Page 56 of Justice II

I bent down quickly, but it was far too late.

“Is that a pregnancy test?” She knew damn well it was.

“Yeah.”

She looked at me, then at the box in my hand.

“Melody.”

“I haven’t taken it yet.”

“That’s why you’ve been throwing up?”

“I think so.”

“Damn. I thought it was stress.”

“So did I.”

My face grew hot. I was too old to be standing in my friend’s bedroom embarrassed about a pregnancy test. But I felt stupid. I had been sleeping with Justice without doing what a grown woman does about it. Now he didn’t want me around, and I didn’t even have my own place to live.

“How late are you?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t been keeping up with it.”

She nodded slowly.

“Go take it. I’ll get your water.”

I went into the bathroom and shut the door. I read the instructions before opening one of the tests.

My stomach wouldn’t settle. I took it anyway, then put it on the counter and set a timer on my phone.

I sat on the closed toilet and stared at the floor.

I had been happy when I found out I was pregnant with Keenan. With Golden, I was scared because things with Roman had gotten so bad, but I still wanted her. I had loved both of my babies before I ever held them.

I couldn’t even let myself think about this one.

When the timer went off, I stopped it immediately. I stood up but couldn’t make myself reach for the test.

“Please,” I whispered.

I looked down.

It was positive.

I picked up the instructions and checked them again. There was no mistaking what I was seeing.

“Oh my God.”

My eyes filled before I put the paper down. I pressed my hand over my mouth, trying to hold it together, but a sob came out anyway.

Aubrey knocked.

“Mel? Can I come in?”

“Yeah.”