information so she can destroy my reputation at work, that much I’m sure of.
I don’t know how I should answer. If I deny it, she’ll just try harder to find out what I’m hiding, and if I tell the truth she’ll want to know who the daddy is, and she’ll assume it’s Reed or one of his brothers. The basket grows heavy in my arms, and I decide then that I’ll have to lie.
“Oh this?” I gesture towards the test, “God no. I’m picking it up for my friend. She had a scare, so I’m just trying to be a good friend and helping her out,” I lie through my teeth, hating the way her eyes on me make me feel.
Like I’m not good enough. Like I’m the dirt beneath her feet.
“Really? I thought I heard something about Reed needing a baby to keep the company…” I shove a few stray strands of hair behind my ear and shake my head, acting as if I haven’t the first clue what she’s talking about.
Standing here in the crowded supermarket discussing aspects of my personal life and lying about the other parts of it is making me nauseous.
“Rumors,” I tell her with a shrug. “That’s all they are. God knows you can’t believe everything you hear inside the walls of that place.” I force myself to laugh, feeling stupid for making such a lame statement.
Andi and her friend look at each other. I can tell they don’t believe a word I’m saying, but I’m too embarrassed and freaked out over the possibilities of what the test in this box is going to tell me I can’t come up with anything more convincing to say.
“Right. Rumors. They’re everywhere. I was worried there for a second that you might’ve actually thought you had a chance with Reed.” Her laughter fills my ears and my cheeks turn a darker shade of pink. It’s like high school all over again. Never being the one he wanted, but always being the one the girls hated for being so close to him.
I grit my teeth, hiding the pain beneath a thick layer of anger, “I would never think such a thing, Andi. Reed and I are merely friends, nothing more.” The lie hurts as much as if I stabbed myself in the heart.
Andi must take whatever I’ve said as good enough because she and her friend turn away from me, their attention turning to something else, like I was never here at all. I sigh inwardly, nearly sagging with relief against one of the magazine racks. Now I just need to hope she doesn’t run her mouth at work.
My hands are clammy, blood roaring in my ears as I wait, watching as they move through the line. I take a spot in the back and feel so much better when they leave the store. Andi sends me one last glare before stepping through the automatic doors.
I check out in a hurry and head back to my house where the scent of Reed and the memories of what we’ve done over the past few weeks invade my mind. Andi’s presence and shitty words at the store linger with me as well, and I know deep down in the pit of my stomach that she’s jealous, angry that Reed’s attention is no longer on her.
Smiling, I unpack every single item, putting them all away, minus the pregnancy test. That needs to remain out. I’m going to go to Reed’s tonight and try to figure out what’s going on with him.
The choice I have to make if the test is negative terrifies me.
I want to be the one to give Reed what he wants, but not at the expense of my heart. I’ve fallen so hard for him, as hard as I think he was falling for me, and tonight I’ll confront him about the words he spoke to me. About him being in love with me. I’ve gone back and forth with myself over the outcome of what all this could bring.
Happiness.
Anger.
Sadness.
Loss.
I don’t want to lose Reed, but I can’t make him confess his feelings for me. I can only tell him how I feel and hope he admits to feeling the same way.
Grabbing the test off the counter, I slip it into my purse. I’m only a few days late, so it might be too early to test, but I have to do this. I have to see if we’ve already sealed our fate.
Pulling my cell out I dial