Chapter 162

Couldn’t anything go right today? Did they have to do this now? “It’s not like that.” Oh, yeah, that sounded convincing.

“Then how is it? You must think you are pregnant, or you’re in serious doubt. You weren’t going to say anything?”

“I’m not.”

“Then why do you have this?”

Because I’m scared. Because I can’t believe what we did resulted in this. Because if I am, it’s all my fault and the timing sucks. Because I'm not prepared for this. She lowered her lashes and concentrated on staying calm.

“Talk to me. You can’t stay mad at me forever, Lexi.”

Oh, but she could try. She didn’t acknowledge his words, but she didn’t deny them either. She’d most certainly wished everything away if she could.

“The test is to set my mind at ease. Women take these all the time.”

He stared at her like she’d grown two heads. “Yeah, they do—because they think they might be pregnant. You’ve been sick a lot like today? Morning sickness?”

Would he just lay off? Refusing to get into details as to all the reasons she couldn’t be pregnant, she focused on facts. “The chances are slim to none. Okay? There's no need to worry.” Her attempt at a breezy laugh came out as a strained wheeze. “You know how I am. I have been trying to stay on top of things since I returned, and I’ve been really…. stressed lately. Sometimes my periods aren’t normal and combined—That’s why I bought the test. See? There is absolutely nothing to worry about.”

“And you sound like you’re trying to convince yourself.” Tyler didn’t move. “Fine, it’s a precaution. So why don’t you go take the test?”

Take the test? Now?

“I’m not going to go pee on a stick with you hovering on the other side of the door.” His gaze swept over her and left a trail of heat in its wake, reminding her that he’d seen her naked and made her moan with satisfaction. So many times that she'd lost count. “I’m not pregnant!”

Tyler looked surprised by her outburst, maybe because for the first time since he’d arrived, her words weren’t calm or reassuring but instilled with a panic she couldn’t disguise.

Lexi crossed her arms over her chest and winced, noticing how tender her breasts were. She always got tender close to her period. But wasn’t that also a symptom of pregnancy?

Stop fretting over every little thing. You’re turning into a hypochondriac.

“You obviously aren’t sure.” His head tilted to one side, his expression too shrewd. “There are things women have to limit. Caffeine and peanuts, fish.”

Caffeine? Lexi lifted a hand and nibbled on her nail. So if she was pregnant, she’d have to go without caffeine too for months?

“Sweetheart, you said birth control was covered, but nothing is foolproof.”

Sweetheart? He had no right to call her that. Like they were friends or lovers again. But the endearment sounded so natural the way Tyler said it, another reminder of their time together.

“A woman I worked with last year got sick and took a round of antibiotics. Next thing she knew she was having kid number three. Go take the test, okay?”

It sounded so easy. Just take the test and be done with it. Simple. “Why is this happening?” she whispered softly, so low she hoped Tyler didn’t hear her. She stared at him, unable to believe he was here and he held the stupid test and they were having this conversation. How could things change so fast between them? How did they go from being best friends for years, to an affair and a break up within two months… and now probably a pregnancy too.

“Lexi, we have to know what we’re dealing with here and there’s only one way to do that.”

Concern, coaxing. Tenderness. Tyler was such a nice guy. So sensitive and observant. Those traits were some of the many things about him that had always appealed to her. Now their relationship was in shambles. They'd crossed a line they should never have crossed, and now that she thought about it, she probably shouldn't have gone to Olkfield.

“You were right. We shouldn't have gotten involved,” she heard herself say out of the blue. No easing into it, no pretty sugarcoating. “Tyler, it was amazing. But it shouldn’t have happened.”

He didn't believe her, but it wasn't the right time to tell her that. “Maybe, but now we have this,” he said, holding up the box.

Her guilt grew. “It’s just a precaution.”

“Then stop putting it off and go take the test.”

“But—”

“I’m not leaving until you do.”

Tyler didn’t budge. Didn’t blink. But at least he hadn’t called her sweetheart again. Maybe he’d gotten the hint? Lexi snatched the test from his hand.

_________

She made him wait in the balcony.

Tyler stared out and breathed in the humid evening air. The stars overhead were so clear. Evenings in Olkfield were nice, but not like this. Here the sky looked like a charcoal-colored blanket sprinkled with glitter, some of the sparkles brighter than others.

A sudden tingling sensation made his neck prickle, and Tyler turned to see Lexi. Wearing khaki pants and a snug brown T-shirt, she stepped onto the balcony, and just like that his body heated up like a nuclear plant about to blow.

“How long?”

“Two minutes.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and dropped her arm to her side, the charm bracelet she wore pinging against her watch in a metallic melody.

Since she refused to make eye contact, he waited patiently, willing to keep his silence if it meant she’d stay put. But he couldn't help but think how beautiful she was. She was the kind of woman who made a man take a second look, maybe a third. Her face had an intriguing quality, an arresting mixture of spunk, quiet bravado and hard-as-nails gumption. One glance and a person knew Lexi wasn’t a woman to be taken lightly, and the combination of beauty and brains was a killer.

And he knew her so well and for so long. Which was why the thought of her carrying his baby didn’t bother him nearly as much as he knew it should, especially now that the shock had worn off..

“It won’t be positive.” Lexi glanced at him quickly, but looked away when she realized he watched her. “The odds are against it.”