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It’s Thursday, and I already know tomorrow is packed. “I’ll offer them a late-night appointment on Monday.”

She folds her hands together on her desk and eyes me cautiously. “Kate, I’ve worked with you for six years, and in that time, I think we’ve grown close.”

My brows knit together. “Go on.”

“You’re going to make yourself sick, honey. You never stop. You’re the first one to arrive, the last one to leave, and now you’re asking me to schedule in an appointment, which will likely take at least two hours after six in the evening.”

I don’t need this. I know she’s trying to be kind, but right now, I’m on the verge of a breakdown for very different reasons. “I’m honestly fine. Book them in and shoot me an email to confirm.” I turn to leave but stop. “Margo?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for checking on me.” My voice trembles on the last words, but I have no idea if she notices as I race for the elevator.

The descent to the lobby happens in slow motion as I lean against the back railing and mentally calculate the timeline. My period always starts on the twelfth of each month, never a day early or late. Pulling out my phone, I begin scrolling through my period tracking app. Month after month, year after year, andnever a delay. Sure, I could forgive a day, but not this long. Why am I even going to the drugstore? I can’t be. I take my pill every day without fail. I know I was twelve hours late that morning after Jensen and I?—

“Hey, whoa, watch what you’re doing!” A man crashes into me from behind as I come to a sudden halt on the bustling sidewalk.

My trembling hands fly to cover my face.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK!

I threw my pill up. And then took the next one half a day late. In between that time, Jensen and I had sex, without a condom, more times than I can count. He barely let me sleep.

I am, aren’t I?

Standing in the middle of downtown Seattle, traffic and people rush past me, but I’m rooted to the spot—screw drugstore tests. Scrolling through my contacts, I hit call on the number for my OBGYN.

“Kate, take a seat.”Doctor Radwanska waves a hand to the black leather couch situated along the back wall of her consultation room.

Offering me a sweet smile, she waits for me to explain the reason for my panicked call requesting an urgent appointment.

Taking a deep breath, I cut to the chase. “I need you to run a test. I think I might…” I trail off and bite down on my bottom lip, “…be pregnant.”

Her eyes flare in surprise, but she quickly resets her professional exterior. Clearing her throat, she flicks through a couple of screens on her computer and then turns back to me,her comforting smile returning. “Okay, we can definitely do that. Do you have any idea of the timeline?”

“Well, my last period was June twelfth.”

She nods and makes a note. “When did you last have unprotected sex?”

“Birth control?”

Jensen’s clipped question just before he entered me races through my memory as I squeeze my eyes shut. “It was one night on June thirtieth. I’d been sick the night before, and there’s a possibility my birth control didn’t get a chance to work. Plus, the following morning, I took my next one twelve hours late. I was right in the middle of my cycle. I’m certain that’s the only time I could’ve conceived.”

Doctor Radwanska presses her lips together in a thin line. “So this potential pregnancy isn’t planned?”

I shake my head and bite down hard, but on the inside of my cheek this time. “No.”

She sets her pen down and reaches across into a drawer. Pulling out a urine collection container in a clear sealable bag, she hands it to me. “Okay, let’s get the facts before we go any further. If you’re able to provide me a sample, I can run the test for you immediately, and then we can go from there.”

The tremble in my hands returns tenfold as I take the bag from her and stand.

“It’s all going to be okay, Kate.”

I wear my most relaxed smile. “Sure.”

Silence descendsover the room as we wait for the test to run and the results to come through.

“I’m not with the potential father,” I blurt out. I’ve been seeing Doctor Radwanska for years, so she knows all my medical history and that I never planned to have children.