I needed to know.
I was seriously afraid that I’d have a heart attack if it were positive. Unsure if I could handle taking the test alone, I pondered whether I could trust Riley with this secret.
If it turned out she was in her room, I’d tell her. If she wasn’t, that would be my sign from above to keep this to myself.
Riley was sitting in front of her vanity, curling waves into the front of her hair when I interrupted.
She could immediately tell something was wrong from the look on my face as I stood in her doorway.
She put down her curling iron. “Did something happen?”
My tone was firm. “Riley, you need to promise me you won’t say anything to anyone.”
“What the…did Rush do something?”
“No, no. Rush is…amazing. This doesn’t have anything to do with him.” Sitting down on her bed, I got right to the point. “Do you remember the one-night stand I had with that guy from The Heights?”
“The one who gave you the wrong number. Yeah.”
“Well, I’m scared he might have left me with more than just a wrong number.”
Her eyes widened. “Do you have a disease?”
I shook my head. “No. At least, I hope not.”
“What, then?”
“I had a spotty period last month, and I’m late now.”
She covered her mouth. “Oh my God.”
My voice was trembling. “I’m scared, Riley. Really scared.”
“Does Rush know?”
“Of course not. I can’t even imagine how he’d react. This would completely blindside him. We’ve really gotten close, to the point where I think I…” I couldn’t say the words, even though I felt them deep inside my heart.
She read my mind. “You’re falling in love with him.”
Yes.
Tears started to stream down my cheeks as I nodded in silence. I was totally losing it now.
“Come here.” Riley moved over to the bed and embraced me.
“I have to find out, but I’m scared.”
She took a deep breath in then blew it out slowly. “Okay, tell you what. You stay here. Try not to panic. I’ll go to the store and buy a test. Ironically, I have to run and get condoms for my date tonight.”
I sniffled. “Alright.”
“It’s going to be interesting when the cashier rings me up for condoms and a pregnancy test.” She grinned.“Staring at the box isn’t going to make this situation go away. There’s only one way to know,” she said.
“I know.”
Forcing myself up off the bed, I ventured into the bathroom and numbly opened the package, following the directions and peeing on the stick.
With my heart pounding, I walked back out to the bedroom where Riley was waiting and exhaled.
I sat down on the bed and she joined me.
Riley rubbed my back. “Just breathe, Gia.”
“Five minutes.” I sighed.
My phone chimed, nearly scaring the crap out of me because my nerves were so sensitized.
When I reached for it, I realized it was a text from Rush.Rush: Remember that shower you wanted to take with me last night…but I wouldn’t let you? Yeah, I think it might have to be on tonight. I can’t stop thinking about lathering up those delicious tits but not before I slide between them again. Okay with you?That message would have normally made me so excited about tonight. Instead, an unimaginable pain filled me. I already felt like I’d lost him somehow. It was hard to imagine not having Rush around anymore. He’d consumed every part of my life from the moment I first met him.
I guess I should write back.Gia: I miss you already.He had no idea that there was deeper meaning in that statement. I already missed what I knew I could potentially be losing in a matter of minutes.
It was past the time to look at the test now. The results would be there. I just couldn’t get myself to go back in the bathroom.
“You want me to check it?” she asked.
Swallowing nervously, I rubbed my palms on my thighs. “Yeah. Please.”
Riley crossed the hall and entered the bathroom. It felt like the longest thirty seconds of my life.
When she came back, her face was flush. She looked sullen.
She didn’t even have to say anything.
I knew.
My phone chimed.Rush: You’ve fucked me up, Gia. I’m crazy for you.His words were like a knife to the heart and couldn’t have come at a worse possible time.
Feeling numb, I closed my eyes, and Riley pulled me into a side hug. Leaning my head on her shoulder, I knew I was going to have to tell him. But I needed just one more night.
One more night where it was just Rush and me.
One more night before I inevitably lost him.Gia insisted that we stay in tonight. She said she wasn’t feeling well and just wanted to spend time with me at my place.
I wasn’t gonna argue with that. After a long day of making the rounds at several different properties and getting into it with this one contractor, there was nothing I wanted more than to just chill with my girl.