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07

ONE MONTH LATER

Audrey sank onto the cold tiled floor of her bathroom. She tried to grasp the truth indicated by the two lines on the pregnancy kit.

Even when her hands are shaking, she neatly placed the stick next to the five others on the floor.

She’s forgotten about the possibility of it.

The entire month that she’s been working, it never occurred to her that she would actually get pregnant. Or if she ever did think about it, she shoves it back to the back of her mind.

However, the truth lies before her in two heart-stopping lines.

For the first time in years, she doesn’t know what to do.

Oh, God. She needs to tell her mom.

She tucked her knees up her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down—as her mother taught her. But her mind was racing, and she couldn’t keep up.

She was close to forgetting that one fateful night. But, it was impossible because Vren Parkinson kept reminding him by sending her flowers every single day.

There was a commotion outside of the bathroom. She sighed, knowing that her backups were here.

« Audrey ? » Jessica’s voice inside her apartment.

« Bathroom, » she called out.

Footsteps clattered toward her. The bathroom door opened and in came Jessica and Kathie. However, they hadn’t moved an inch at the sight of pregnancy kits arranged neatly on the bathroom floor.

« What’s wrong ? Are you okay ? » Kathie was the first to recover from the shock. She rushed toward her, kicked her heels off, and knelt next to her.

Audrey gestured at the pregnancy kits.

She turns to them.

« Positive—all of them, » Audrey hears herself say. She hesitated for a moment, then she pulled herself together and announced, « I’m pregnant. »

There.

She said it.

An apple dropped onto the bathroom door and rolled toward the pregnancy kits, scattering them like bowling pins. Guess Jessica was eating an apple.

« You’re pregnant ? » Jessica echoed.

She nods.

« But how ? » Jessica took off her shoes and dove onto the bathroom floor with them.

Audrey shot her a black look.

She raises her hand in surrender. « I mean, I know how babies are made—it’s the most wonderful thing in the world. But with you, I’m guessing a sperm donor. »

Audrey frowned at her.

« Okay. No sperm donor. How did you, um, you know. » Jessica gestured at the pregnancy tests.

She sighed. « I slept with Vren Parkinson ? »

Kathie and Jessica gasped so loud she thought the whole neighborhood have heard it.

« Vren Parkinson ? Wait, how did I not know this ? » Kathie’s brown eyes widened with disbelief.

Jessica squealed. « You little slut. I had no idea that you have a thing for him. » She lets out another gasp. « How was it ? »

« Jessica. » Audrey groaned. « I wasn’t proud of it. So, I didn’t tell you. » She glared at the pregnancy kits. « It was never meant to happen. »

« It did happen though. So, it was meant to be, » Jessica says in a singsong voice.

Audrey looked up at the ceiling to compose herself.

« Hey, it’ll be okay. » Kathie placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it.

The next thing she knew, she was in both of her best friends’ arms. They stayed like that for a minute, then they pulled back to look at her.

« So, are you going to tell Vren ? » Kathie asks softly.

She nods. « That was the deal. »

A knot formed in her stomach. She tried to stay calm, but the thought of having a baby is not on her five-year plan.

« Hey, it’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay. » Kathie strokes her back.

Jessica crawled next to her, unbothered at the fact that they were on her bathroom floor. « And if he doesn’t want to be a part of this, you know I will willingly take his place. I have no experience with being a dad, but I’ll make sure our baby wouldn’t be able to tell that I’m not his daddy. »

Despite the weight on her chest, Audrey laughed. « It sounds ridiculous but thank you. »

« We’re always here for you. Don’t ever forget that. » Kathie held her hand.

Audrey’s eyes blurred a little. « I know. »

They fell into a comfortable silence.

Audrey broke it with a sigh. « I need you to promise me you’re not going to tell anyone. »

She and Jessica turned to Kathie.

Her mouth hangs open. « Why are you looking at me like that ? I know how to keep a secret. »

She doesn’t.

There was another commotion outside her bathroom. « Audrey, Taylor Watkins requested a ten o’clock meeting today instead of eleven. »

Audrey called out to her.

Kylie stood by the door. She took in the sight of her two best friends and the clutter of pregnancy kits. « So, I need to set an appointment with your OBGYN ? »

Audrey answered her with a small smile.

She nodded, worry taking over her sweet face. « Can I get you anything ? »

« No. I’m okay, Kylie. » She shook off the remaining nerves and stood up.

Jess looked up at her. « Where are you going ? »

« Work. »

She shakes her head. « Sometimes I have to remind myself that you’re not a machine. »

Audrey rolled her eyes. « I have a meeting later at nine. » She offered both her hands to her besties who were still on her bathroom floor.

Kathie took her hand. « Wait. On hold, I need another minute to recover from this big news. »

Jessica scrunched her nose. « I think I’ll be needing more than a minute. So, I think we’ll be here a while. »

Audrey chuckles softly. « Suit yourselves. »

Jessica made a shooing gesture at her and stared blankly at the bathroom wall.

Audrey scurried to her room and got dressed. She faltered when she caught sight of the dress she was meant to wear to Margaret’s party tonight.

What are the chances that he’ll be there ?

She went to the kitchen where she found Kylie setting an appointment with Vren’s secretary.

Okay, good.

« Audrey, do you want to meet with him today ? I can squeeze him in this afternoon. » She looks up from her tablet.

She must’ve read the indecision on her face.

« Or we can set it up tomorrow, » she suggested.

Audrey smiled. « Yeah. Thank you, Kylie. »

« Are you really okay, though ? » She asks even when she probably hesitated a thousand times.

« I’m okay, Kylie. » Audrey runs a hand over her neat bun.

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