Too Complicated (The Lewis Cousins 2)

“Yeah, sure, it’ll be good to get out of here for a while,” he replied.

We went into the waiting room to take orders, but the consensus was that everyone needed to get a break, so we decided to all go out to dinner, then bring Gabe and Zoey food back.

I shot Chloe a text, hoping to meet up with her.

We are all heading to the Diner for food. Want to join or me to bring something back?

It wasn’t until we arrived at the diner that she texted back.

No, I’m good. I grabbed something on my way to get the bag. Can you bring Chris home with you when you’re done?

Of Course.

Thanks.

I was disappointed that I wouldn’t have the chance to see her and talk for another few hours, but I vowed that I’d speak with her face to face tonight, and sort this all out.

Chapter Thirty-Six ~ Chloe

I hadn’t lied, at least, not entirely. I had picked up a bag of chocolate chip cookies and a bag of Jalapeno Crunchers at the drug store when I went to buy five pregnancy tests. Maybe it wasn’t technically a meal, but I knew there was no way I could meet everyone at the diner and sit through a meal.

Not after what Annabeth had said.

And, not until I knew whether or not I had a baby growing inside of me.

I dropped off the duffle bag of Zoey and Evie’s hospital things to Zoey and Gabe. Luckily, Evie was breastfeeding and the nurse was answering their questions, so I was able to slip in and out quickly, mouthing “I’ll be back” to my sister.

I was grateful that Chris was with Reardon, not only so he could bring him back home later, but because that meant I had the house to myself. And I really needed to be alone for what I was about to do.

I threw everything except the pregnancy tests on the counter, then walked directly to the bathroom and started peeing. I peed on all five sticks, laid them out on the bathtub rim, and walked out.

After washing my hands, I set the kitchen timer and opened the bag of chocolate chip cookies and went to town while I waited.

What the hell is wrong with me, I wondered. Could history really be repeating itself right now? Is a drunken mistake at a wedding really going to result in my second pregnancy?

What is it about me and the men in this family? Am I cursed? Doomed? Fated to have another Lewis child out of wedlock?

My parents would be so proud…

The timer went off, so I set the cookies down and wiped the tears off my cheeks. Tears I hadn’t even realized I’d been shedding.

“No use in getting all worked up before I even know the results,” I chided myself out loud.

Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulder and marched back to the bathroom. Okay, maybe march was the wrong word. It was more like an elderly shuffle.

I was in no hurry to look at those damn sticks.

“Fuck,” I whispered, my hands holding onto the doorjamb of the bathroom, as if I were trying to keep myself safe during an earthquake.

I closed my eyes and mentally told myself to stop being a baby, then opened them and put my determined face on.

I moved slowly toward the tub, my neck craning to try and see before I got there, like I was looking out for spiders or something.

Stopping suddenly, my breath hitched as I noticed varying degrees of positive signs. A smiley face, two pink lines, one blue cross, one red t, and one that simply stated, pregnant.

I guessed it didn’t get much clearer than that.

Shit.