Page 44 of Dark Christmas

Amelia

“Am? You okay in there?”

A knock at the door pulls me out of my thoughts.

I let out a sigh. “Yeah, come in.”

Claire opens the door, slipping inside and closing it behind her. Her brow is furrowed, worry all over her face. “What’s going on? You don’t look so hot.”

I lean back against the sink, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t know. I just got sick out of nowhere.”

Claire’s lips twitch, and she cracks a joke because that’s what she does. “You mean my cooking finally got to you?”

I laugh weakly, shaking my head. “No, it’s not that. Normally, your pad Thai is amazing. But tonight, the spices hit me weirdly.”

Claire’s eyes widen, and before I can even blink, she blurts out, “Are you pregnant?”

My stomach drops, and I suddenly feel like I might need to throw up all over again “What? No, I mean, I don’t think so?”

Claire raises an eyebrow, giving me that look. “Youdon’t thinkso?”

Oh God. Now I feel like I’m in a full-on panic.

“There’s no way I’m pregnant,” I say, crossing my arms like that’ll somehow make the statement more believable.

Claire raises an eyebrow, her expression all sass. “No way, huh? You’re telling me you’re not hitting that hunk of man meat out there on the regular?”

I groan, rolling my eyes. “Okay, fine. Yes, we’ve been having sex. But I’m on the pill.”

“Uh-huh. And how many times did you forget to take it?”

I shift uncomfortably, knowing full well she’s got a point. With the chaos of the last few weeks, it’s highly possible I might’ve missed a pill. Or two.

Shit.

“Looks like you might wanna pick up a pregnancy test on your way home.”

I stand there, looking at her with what I’m sure is a dumb expression on my face.

Claire quickly pulls out a spare toothbrush and hands it to me with some toothpaste. “Here. Freshen up.”

I apply the toothpaste, glancing at her in the mirror. “Was my exit super awkward?”

She shrugs, leaning against the sink. “A little abrupt, sure, but Melor suggested to David they crack open the scotch, so they’re thick as thieves now. Trust me, they’re fine.”

Thick as thieves.

Her words hit me, reminding me of Melor’s past and the fact that I’m keeping this massive secret from my best friend. I push the guilt down for now. There are more immediate problems at hand.

I spit and rinse, then plop down on the closed toilet seat, feeling like the weight of everything is finally hitting me. “How could I have been so careless? So stupid?”

Claire sits beside me on the edge of the tub, rubbing my back. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up. You don’t even know if you are yet. You need to take a test.”

I nod, my mind still racing, then Claire’s eyes widen like she’s just had a lightbulb moment. “Wait, I still have two pregnancy tests left over from when David and I were trying!”

My head snaps up. “You do?”

Claire grins, already heading for the bathroom cabinet. “Yep. So, you’re in luck, or, maybe not, depending on how this goes.”