Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina) novel Chapter 170

What Are We Even Doing?

One line.

Relief floods through me so fast my knees buckle.

“It’s negative,” I say, half laughing.

Nikki gasps.

I drop my elbows onto the counter and let my hand fall onto my palms. “Oh, my. It’s negative.”

I want to cry, want to shudder as the tension and anxiety leaves my body like it is being pulled out of me with a force much stronger than mine. I’m not pregnant. My mind floods open, finally letting myself think about the things I have been shoving back.

The panic hits just as fast. My throat tightens.

I was so stupid, reckless. I didn’t want to use protections, but now that I was facing the consequences firsthand, I wanted to slap myself.

What if next time I’m not so lucky? What does that mean for us? For me? For them?

“Wait,

,” Nikki says, leaning down to look at the test.

The panic in me rises further and I watch her as her eyes narrow.

“I see… I think I see a faint line.”

No. No, no, no, no. I look again. I can’t tell if it’s real or my brain playing tricks. “I don’t

know. If there’s a line, it’s really faint.”

Nikki grabs the box and reads the instructions again. “It says even a faint line could mean

you’re pregnant.”

I stare at the test, my stomach twisting. We’re both staring at it now, silent, like if we look

long enough, it will be clearer.

I grab the test and pick it up, holding it closer and up against the light. Maybe there’s a line? I chew on my lips. I can’t see the line Nikki does, but what if I’m just letting my

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What Are We Even Doing?

hope determine what I’m seeing?

Nikki sighs. “You need to make an appointment with an OB. Get a real answer.”

I nod slowly, dragging my fingers through my hair.

“Yeah. Okay.” I grab some toilet paper and wrap the test, walking out of the bathroom.

Nikki says nothing, but she follows me with a curious look, her steps soft and slow behind mine.

I keep going. Out of the room, down the stairs, through the back door. The warm air hits my skin and snaps me into focus for half a second. I toss the test in the big trash bin and slam the lid shut like that will help.

Nikki stands at the door with wide eyes. We walk back in and head to my room where I find the box of pregnancy tests and hide it in my bottom drawer beneath a bunch of leggings.

Nikki drops herself onto the edge of my bed. “Why are you being so secretive?”

I don’t even try to stop the tears. “I don’t know what to do.”

She’s on her feet fast, pulling me in for a hug. I collapse into it.

“What if I am pregnant?” I ask, letting her lead me to sit at the edge of the bed.

“It’ll be okay,” she soothes, her hands going up and down my arms.

“Will it? I mean, what would that even mean?” I pull away from her hold so we can look at each other. She frowns slightly, not really understanding where I’m going with it.

“If it’s Jake’s, would Aiden and Zaid be fathers or brothers? Would I then break up with Aiden and Zaid?”

“Don’t forget that your mom is still Jake’s wife. Forgot about that,” Nikki whispers, looking just a tad disgusted with that detail.

My voice breaks. “It’s too much.”

Nikki rubs my back, her head tilting as she looks at me. “One step at a time, okay?”

I nod, closing my eyes. A plan. Steps. I can do that.

more than sex?”

She nods, understanding the pain in my eyes. “Then you all need to talk. They might be having the same questions. It’s good to talk about them.”