I immediately cling to that sentence with my entire soul.

"Yes. Exactly. We won’t panic."

Ivy nods supportively.

"We’ll do another one."

"Yes."

"Maybe two."

"Yes!"

She points at me.

"But stop looking like you’re about to commit a crime."

"I’m literally fighting for my life right now."

That almost makes her laugh.

Almost.

"Stay here," she says carefully. "I’ll go get more tests."

"Get the expensive ones."

"I was already planning to."

"And water!" I add quickly. "I made a mistake."

She blinks.

"What kind of mistake?"

"I didn’t pee in a cup or something first!"

I gesture wildly toward the sink.

"There’s no more pee left in my body, Ivy! I panicked!"

That finally makes her burst out laughing.

"This is not funny!"

"You’re yelling about having no pee in your bladder."

"Because I DON’T!"

I drop dramatically onto the closed toilet seat and bury my face in my hands.

"Oh my God."

Ivy crouches slightly in front of me.

"Hey."

I look up miserably.

"It’s gonna be okay."

"What if it’s not?"

"It will be."

"What if Zane hates this?"

Her expression immediately hardens.

"That man worships the ground you walk on."

"That does not mean he wants a baby."

"You don’t know that."

"I don’t know anything!" I whisper frantically. "We’ve never even talked about kids!"

Ivy softens again instantly.

Fear twists painfully in my chest because this suddenly feels too real.....Way too real.

A baby With Zane.

Holy shit.

"I’ll be back in two minutes," Ivy says gently while standing. "Do not spiral while I’m gone."

"No promises."

She points at me sternly.

"I mean it."

Then she hurries out of the bathroom leaving me alone with my thoughts. Worst mistake ever. The second the door swings shut behind her, I look down slowly toward my stomach.

And for the first time since this whole nightmare started... The possibility settles properly inside my chest.

What if there’s actually a baby in there?

———

Ivy comes back looking like she robbed the entire pharmacy section. She’s carrying a small paper bag stuffed so full the boxes are practically falling out.

"I panicked," she says immediately.

"You bought the whole store."

"You said get more!"

She dumps everything onto the counter beside me.

Five pregnancy tests, from brands.

One digital.

My stomach flips violently again.

"Oh my God."

"And," Ivy says proudly while holding up a bottle, "water."

I snatch it from her instantly.

"You’re an angel."

"I know right?."

I practically drain the entire bottle in one go while she watches me with concern and barely concealed amusement.

"You look like you’re preparing for battle.

"I am preparing for battle."

We leave the bathroom afterward and sit near the small food court area inside the supermarket while I desperately wait for my bladder to cooperate again.

Every second feels unbearable. I bounce my leg nervously while Ivy scrolls through her phone pretending not to stare at me every five seconds.

"This is taking too long," I mutter.

"You drank the water like a dying camel. Relax."

"I cannot relax."

"You’re making people stare."

"Good."

"You’re terrifying."

I glare at her weakly.

Then finally...a little Pressure hits my bladder and I bolt upright so fast Ivy almost drops her phone.

"Oh thank God."

She scrambles up laughing.

"That was fast."

"I have to pee RIGHT NOW."

We practically rush back toward the restroom together. Inside the stall, Ivy hands me a small plastic cup from the pharmacy bag.

"You came prepared."

"I’ve watched enough movies."

"You’re weird."

"You love me."

Fair.

A few minutes later I’m crouched over the toilet staring at five different pregnancy tests lined carefully across the counter like they’re tiny bombs about to detonate my life.

My heart pounds so hard I can hear it.

Ivy stands beside me biting nervously at her thumbnail now too.

Neither of us speaks.

We just star and Wait then Stare harder.

The silence becomes unbearable.

"How long does this take?" I whisper.

"Like three minutes maybe."

"Three minutes is evil."

Then suddenly the restroom door opens and Heavy footsteps enter.

I freeze instantly when a familiar voice follows.

"Ma’am."

Oh no.

I whip around so fast I nearly knock over the tests. Thomas stands near the entrance looking deeply unimpressed.

"What are you doing in here?!" I whisper-yell.

"You’ve been gone over twenty minutes."

I stare at him.

"You timed us?!"

"Yes."

"Oh my God."

He folds his hands calmly in front of him.

"I gave you privacy. The twenty minutes are over."

Ivy coughs awkwardly beside me trying not to laugh. I immediately move in front of the sink like my body can somehow hide five pregnancy tests.

"Thomas," I say carefully. "You can leave now."

"No."

"What do you mean no? You’re invading my privacy."

"I was instructed to remain near you."

"This is a women’s bathroom!"

"And yet here we are."

I groan loudly.

"Please leave."

His face remains completely blank.

"No."

I look at Ivy desperately. She looks seconds away from dying laughing.

Traitor.

Then suddenly realization crashes into me.

The tests

Oh God.

I slowly turn back toward the counter.

Thomas’s eyes narrow slightly.

"What exactly are you hiding?"

"Nothing!"

"That sounded guilty."

"Because you’re interrogating me in a bathroom!"

I rush toward the counter quickly before he can move closer.

Please be negative.

Please please please.

My fingers tremble slightly as I pick up the first digital test.

Then freeze.

It shows Pregnant.

My entire body goes still.

No.

I grab another one.

Pregnant.

Another.

Pregnant.

Another.

Pregnant.

The last one practically burns in my hand.

Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant.

"Oh my God."

The whisper leaves me before I can stop it.

Beside me, Ivy goes completely silent and behind us...Thomas clears his throat awkwardly.

I move so fast it’s almost frantic. One second the tests are in my hands.

The next, I’m shoving every single one deep into the bathroom waste bin like if I hide them fast enough maybe the results will disappear too.

My breathing turns uneven.

"Oh God."

"Elaine," Ivy says softly.

I shake my head immediately.

"No."

She steps closer carefully.

"Hey."

"I can’t do this right now."