My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 206

Evelyn

Two days had passed since the excitement of Jacob's proposal, but something else had been gnawing at me like a relentless leech. One nagging, soul-crushing question: Was I even on the pill?

The fact that I couldn't remember was maddening. It felt like trying to grasp smoke. I needed to know-desperately. And worse, there was no one I could ask.

Who else would know about my pregnancy precautions? That was my responsibility. Solely mine. And I had failed. Miserably.

I bit the inside of my cheek, shutting my eyes tightly, trying to will the memory back. Nothing. Just a hazy void where clarity should have been.

The only person who might help? Nancy.

Jacob was still in the shower, so I had time to call her. My fingers fumbled over my phone as I pulled up her contact and hit FaceTime.

The call rang. And rang. Anxiety surged like a tidal wave, crashing harder with each unanswered ring.

"Pick up, you stupid bitch," I muttered under my breath, pacing the room. "Come on, I need you! Pick the damn phone!"

Finally, as if the gods decided to take pity on me, Nancy answered. The screen flickered to life, revealing her sprawled across a bed, her hair tousled and a barely awake man lying beside her. I didn't recognize him, but given her track record, I didn't expect to.

She adjusted her satin nightie and gave me her signature smirk. "Hey, bitch. What's up?"

"Nancy," I blurted, barely able to contain myself. "I think I screwed up. Big time."

Her brows furrowed as she sat up slightly, though her smirk didn't falter. "Don't tell me you're already getting cold feet. Seriously, Evie, it's been like three days! Too early for a meltdown."

"No!" I snapped. "That's not it. I want to marry Jacob. There's no doubt in my mind about that."

"Then what? Spill." Her voice softened, but the confusion lingered.

I swallowed hard, avoiding her gaze. "I... I forgot when I last took my pills."

The line went silent for a beat. I braced myself for one of her classic are-you- serious-right-now looks. Instead, she blinked, processing. Then, finally:

"That's no biggie," she said with a dismissive wave. "It's all about your period. You didn't miss it, right? No way you're pregnant if"

Her words trailed off as my face betrayed me.

Period.

Fuck.

Two months. Maybe more. Exactly when had I last had it?

"Evelyn..." Her voice dropped, her playful tone replaced by something serious. "No. Tell me you're not about to say what I think you're about to say."

idiot right now, but

bed, startling her bedmate, who groggily muttered something before rolling over. She didn't care. Her frustration radiated through

you just—" She stopped mid-rant, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Okay. Okay. First things first: Are you sure? Sure-sure? Or are we panicking

feeling the weight of her words crash

whispered. "I don't

Nancy's voice was sharp, breaking the tense

whispered, my throat dry.

scanning my face with a mix of disbelief and concern. "You're not even sure," she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Okay, let's take a

tension coiled tighter in my chest as her words hit home. My pulse raced. "All of them," I admitted,

have you been waiting for? Why haven't you taken a test?" Her frustration exploded, as loud and

over each other. "I thought it was just fatigue, you know? I kept brushing it off. But yesterday, it finally hit me this could mean

that neither you nor Jacob is remotely ready for," she shot back, her tone

and the suffocating weight of uncertainty settled in my chest. "I screwed up, Nancy.

don't panic. There's no point in panicking until you know for sure. Start with a pregnancy test, okay? Just take the first step. Then call me with the results. It might not be what

is?" I asked, my voice trembling. My hand drifted to my stomach, fingers curling around the soft fabric of

adding, "There are... options. You know that, right? So don't

struck me like

weight of it settling heavily in my gut. That

consider. No matter how

felt the thought of taking that

s

voice snapped me out of

"Yeah?"

asking-when are you

hard, my hand still resting on

I don't think he'll

opening cut my words short.

as Jacob stepped out, toweling

text: I'll let

You'd better. Don't leave me hanging. Jacob dropped the towel on the floor, his usual careless habit. Normally, I'd groan and tell him to throw it in the basket.

you talking to?" he asked, his tone casual as he stood

laugh. "She was just checking on me after

"Hmm." His lips

curved into a small

as he leaned down,

kiss against

of warmth through me, momentarily quieting the storm in my mind

murmured, rising

of guilt twisting tighter in my chest. How am I supposed to tell him

***

while Jacob was at the office, I finally worked up the nerve