Page 53 of Blurry Little Lines
“There’s no freaking way.” I shake my head, looking down at the test again. “Lauren must have bought a prank one.” But with an absent period, extreme fatigue, and my boobs hurting when I try to stand straight, these are my tell-tale signs.
I’m pregnant.
“Kelsie, are you…” Max still can’t bring himself to say the word out loud.
Adam takes the pregnancy test and tsks his disapproval. “Damn, Kels, raising two kids alone was too easy? You really needed a third?” If I wasn’t paralyzed with shock, I would have punched him by now. “How’d you find the time to let somebody knock you up?”
“W-wait, are you not on birth control?” Max’s tone grows annoyed, but I’m the one who should be.
“That’s not supposed to matter,” I say through gritted teeth.
“The hell it should!” Max runs a hand through his hair, then down his face. “Are you not aware how you created the two little rugrats down the hall?”
Adam looks between us like a dumbass who still hasn’t pieced anything together. Even Lauren caught the chemistry between Max and I the first week we met her. Max takes a deep breath and takes the stick from me.
“I thought you were on the pill,” Max replies with a soft calmness in his voice.That was quick.
“I thought you couldn’t have any children.” My voice raises because I can’t collect myself as easily as him by running a damn hand through my hair.
“I will bet mylifeI have never told you that.”
“Adam did.” I turn to my brother with a deathly glare. “He called the night you both went to get vasectomies in university.”
My mother’s hand flies over her heart with a dramatic gasp. “Adam George Wheaton!”
My brother finally has his gears click into place as he realizes who the father is. Like a bear woken from hibernation, I feel him tense as rage builds. Adam and Max lock eyes and the room stills. Max looks at Adam without remorse and seems to silently send the message that he is about to accept the punch he believes he deserves. I’m on standby to intervene because I’m a grown woman and can make my own choice about who I want to sleep with.
“That’s… that’s my sister, man,” Adam whispers in disbelief. “Fuck, Lauren called it all along.” His hand brushes his jaw as he controls himself.
“About the vasectomy,” Max trails off. “I chickened out. We also swore to never tell anyone, Adam.”
“Oh, I’m so happy for you and Max, honey,” my mother interrupts, wrapping me into a hug. “I knew there had always been chemistry between the both of you. I had secretly rooted for you two, even as children.” She drops her tone. “Adam, we will talk later.”
My lapse in judgment to choose pleasure over responsibility has done more than just bite me in the ass. My head feels woozy, and I may vomit–and not from the hormones.
“I can’t do this.” I shake my head and take a few steps, reaching onto the counter for stability. “I need you to take the kids tonight, Mom. I...” I’m unable to process how to speak as I halt a panic attack.
“I’ll stay with you.” Max offers a smile when I expected to see nothing more than fear.
“No. Not you.” My laugh wavers with manic instability. “You have done farmorethan I requested.”
“Fuck that, Kels.” Max shakes his head. “We are adults. That is my child growing inside of you.” He looks past me out the window for a moment before a laugh resonates in his chest.
“You find this whole thing a joke?” God, I want to slap him. “Real mature.”
His head shakes as his eyes glass over, and I realize everything is sinking in for him. “I’m going to be a father. You and I created a tiny human, Kelsie.”
“Congratulations.” My father finally decides to speak and pats Max on the back.
“Part of me is swimming around in you.” Max smirks.
“My father is right beside you.” My eyes bug out as mortification filters through me.
“Newsflash, half pint. He’s aware that you’ve put out at least three times in your life.” Max and my father chuckle.
“I’m glad she did.” My father nods. “Grandchildren are the best.”
“Ugh, how did this happen to me?” I think out loud with a groan.