Page 138 of Lyric Squared

“Is he upset or is he jealous?” I asked Ever.

“He sounds jealous to me,” she answered, “But you don’t have to be, big brother. I can always call Baisleigh up so she can keep you company, tonight.”

“Baisleigh ain’t fucking with a nigga, so I wish y’all would let that go. We’re both living our happily ever afters.”

“Well, you don’t look so happy to me,” I confessed.

“Me either.” Ever shrugged.

“Really, fuck both of y’all,” Laike gritted, kissing his teeth and tossing a middle finger up at us as he walked off.

We both chuckled on our way around the corner, knowing that we were getting under his skin. Thankfully, the stall was clear and we proceeded inside. It was still early and the crowd was still expanding. When we finally made it inside and locked the door, we breathed sighs of relief.

Then, simultaneously, we blurted, “I think I’m pregnant.”

My eyes bulgedand so did Ever’s. Our revelations were followed by hideous laughter that ended with tears running down our faces. As exciting as the thought was for us both, it was as horrifying.

“Wait, really?” Ever wiped her face, clearing the tears and revealing her natural beauty again.

“I didn’t get my period last month.”

“I haven’t had mine at all, but that’s because I’m breastfeeding. I just have been feeling off lately. And, my sexual drive is out of this world. That usually means that something is baking.”

“I was scared to tell Keanu, so I bought this,” I told Ever as I reached into my purse and pulled out the thin box that held the pregnancy tests.

“I wanted to wait until tonight when I saw you to take it,” I explained.

“Is there two?” She asked.

“Yeah. It comes with two inside. I be wanting to make sure, sure!”

“You mind if I have one?”

“Of course not, but only if you go first.”

“Why me?” She whined.

“Because, I’m scared, honestly,” I admitted.

“I guess I have done this countless times, huh? I should continue to lead by example,” she tittered as she said.

I tore the box open as she lowered her shorts. I uncapped the stick and handed it to her as she squatted over the toilet. When she was done and had cleaned herself up, I did the same.

I angled the stick as best as I could while trying to stay upright and keep my skin from touching the toilet seat. Once my river stopped flowing, I capped the stick and sat it on the back of the toilet where I’d laid a napkin. Ever’s test was on the sink.

I scrubbed my hands clean as we stared at one another with silly grins on our faces. The fear we both were experiencing was vivid in our eyes. Each one of us had a reason to be afraid of the outcome of our tests, but we were going to live with the results either way.

“Can you look for me?” Ever asked as I dried my hands.

“You sure you don’t want to?”

She shook her head, closing her eyes as she smiled. “No. See what it says. I’m nervous.”

I leaned over slightly and read the results in the small window. I wasn’t sure how to feel about the results, so I read them out loud without much emotion in my words.

“Not pregnant.”

A heavy sigh left Ever’s lips as she said, “This is literally the first test I’ve ever taken that wasn’t positive. I think.”