Page 74 of Masked Seduction

The thought hits me like a gentle wave.Firstborn child. My hand settles again on my stomach, protectively. Could it be real?

The door opens, and a nurse with a clipboard smiles kindly as she calls, “Jenna Ridley?”

Claire squeezes my hand tightly. “You’ve got this.”

I manage a shaky smile. “Yeah. Totally got it.”

I sit on the edge of the exam table, feeling like a kid as my legs swing above the tiled floor. The walls are painted a soothing shade of pale lavender, posters about prenatal vitamins and pregnancy health lining every available surface. My stomach flips again as I wait.

Finally, the door opens, and the doctor walks in. She’s warm and professional, with kind eyes behind black-rimmed glasses. “Hi, Jenna,” she says, extending a hand. “I’m Dr. Martinez.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say, returning the handshake, my palm embarrassingly sweaty.

She doesn’t seem to mind. “So, you’re here to confirm a pregnancy?”

“Yep.” My voice sounds higher than usual. “I took a home test, but I need, like you said, confirmation.”

She smiles gently. “That’s a good idea. Always helps to be certain. We’ll just need a quick urine sample, and we can confirm for sure.”

She hands me a plastic cup, and I duck into the attached restroom, heart pounding as I fill it, seal it, and place it behind the little metal door as instructed.

Back on the table, I wait for what feels like an eternity, though it’s probably only a few minutes. When the door opens again, Dr. Martinez has a gentle expression on her face, like someone delivering good news.

“Well, Jenna, you are definitely pregnant,” she says, handing me the results as though I might want proof.

For a second, the whole world slows. I stare down at the paper, at the bold word “positive.” The letters swim slightly, blurring together as reality fully hits. Then, the strangest thing happens. I smile. A big, stupid, unexpected smile. My eyes sting a little.

“Are you okay?” Dr. Martinez asks softly.

“I am,” I whisper, astonished at my own reaction. “I really am.”

I’m pregnant. Abram’s baby is growing inside me. She goes over some instructions, giving me a list of vitamins to take and foods to avoid, then tells me to schedule my next appointment where we’ll do the first ultrasound.

As I stand to leave, I feel a bit unsteady, but for the first time in days, it’s not fear making my knees weak. It’s joy—clear, bright, unmistakable joy.

Claire jumps up the moment she sees my face. “Well? Tell me!”

“It’s official.” My voice shakes, but I’m smiling so hard it hurts. “I’m pregnant.”

Claire shrieks so loudly that everyone around us jumps. She throws her arms around me, nearly knocking me down. “Oh my God! Jenna, you’re going to be a mom!”

“Shh!” I laugh. “Not so loud!”

“I can’t believe it!” she says, hugging me tighter. “This is huge! How do you feel?”

“Good.” The word comes out quickly. “Really good. Is that weird?”

Claire pulls back, smiling tenderly. “Not at all. Come on—we have to celebrate.”

I arch a brow at her. “Celebrate?”

She winks mischievously. “Crumbl. Right now.”

I laugh, feeling giddy. “Definitely Crumbl.”

We sit on the curb outside the bakery, an open box of cookies balanced between us. The scent of freshly baked sugar and butter wraps around me. I take a giant bite of a chocolate-chip monstrosity, my eyes nearly rolling back in my head. Pregnancy hormones or not, Crumbl never misses.

“So,” Claire says, nudging my shoulder with hers, “now what?”