She took her phone away from her ear, opened the browser, and did a search. Then she returned to her phone call. “Condoms are ninety-eight percent effective. Google said that means two in every one hundred women who’ve used them as birth control will become pregnant. The odds are in my favor,” she said to Lauren.
“Who are you trying to convince? Yourself? Or me? Listen. Stay calm. How about I cancel today’s appointments, stop at a drugstore, pick up a test, and then come over? You don’t have to do this alone.”
Jade pulled in a deep breath, which did nothing to calm the rapid, panicked beat of her heart. “No. You have to meet with Holly. But promise me you will not say a word to Knox. Nothing more than I wasn’t feeling well. Got it?”
“Got it. You know you can trust me,” Lauren promised.
“I do and thank you.” Lauren was like a sister to her. She’d protect her secrets.
“Now, you swear you’ll let me know if there is any news to share?”
“I promise.” And with a little luck, there would be no real secrets to hide. Just a false alarm.
She never thought there’d come a day when she wished for a stomach virus. But today was that day.
***
As much asKnox loved his sister, he couldn’t give two shits about which flowers she picked for her wedding. Once again, he wished her mother was here to help her, but given the situation, there was nothing he could do but grit his teeth and deal with it. Her fiancé couldn’t make it today, so Knox had to step up his game. The upside was that he’d finally see Jade again. He was hoping to have some alone time with her, to tell her how much he’d missed her.
When he and Holly walked into the florist, they were immediately surrounded by multicolored blooms and fragrant scents. He looked around for Jade and was surprised when Lauren walked out of the back room with a woman who was untying a heavy and well-pocketed apron from around her neck. She said something to Lauren, then walked behind the main counter, while Lauren headed their way.
“Holly! Knox! It’s so good to see you both,” Lauren said, smiling at them.
“You, too! Is Jade coming?” Holly asked before Knox could phrase the question more delicately. His sister was as enamored of Jade as he was.
Lauren glanced from him to Holly. “She’s not feeling well and sends her regrets. But I promise you’re in good hands with me. And I’ll run everything by Jade later on.”
“What’s wrong?” Knox asked, concerned. Last week she’d had a migraine and now she was missing what he knew she’d consider an important appointment. That wasn’t like her. Even if she wanted to avoid him, he knew she wouldn’t disappoint his sister on purpose.
“Stomach bug,” Lauren said, then turned toward the counter. “Devon, are you ready?” she asked.
Knox ground his teeth in frustration. What was going on? Just then, Devon walked over and introduced herself, and he had no choice but to sit down and talk about flowers.
Knox sat beside Holly but pulled out his cell and sent Jade a text message asking if she was okay and if he could bring her anything after the appointment. Because one way or another, Jade’s apartment was his next stop.
For the next two hours, they looked at photographs and discussed flower colors and varieties for the wedding day. Devon asked Holly if she wanted a bridal arch, which led to a thirty-minute discussion of the pros and cons of having one. All the while, Knox kept an eye on his phone, but Jade didn’t reply.
He’d already decided giving her space hadn’t been the right approach, but he’d been too busy at work to see her in person, and he couldn’t say what he wanted on a phone call. He’d been counting on seeing her today, but her silence had him on edge.
Maybe she was sleeping. The thought didn’t ease the twisting in his gut that told him that she was avoiding him. And her reasons had nothing to do with her being sick.
***
Pregnant. Jade staredat the three sticks, all different brands she’d purchased, just to be sure. She wasn’t stupid enough to wonder how it had happened. She was just damned unlucky when she looked at the odds.
Her cell beeped. With her stomach churning and not just from nausea, she glanced at the screen. Lauren had texted her:
Appointment over. Knox said he was going to check on you.
Thank God for good friends, Jade thought, replying with a heart emoji.
There was no way she was up to a conversation with the man who’d fathered the baby she was carrying. Not when she’d yet to come to terms with it herself. Besides, she hadn’t heard from him when he was away and though she thought she’d missed him, she now chalked it up to pregnancy hormones and being overly emotional.
So she pulled out her carry-on and threw some clothing and other necessities into the suitcase. Although she’d rather just disappear, she had to stop and talk to her oldest brother first. She pulled up her ride share app and called for a car.
Not long after, she found herself sitting across from Asher in his new office. One of the best things about her family was that they’d drop everything for each other, no matter what.
Asher rose and sat on the edge of the mahogany desk, his concerned gaze on hers. He reached out and placed a hand on her knee. “Stop the nervous tapping and talk to me.”