Forty-five minutes later, I’m sitting on my bed, staring at ten unopened boxes of pregnancy tests. I grabbed one of every kind and spent a small fortune, but I know me, and one test won’t be enough. I’ll need further assurance of the results. Reaching for my phone, I dial my best friend.
“Hey, you,” she answers.
“Carrie.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say, barely containing the freak-out mode that wants to take over my body.
“Sam, are you okay? Where’s that man of yours?”
“He’s at his place, I think.”
“Where are you? Samantha, you’re scaring me.”
“I’m fine, I promise. I just… I’m late.”
“Late for what?” she asks, confused.
“No, Carrie. I’m late,” I say again.
“Oh,” she says, as understanding of what I’m trying to say settles in. “Have you taken a test?”
“No, but I bought one. Well, I bought ten.”
She laughs. “Of course, you did. Are you alone?”
“Yes. I didn’t tell him. I want to take the test first.”
“Don’t the two of you have plans tonight?”
“We do.”
“What time?”
“Six. He’s picking me up at six.”
“We’ve got plenty of time. Drink some water, pee on a few sticks, and tell me if I’m going to be an aunt.”
“Oh, God. He’s going to think I trapped him. He’s Jase fucking Andrews, Carrie. How could I let this happen?”
“Jase Andrews is his name. Who he is, is the man that is madly in love with you. From what you’ve told me, you’re both gone for each other. If you are, it’s all going to be okay. He’s going to be right by your side.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Actually, I do. Put me on speaker and go to his Instagram.”
Doing as she says, I place the call on speaker and tap the icon on my phone, and type in his name. He just posted fifteen minutes ago. It’s a picture of the two of us lounging on his couch. My eyes scan the caption.
@JASEANDREWSOFFICIAL - “Happy Valentine’s Day to the love of my life. For those of you who don’t know what it feels like to love and to be loved, I feel sorry for you. Take the leap. You won’t regret it.”
I don’t even attempt to wipe the tears that race down my cheeks. I love him.
“You’re crying, aren’t you?” Carrie asks.
“Hush,” I say, laughing.
“Go pee on a stick or two. I’ll wait here.”
“I miss you.”
“I know. I miss you too, but I’m here for you. Now go.”
Doing as she says, I place the phone on the bed, and grab two of the boxes that claim to guarantee early detection. In the bathroom, I carefully unwrap each package and read the instructions. Both are the same. Pee on the stick, replace the cap, wait three to five minutes. Pulling up my big girl panties, well, in this case, I pull them down, with shaking hands, I pee on three different sticks, capping them and placing them on the counter. Finishing my business, I wash my hands and shut the bathroom door.
“I’m back,” I tell Carrie.
“Tell me what your plans are for tonight.”
“Dinner.”
“What if the test is positive?”
“Dinner and an announcement that’s going to change our lives.”
“For the better. A baby, Sam. You might be having a baby with the man you love. That’s amazing.”
“And scary as hell,” I admit.
“Are you upset? I mean, if the test is positive, are you upset about it?”
“No.” I mean it. I might be freaked out, but it’s more about how Jase is going to take the news. Sure, we’ve talked about kids, just briefly, but hypothetical talk is a hell of a lot different than reality.
“He’s not going to be either.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do know that. He has twenty million followers, and he just professed his love for you to all of them. He’s going to be fine with it. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that he’s going to be thrilled.”
“I hope so,” I whisper. I know in my heart that she’s right, but the fear of the unknown is strong. We’ve only been together a couple of months. It’s too soon.
“Sam, it’s time. Take me with you,” Carrie says, her voice calm and soothing.
“Here goes nothing,” I whisper.
“It’s all going to be fine.”
I nod, even though she can’t see me. Pushing open the bathroom door, I walk to the sink. As soon as I look down and see the word positive, a plus sign, and two pink lines, the tears begin to fall. A sob breaks free from my chest.
“Congrats, sweetie,” Carrie says, choking up on her own emotions. “You’re going to be a mommy.”
“I-I’m going to be a mommy,” I echo her words. “I don’t know how to tell him.”
“You are going to tell him, right?” Carrie questions.
“Yes. I’m going to tell him tonight. He deserves to know.”
“You good?” she asks.
“I am,” I say truthfully. “Regardless of how tonight turns out, I’m going to be a mom.”
“You’ve got this, Sam, and he’s going to be thrilled. Call me with details.”
“I will. Thanks, Carrie. I was freaking out.”
“What are best friends for?”
Ending the call, an idea pops into my head. Pulling up the internet browser on my phone, I hope like hell I can pull off what I have in mind in just a few hours.
Chapter 11
Jase
The moment I picked her up, she was acting differently. I don’t know if she somehow caught on to my plans for the night, but she’s making me nervous.
“Dinner was delicious,” Sam says from her seat next to me in my car. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Reaching over the console, I lace her fingers with mine. “You feeling okay?” I ask her.
“Yes.” She’s quick to reply. “Fine. Just tired, I guess,” she says, and I know she’s lying.
Instead of calling her out on it, I let the silence drift between us as I get lost in my thoughts. I realize that I’m terrified that she doesn’t want this, doesn’t want me. I know that it’s soon, but when you know, you know, and if there is anything in this life that’s certain, it’s the way I feel about her. My love for her.
Pulling into my garage, I shut off the engine. She’s staying with me tonight. At least, I hope she still is. “I just need to grab my things from my car. I’ll meet you inside,” she says, reaching for her handle.
“I can wait for you,” I tell her.
“No, really, go on in. That cheesecake needs to be in the fridge,” she says, indicating the to-go box full of dessert in my hands from the restaurant. We were both too full to eat it there, so we brought it home. That’s playing into my hands perfectly if I could just figure out what’s bothering her.