Gina read through the instructions and followed them exactly. Then she put the test on the counter, washed her hands, and breathed.
I can do this.
I can do this.
Gina didn’t look away from the test. She stared at the lines as they came to life.
She was pregnant.
“I can’t do this.”
****
“I will kill you if you hurt my daughter.”
Jared stared at Gina’s dad. He was a big, powerful man. When he and Gina were kids, he was a little afraid of him, and that hadn’t changed as a full-grown man.
“I love her,” Jared said.
It felt good to tell someone other than Phil how he felt. His secrets and truths to Phil would remain with his best friend, so admitting anything didn’t feel different to him.
Telling Gina’s dad how he felt, this was real. This was out there.
Her dad chuckled. “You think I don’t know that?”
“Sir, I…”
“I know young kids don’t realize this, but we were like you once as well. All balls and no brains. You think we don’t know what it’s like to want to fit in? Terrified of doing the wrong thing? Saying the wrong thing?” He tutted. “We know more than most what it takes, but that doesn’t mean our feelings change. I was so disappointed in you.”
He kept on waving the knife, and Jared was a little afraid.
“I know. I fucked up.”
“But at the same time, I was pleased you did it.”
“What?”
The older man sighed and put the knife down. “You and Gina always had this bond. I’d never known anything like it. Sure, they talk about it in the movies and stuff like that, but with the two of you, it was always so different. You were never on a different wavelength. Always the same. Always heading straight ahead. I worried that she would … change her path just to be on yours.”
“I’d never have done anything to hold her back.”
Her father shook his head. “Not intentionally, but I know my little girl, Jared. She loved you. It broke her heart every single day to see you and to know that you weren’t friends. I hated you for it, but I was thankful. She got her head stuck down into her studies. She focused. The beauty thing took me by surprise. This is my girl, who would rather have books for Christmas presents and wrinkled her nose at makeup. She never did her hair unless you count pulling it back into a ponytail as a job well done.”
Jared smiled, recalling the few times she would try to change it up. It would result in two ponytails, or her hair tucked around in a looped bun.
She never took the time to learn those skills, but now, she loved doing all different kinds of styles and designs.
“She has changed a lot,” Jared said.
“Tell me about it.”
They heard the door open, and seconds later, Gina’s mother appeared in the doorway. “Something smells good.” She went up to Arthur and wrapped her arms around him, kissing his cheek.
“I only follow your recipe,” Arthur said.
Gina’s parents had always been loving. Her mother was strict with rules, plans, and timelines, but the love between them was palpable.
“Jared, give it five minutes and then go upstairs to the bathroom,” she said.
“O-okay.”
“Arthur, step out into the garden with me, please.”
Jared had no idea what was going on. He glanced at the time shining on the stove and waited the full five minutes before heading upstairs.
Was this where Gina told him it was over? Why would her mother take Arthur outside, if not for something bad about to happen?
He made his way upstairs, toward the bathroom.
The house was small, so they had a shared bathroom.
He lifted his hand and knocked.
“Who is it?” she asked.
“It’s me, Jared.”
He heard her chuckle. “Come on in.”
He gripped the doorknob, twisted it, and allowed himself to enter. Trying to keep a smile on his face, he stepped into the bathroom. When he looked at Gina, he saw tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Baby,” he said, going to her, sinking to his knees, and cupping her face. “What is it? What’s the matter?”
He couldn’t stand to see her like this. What could have happened for her to be crying?
Gina lifted her hand. “Look.”
Jared looked down, and there in her hands was a white stick. He knew what that was. “You took a pregnancy test?”
“Yes.”
“And?” he asked.
“It’s … positive. We’re going to have a baby, Jared.”
Her lip quivered. She looked so sad.
“You don’t want to have a baby with me?” Jared asked.
Gina looked up at him. “I … yes, I want to have a baby.”
“I did it on purpose,” Jared said.
“What?”
“I forgot to put a condom on, and I should have told you, but instead, I hid it, and every time since. I remembered a condom, but I stopped myself. I didn’t want to wear one.”