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."

shaky hand through my hair, my breath hitching. "I know I sound like a complete idiot right now, but between everything in America

startling her bedmate, who groggily muttered something

She paced, hands tugging at her hair. "How do 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 for

weight of her words crash down on

"I don't know anything right

voice was

throat dry. "Two months, probably. Maybe

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

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

tumbling over each other. "I thought it was just fatigue, you

remotely ready for," she shot back, her

I breathed, dread curling its cold fingers around me. It felt like a thousand tiny spiders crawling under my skin, and the suffocating weight of

for sure. Start with a pregnancy test, okay? Just

asked, my voice trembling. My hand drifted to my

it out," she said, hesitating slightly before adding, "There are...

options struck me

it settling heavily in my gut.

consider. No matter how

the thought of taking that option made my

s

Her voice snapped me out of my

"Yeah?"

was asking-when are you planning

swallowed hard, my hand still resting on

it out. I don't think he'll take it

door opening cut my

Jacob stepped out, toweling his

hurriedly ended the call, shooting Nancy a quick text: I'll let you

the floor, his usual careless habit. Normally, I'd groan and tell him to throw it in the basket. Today,

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

nervous laugh. "She

"Hmm." His lips

curved into a small

as he leaned

against

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

rising to

guilt twisting tighter in

***

office,