Page 28 of Let Me Love You
Confused, I shake my head and ask, “What does a high hCG mean?”
He looks away from the screen, studying me carefully. “Did you change your birth control practice after we switched your medication a few months ago?”
“Was I supposed to?” I ask.
“What birth control have you been using?”
“I’ve been getting the shot.”
“I see.” He closes down the computer program and turns back to me, his fingers laced together and his elbows on his knees, giving me his full attention. “For the medication we switched you to, the only female birth control that works is a hormone-free IUD.”
“I don’t have an IUD,” I tell him.
“No. No, you don’t.”
“W-what are you trying to say?”
“I’m trying to say congratulations are in order.” He smiles. “You’re pregnant.”
My mouth falls open as I register his words, but even then, they don’t sink in.
“I assume you didn’t know?” he asks.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?” I return, begging for clarity.
“You’re pregnant, Kate.”
The room starts to spin, and I dig my hands into the edge of the seat, grateful I’m sitting down. Because he can’t be serious. There’s no way. Yes, technically, there’s a way since Mack and I have been having sex for months, but I’m on the shot, so…
“How is this possible?” I shake my head in hopes of clearing it, but it doesn’t do anything. Nope. I’m as lost as ever. Because this isn’t possible. Not when I’ve been so careful. Hell, it’s the one thing I have been careful about. And a baby? It’s not the right time. We weren’t planning—
“Like I said,” the doctor announces, “the medication we switched you to only works with a hormone-free IUD. Since you’ve been on the shot and sexually active, the birth control you’d been using didn’t work. You’re pregnant.”
The word feels like it’s something foreign. Something made up. Something imaginary. Because it can’t be real. There’s no way. I can’t be pregnant. This wasn’t the plan. In any way, shape, or form. I’m not ready. Mack’s not ready. How could we be ready for something like this? Does he even want more kids? Likereallywant more kids? I don’t…I don’t know. We kind of talked about it, but… This doesn’t make any sense.
“Kate, are you all right?” Dr. Reed prods.
“You’re serious,” I whisper.
“Yeah, I am. Congratulations.”
I nearly scoff but hold it back, my mind spinning.
“Now, I assume you haven’t been taking any prenatal vitamins?”
I shake my head but stay quiet, staring at my lap.
“I’ll write you a prescription,” he decides. “Do you have a preference for an obstetrician?”
Again, I shake my head. I’ve never needed one. Even with my birth control, I only had to go to the doctor’s office on campus.
“I can give you a few recommendations if you’d like,” he offers.
“I thought it was a bad idea for me to get pregnant.” I look up at him again. “With my medication and everything.”
“Unfortunately, there are not a lot of studies done with the new medication we switched you to and its effects on pregnancy, so we’re not entirely sure how it will affect the baby.”
Baby.