Chapter 86 Negative

Chapter 86 Negative
Gianna

I rush to the bathroom the second I get home, not even bothering to check whether Dmitry is home or not. I pull the pregnancy test out of my bag and quickly tear open the box.

My hands tremble as I use it before setting it on the edge of the sink.

Then I wait, pacing the length of the bathroom, my heart hammering against my ribs as the seconds drag by.

What am I going to do if it comes back positive?

I can’t keep it.

A baby would ruin every plan I’ve made for myself. My future. My career. My life.

And Dmitry…

What if he doesn’t want it either?

A sharp knock on the bathroom door startles me out of my skin before Dmitry's calm voice follows.

"Baby, you in there?"

My eyes dart between the pregnancy test sitting on the countertop and the bathroom door.

Shit.

My throat dries up the second I try to answer him.

Breathe, Gia.

I squeeze my eyes shut and force a shaky breath out of my lungs.

"I'm taking a dump," I call back, praying my voice doesn't crack. "I'll be out in a second."

Heat rushes to my face.

God, why did I say that?

I don't wait for his response. I snatch the test off the counter, shove it into my backpack and zip it shut with trembling hands.

I can check it later.

As long as Dmitry doesn't know... everything will be fine.

Right?

After making sure I looked somewhat presentable, I unlock the bathroom door and step into the bedroom. The first thing I do is toss my backpack into the corner beside the dresser, hoping it blends in with everything else before turning around.

Dmitry is sitting on the edge of the bed, the worry on his face nearly stops my heart.

God I’m being unfair to him? he deserves to know if there's a chance he's going to be a father.

The thought alone makes my stomach twist.

This is so much harder than I thought it would be.

"You look pale, kitten," he says softly before patting his thigh. "Come here."

I fidget with my fingers for a second before walking over to him anyway.

The moment I'm close enough, he slips an arm around my waist and gently pulls me onto his lap. His hands cup my face, his thumbs brushing beneath my eyes as though he's searching for the reason behind my silence.

"Do you not like Candace?" he asks, studying me carefully.

I swallow.

It isn't that I don't like her.

It's that I'm eerily possessive of a man who isn't even technically mine.

"She's just as cool as you said she'd be."

A little too cool and a little too perfect. Those words stay trapped inside my head.

"Do you like her, baby?" he asks again, his thumb absentmindedly stroking the back of my hand.

The gentle touch almost makes me forget the backpack sitting a few feet away.

"What does it matter?"

His brows draw together.

"It matters because it's you." His answer comes without hesitation. "If you don't feel comfortable around her, she stops coming around me. It's that simple."

I shift on his lap so I can see his face properly, there’s no teasing, no smile. He's completely serious.

"You'd cut off your friend for me?" I ask quietly. "Someone who helped you?"

"Yes."

There’s no iota of hesitation in his voice, no hesitation. 

My chest tightens.

"Don't do that," I whisper. "Candace is really lovely. I think... given enough time, we could even become friends."

He studies me for another moment before giving a small nod.

"Then if it isn't Candace..." His fingers tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "What's wrong?"

Everything.

Everything is wrong.

The pregnancy test hidden inside my backpack, the possibility that my entire life has changed in the span of a few days, the fear of losing Alec, the fear of losing him.

"I already told you." I force a smile that doesn't quite reach my eyes. "I'm worried about Alec."

"Are you sure?"

I nod before shifting on his lap until I'm straddling him instead. My forehead rests against his, our noses almost brushing.

"What do you think about kids?" I blurt out.

The question slips out before I can stop it, for a split second, I expect him to tense up.

Instead, a low chuckle rumbles through his chest, vibrating against mine.

"Kids?" he repeats, amused.

I nod.

"I've always wanted them."

I gape. “You have?"

"Of course." He shrugs like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "I just know how important your degree is to you." His hand slides up my back, rubbing slow circles between my shoulder blades. "I'd rather you finish school first."

I stare at him. “So... after that?"

He smiles. “After we're married."

My heart stops. “Married?"

He lets out another laugh before standing, lifting me with him so suddenly that I instinctively tighten my arms around his neck and wrap my legs around his waist.

"You think I'm wasting my time with you?" he asks, looking up at me with an expression so serious it steals the breath from my lungs. "Gianna, I don't date for fun."

His hand comes up to cup my cheek.

"I want you as my wife."

He presses a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth.

"I want you for the rest of my life, baby.”

My chest aches.

God.

He's being so unbelievably sweet...

And all I've done today is lie to him and hide things from him, like Kevin and the pregnancy.

Dmitry searches my face for another moment before the worry in his expression softens into something impossibly tender.

"You're overthinking again," he murmurs.

"I am just shocked."

His thumb glides over my lower lip before he leans in, brushing a featherlight kiss against it. I smile into it, unable to help myself, and steal another before he can pull away.

He chuckles quietly against my mouth, one hand settling at the small of my back as he deepens the kiss just enough to make my pulse quicken. Every kiss is slow and unhurried, his lips lingering against mine before trailing to the corner of my mouth and then my cheek.

"You always know how to distract me," I whisper with a laugh.

"It's one of my better qualities."

"Oh? Is that confidence I hear?"

"I prefer experience."

I roll my eyes, though the smile on my face gives me away. "You’re so arrogant."

"Anything as long as I am by your side baby."

I fake gag. “You’ll make me puke."

His grin widens as he presses one more lingering kiss to my lips before resting his forehead against mine. His fingers trace lazy circles along my waist, and I can already tell where this is heading from the way he's looking at me.

"I missed you today," he says quietly.

"I am sorry I just felt like you needed your time with her."

"Couldve done that with you next to me."

My chest tightens. “I’m sorry baby, I missed you too."

He tilts his head, his lips finding mine again, and this time I have to force myself to pull away before I forget everything else.

"Wait," I mumble, brushing my nose against his. "Give me two minutes."

He raises a brow. “Two minutes?"

"Yep."

Before he can question me any further, I slip off his lap and hurry toward the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.

The second the lock clicks into place, I feel something dripping down my thigh.

I freeze, that’s weird confused, I glance down.

A bright crimson stain blooms across my underwear.

A blunt realization crashes over me, my period. It’s out, that means the test is negative! 

A laugh bursts out of me, shaky and breathless, before tears sting the corners of my eyes.

"Oh, thank God."

The weight that had been crushing my chest all afternoon evaporates in an instant. I lean both hands against the sink, laughing softly through my tears as relief floods every part of me.

A gentle knock sounds on the other side of the door.

"Baby?" Dmitry calls. "Everything okay?"

I quickly wipe at my face, unable to stop smiling.

"Yeah," I answer, my voice lighter than it has been all day. "More than okay.”