed her cheek and started for the stairs.
“What do you want me to tell Hunter when he calls back?” She asked.
“Tell him whatever you want.”
I didn’t care if he got pissed off because I took off again or because Dominic took us home.
I went upstairs, dropped my bags, slipped off my shoes and curled up in bed. I fell asleep for a little while, but the drug store bag taunted me. It was after three in the morning when I had finally had enough and got up to take the test just to prove to Dominic that I was not pregnant. I might have wanted to prove it to myself too.
I hid the bag and darted into the hallway. Hailey and Mason whispered outside their door. What the hell was Mason doing here this late at night with Hailey?
Mason grabbed my arm before I could get past him. He pulled me to his chest and hugged me. “I’m sorry I’ve been such an asshole lately.”
I pushed off back. “If you don’t mean it, then don’t apologize to me, Mase. I know you’re only saying it because I’m not with Hunter anymore.”
He frowned and said, “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to see you hurt, and, from what Hailey’s told me, you are hurting.” He pulled me back to his chest and kissed my forehead. “I’m sorry. I’ll talk to Hunter tomorrow.”
Shaking my head and trying to hold in the tears, I said, “Don’t worry about it. It’s over between us.”
I need to figure out if what Dominic said could be true before I worried about anything else. If it’s positive I’m not really sure what will happen to us.
“I’ll fix it. It’s my fault. I don’t think he’s good enough for my little sister, but I don’t want to see you like this every day.”
Tears streamed down my face, soaking his shirt. “Please, don’t. Let it be, for me.”
He sighed and wiped a tear from my cheek. “Ok. I won’t say anything.”
“Thanks, Mase.” I glanced at Hailey. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
I pulled her into the bathroom with me and turned on the faucet so Mason couldn’t hear us. I pulled out the test from the bag, and her eyes flew open wide.
“You have to be shitting me!”
“Shh, Hailey.” I flipped the box over and read the directions. “Turn around. When I’m done, I need you to look at this and tell me it’s negative, ok?”
She turned around and nodded. I followed the instructions and cleaned myself up, refusing to look at the godforsaken test.
“Ok, tell me it’s negative.”
Hailey slowly turned around, gasped, and put her hand over her mouth.
That was not the reaction I wanted.
“Hailey, it’s negative, right?”
She looked at me but didn’t say anything.
Fine, I guess I had to do this on my own.
“Fuck!” I yelled and then put my hand over my mouth.
Five, ten, twenty minutes went by and we both just stared at the test in disbelief.
Mason must have been worrying. He banged on the door.
“Kenzie, Hailey, you guys ok? You’ve been in there forever.”
Worried he would barge in here, I threw the test back in the bag and shoved it under my shirt. I pointed at Hailey.
“Don’t you dare say a word to anyone.”
I walked straight into my room and stashed the test in the back of my underwear drawer. I paced the floor for the rest of the night. The test had to be wrong. I always took my pill at the same time every day, and I never missed. There had to be a mistake.
Around eight the next morning, I still couldn’t think about going to sleep. I needed to talk to someone. I couldn’t talk to my mom, and Hailey had no idea about being pregnant.
Chloe!
I grabbed my cell and dialed Chloe.
“Kenzie, what in the hell are you doing up so early?” She yawned as Alex cried in the background.
“Um, can I come over? I need to talk to you.” I was already downstairs, keys in hand.
“Yeah, sure, but stop and grab us coffee first. Alex has been up most of the night.”
“Ok, see you in a few.”
Fifteen minutes later, I pulled up to Jackson and Chloe’s newly purchased little house. I grabbed the coffee and made my way inside. Alex was lying on his back on his little play mat, and Chloe, who looked like she hasn’t slept in hours, was in the kitchen making bacon. The smell curdled my stomach. I dumped the coffee in the kitchen and darted to the bathroom to throw up.
I heard mumbling outside of the bathroom door. Chloe knocked.
“Kenz, let me in.”
“Hold on a second.” I rinsed my mouth out before I opened the door. “Sorry, I just had to pee.”
Chloe shook her head. “Not buying it. You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
“Shh, I don’t know. That’s why I’m here.” I pulled her into the bathroom. “I took a test, but it can’t be right. I take my pills every day. What the hell am I going to do? I need you to fix this.”
She raised her eyebrows at me. “Have you taken another test since last night?”
“No, that was the only one. I didn’t even think about any of this shit until Dominic mentioned it to me. He gave me the test to take.”
“He what? How did he know?”
“I don’t really know, I never asked.” I sat down on the edge of the tub. “What do I do? I’m freaking out.”
“Freaking out isn’t going to help you at all. Let me go throw on a pair of shoes, and I’ll tell Jackson I forgot to grab eggs. We will run to the store and grab another test.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
Chloe picked up Alex and took him to Jackson. I covered my nose with my shirt to keep from smelling the bacon resting in the kitchen.
“You’re pregnant.” She said when she saw me holding my nose. “I was the same way; everything smells nasty and turns your stomach.”
“Alright Dr. Oz, can we go, please?”
We ran into town to the nearest drug store, picked up a test, and made it back to the house within fifteen minutes.
“Go take the test, and I’ll go distract Jackson.” Chloe said when we pulled into the driveway.
I walked in and went right in to the bathroom to take the test. Five minutes later, I still had the same damn results.
PREGNANT.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
What was I going to do? Neither one of us was ready to have a baby. Neither one could afford to provide for a baby. Hunter was graduating this year and then would be enrolling into a police academy. I wasn’t even sure where he was planning on living. I still had three years to finish so that I could become a teacher, something I have always wanted to do since I was little. Yes, Hunter and I both had jobs to help pay for things we needed, but not enough to take care of a baby. Would he even want our baby? Would I be a single mom? There was no way I was aborting my baby or giving him or her up for adoption. I couldn’t even think about it. It just wasn’t an option for me.