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She shook her head. “We were both there. We’re both responsible for being...irresponsible.”
That all sounded reasonable. “Okay. That’s nice to hear but I admit I’m a bit lost because you’re frowning and looking serious.”
“What if I got pregnant?” The question rushed out of her.
He was happy he had a hold on the edge of the counter or he might have fallen to the floor. “Uh...is this hypothetical?”
“I’m serious.”
He was terrified and his tongue might have gone numb. “I am, too.”
“So?”
“Do you think you’re pregnant?” He reached for her then. Put his hands on her waist and turned her until they stood only a few inches apart, facing each other head-on.
She put her mug down and rested her hands on his chest. “I don’t know.”
Not the answer he wanted...or maybe it was. He was new at this.
“Okay. Why do you think it’s a possibility?” Because that had never entered his mind. They had sex without the condom and talked about it. About her being on the Pill and both of them always being careful until right then.
A new phase, a more responsible one, started. Now this.
“I was on antibiotics.” She must have seen the confusion on his face because after a few beats of silence she continued talking. “The meds can mess with the Pill.”
The comment triggered a memory. He’d known that. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he’d filed that information away, hoping never to need to use it.
He swallowed as he forced his voice to stay calm. Inside him was a wild frenzy. His brain skipped from question to question. His knees tried to fold. He wasn’t completely sure he was still breathing. “Do you want to take a test?”
“We should.”
She sounded so calm. How the hell was that possible?
“If you are...” He had no idea what to say next.
“Is that panic I hear in your voice?” A slight bit of anger vibrated in hers.
“No.” Yes. Absolutely, yes. But they would get through it. “We’ll handle it.”
Her eyes narrowed and her body stiffened. “What does that mean?”
This was the one question he had the answer to. “We will do whatever you want us to do.”
“Even if that means having the baby?”
His vision blinked out for a second. He looked at his life as it stretched out in front of him. He’d never seen an image that included kids. For Derrick, sure. The guy was a born father. He was even great with Ellie’s grown brother. But Spence wasn’t convinced he possessed the skills. Looked like he’d be taking every class available to try to get up to speed.
Somehow, he would manage. That’s what he did. That’s what she and a baby would deserve. No matter how limited he might be, she would be great. And he could learn to be better than his father ever was.
He nodded. “Even then. We’ll have the baby.”
She still hadn’t moved. “Get married?”
He had no idea where that came from, but as he stood there, he realized he viewed that as a package. “Yes.”
She touched a finger to the corner of his mouth. “You look a little green.”
Of course he did. Anyone would. No one should waltz into parenthood without at least a little panic. “Didn’t you when you first realized this was a possibility?”