Page 13 of Creed

Quinn sighs. “Look, I know why you moved. I get it, but I also don’t. Your dad has never been the warm and cozy type, so I’m not sure what you’re looking for. At least here you had the years to make up for some of the lack of respect. There, you’re the newbie again and I’m not there. I worry about you, Morgan. I’m six hours away if you need a night of rocky road ice cream andSupernaturalreruns.”

I swallow down her words and the latch they have on my heart because the distance between us has never felt so real.

If anyone knows my struggles, not only physically, but mentally, it’s her. My best friend, who held me sobbing on the couch until she picked up enough pieces to glue me back together.

Turning over the test on the counter, my breath catches.One line. Oh my god.

Not Pregnant.

I’mnotpregnant.

“What? Good gasp or bad gasp? Or I guess it would depend if you want?—”

“I’m not pregnant.”

Quinn is silent for a few seconds, then asks gently, “And how are you feeling about it?”

“I’m not sure.” I thought I’d feel overwhelming relief, and there is some. I don’t need to get knocked up by a practical stranger, but there’s also a small sense of loss. Maybe a bit of disappointment.

Do I want to be pregnant by the biker? No, of course not.

I mean, maybe?

It certainly would force things. There would be no waiting around to see what happens, no sly glances when we see each other in town. No wondering what my colleagues would think because all that would matter is that a baby would be coming.

“Morgan?” Quinn’s voice pierces my thoughts.

“Hm? What?” I haven’t caught anything she’s said.

My best friend sighs. “I was saying it’s okay to have wanted it. Sometimes it’s not rational, you know? To want something that could blow up your whole life. Do you want me to come visit?”

My eyebrows furrow. She’s not wrong. It would have blown up my whole life. The worst possible timing, but to be honest, I’m not sure there could ever be a good time. “No, you have school and work. I’ll be okay.”

Quinn sighs again. “Sure, because you’re totallynotthe person who dwells on scenarios over and over. I’ll check my schedule and see when I can visit. Someone has to be the voice of reason.”

That pulls me out of my gloom with a hollow bark of a laugh. “Reason? You? Quinn, we had to have multiple tests on standby from your trysts.”

She gasps. “Who says that?Trysts. Insufferable, judgmental bitches. That’s who.”

I snort. “I learned it from you, bitch.”

Quinn sniffs loud enough for me to hear. “You good now?”

I blow out a breath. “I think I would have kept it.”

“I know, babe. You would have been a damn good mom too.”

Emotion clogs ‌my throat and I clear it. “Thank you.”

I stand up straighter, shoving the test into the trash. “How was the date?”

She groans. “God, this is why I don’t do this shit.”

I smile, letting her fall into her usual rant about how hooking up with no expectations is easier than actually trying to form a connection with these trifling men. Her words, not mine.

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