I shook my head. “Noah won’t be there. I already asked my brother, and he said Noah had a business trip he couldn’t change, so he has to miss it. My brother is pretty upset about it, but it would have been either me or Noah missing the wedding. There is a still a chance he could end up going though if his trip is canceled so there is always the chance I might not go.”
“Oh, thank God. Court, you never told your parents? Why?”
“I don’t know. Guilt…or mostly embarrassment because I let someone do that to me. If I had known then what I know now, I would have screamed for my father that night, but I didn’t know any better, and I can’t turn back time. I think I’m slowly starting to realize that it wasn’t my fault and that I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Whitley let out a gasp. “No, you didn’t! It was all him, Court. He took advantage of you. I wish you had shot his ass. I never did like that prick.”
We both started laughing, and I needed to move us on to another subject.
“I’m getting married tomorrow. I want to focus on the future and not the past.” I reached into my purse and pulled out two pregnancy tests.
Whitley’s eyes grew bigger.
I laughed. “Don’t even go there. My silly mother wants me to take a pregnancy test to prove that I’m not pregnant, but…” I wiggled my eyebrows up and down.
Whitley let out a giggle. “You are so mean. You want me to pee on one, don’t you?” she asked as she stood up.
I laughed my evil laugh as I stood, and we hooked arms on the way to the restroom.
I set the tests down on the counter and opened one. I took a picture of it and sent it to my mother.
Courtney: Taking the test, Mother. I hope this proves to you that I’m NOT pregnant!
Mom: How do I know it’s you peeing on the test?
Courtney: Do you really want to go there, Mom? I’ll film myself pissing on a stick if you really want me to.
Mom: No. I raised you right. I trust you.
I rolled my eyes and made my way into the stall. “You go on the other test,” I said as I shut the door.
“But I don’t have to pee. I just went,” Whitley said.
“Seriously, Whit? You’ve had to pee all night! And the one time I need you to pee, you can’t?”
She let out a giggle. “Sorry. Maybe if I run the water.”
She turned on the water, and I began peeing on the stick. I couldn’t believe my mother thought I was rushing to get married because I was pregnant. I pulled out some toilet paper and set the test down, and then I began pulling up my pants.
“I think the water is making me want to go,” Whitley said.
I smiled as I went to reach for the test. My hand stopped just short of it. Why are there two lines? My heart began pounding so loud that it was hurting my ears.
“Okay, I’ve got to go now,” Whitley said.
I grabbed the test and threw open the stall door. “Stop! Don’t use that test!” I screamed.
Whitley froze in place as I walked up to her, and I grabbed it out of her hand before going back into the stall.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I don’t have to pee anymore.
“Turn on the water! Make it warm!” I yelled out.
“Um…okay. But why warm?” Whitley asked.
I let out a sigh and said, “Gesh, Whitley, everyone knows warm water makes you want to pee.” My hand was shaking so bad that I could hardly hold the test. I looked at the other test. Yep, still two lines.
“Uh…I hate to be the one to break it to you, Court, but that only works if you actually stick your hand in the warm water.”