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It was just past eleven PM now.

I walked over to the peephole and saw Calder, so I opened.

“What’s up?” I asked.

He brought something from behind his back and offered it to me: a pregnancy test. “Before you say anything, you don’t have to do this tonight. I just figured I’d get you one so you had it here tomorrow.”

Nausea stirred in my stomach. “I wish you hadn’t.”

“Why?” He handed it to me.

“Because I’m gonna be tempted to do it tonight.”

He took a few steps inside. “Would that be the worst thing in the world, Talia? Do you really think you’ll be able to sleep with this weighing on your mind? Imagine the relief you’d feel if you found out it was negative.”

God, he was so right. Why was I being such a chicken shit?

“Will you wait with me?” I asked.

“Of course.” He smiled. “You’re actually gonna do it?”

I sucked in a breath and nodded. “I think so.”

“Good girl. You’ll feel better.”

“I will not feel better if it’s positive, Calder.”

“If you’re pregnant, Talia, then it was meant to happen, despite the odds. You’ll adjust, and I know you’ll be the most amazing mother.”

I examined his face. “Why the hell are you being so nice to me?”

“For one, I’ve gotten a taste of what life is like without you, and I don’t care for it all that much.” He frowned. “Do I think what you and Rafe did was shitty? Yes. But do I think it defines you, erases all the good experiences you and I ever had?” He shook his head. “No, I don’t.”

I never thought I’d be saying this after the way Calder had acted lately, but I was so grateful to have him by my side tonight. Maybe that was selfish, considering how strong my feelings were for Rafe. But I was confused and scared, so I appreciated not being alone.

“Okay.” My breath trembled. “I’m gonna go pee on this thing and come back out. We’ll wait together until I go back in and check.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

As I turned to go, Calder squeezed my hand. “It’s gonna be okay, Talia.”

I went into the bathroom and followed the directions to a tee, peeing on the stick before placing it on the counter.

When I returned to the living room, I grabbed my phone from the table and went over to where Calder was staring out the window.

“I’m going to set a timer.”

Once I did, I stood next to him, looking outside. Calder put his arm around me. The moment felt surreal. I tried to focus on the street below, but my mind was racing, alternating between the test result and the woman who’d answered Rafe’s phone. It felt like the only thing holding me together right now was Calder.

Then the timer went off and scared the living hell out of me.

CHAPTER 36

A minus sign.

I’m not pregnant!

Calder walked into the bathroom and stood behind me. “Sorry, I couldn’t wait.”