Chapter 29
Hanna
I was getting really paranoid about this pregnancy thing. I wasn’t supposed to start until Monday, but my nerves were already getting the best of me. If I stayed stressed like this and I wasn’t pregnant, then I wouldn’t start because of the stress I was putting on myself, so I went ahead and picked up one of those tests that could detect pregnancies early. I’d taken a handful of those pills, but I didn’t really know if those were going to guard me against what Kason and I had been doing. Damn it, I couldn’t believe I’d been so idiotic! How could I have let this happen?
Kason had been adamant about not getting me pregnant, and if I had accidentally gotten pregnant, I’d never be able to convince him I hadn’t meant to. My brother would be hysterically upset and Kason would never talk to me again. That thought absolutely terrified me.
And to think, this was what I wanted in the beginning.
I got into my car and began to drive to the drugstore. Of course my brother had to call while I was driving. I debated not picking up the phone because I knew he would hear the worry in my voice, but if I just ignored him, he would keep calling, and that would be just as annoying.
“Hey there!” I answered.
“Hey, sis! Listen, you up for some lunch?” he asked.
“Lunch? Sure. Where and what time?”
“I was thinking Honeybuns.”
“Oh, man. I haven’t had Honeybuns in forever,” I said. “We used to go there all the time growing up. What happened?”
“We’re rectifying that issue today. Wanna meet me at around 12:30?” he asked.
“Sounds good to me! Hey, listen. Kason told me he was going to call me about my internship as soon as he could, but I haven’t heard from him yet. Have you talked to him at all since he left?”
There was a slight pause before I heard my brother sigh, and for a split second, I thought he was onto me.
“Honestly? I haven’t talked to him much either. I’ve been working on the website and posting on the blog, but he hasn’t given me any feedback or direction. I’ve shot him emails, but still nothing. I’m actually relieved that it’s not just me.”
“All right, well, I’m running an errand and then I’ll meet you there. Love you.”
“Love you, sis.”
I ran into the drugstore to get the pregnancy test and a small bottle of water to chug. I wanted to take the test right there in their bathroom, but I didn’t have the time if I was going to meet Marcus. If I was late, he’d bug me about why, and if I lied, he would know all about it.
So, I chugged the water on the way to Honeybuns and took the pregnancy test out of the box before burying it at the bottom of my purse.
I pulled into Honeybuns and saw Marcus waiting for me. When I got out, he ran over to me before he picked me up and swung me around in his arms. He was uncharacteristically happy today, and I was wondering what in the world was going on.
“Hey, sis!” he exclaimed.
“What in the world has you so happy?” I asked.
“We’ll get to that later. But first, food.”
He ushered me into the burger joint and we sat down at a table. We talked a bit about how the website was going and the blog posts he had been making about the prototype that was delayed. Marcus theorized that Kason was probably so busy with the late launch that he hadn’t had time for anything else, like finalizing my internship or returning Marcus’s emails.
“Well, that makes sense,” I said thoughtfully.
“Don’t worry. I know you and Kason got a little close and shit, but he hasn’t talked to me much either.”
“It was really nice to see him.” I smiled. “I mean, it had been years since the last time I’d seen him.”
“I’m supposed to fly in to see him in a couple weeks, and if he hasn’t told you anything about the internship, I’ll bring it up then.”
“Oh, you’re going to go see him? What’s his house like? I bet it’s massive.”
“It’s actually not as big of a house as you’d think a billionaire would have, but Kason has never been a wasteful person. Boastful and prideful, but never wasteful.”
“I wouldn’t really know, so I’ll take your word for it.” I smiled.
“At any rate, maybe he’ll contact you soon about it. I’ve stopped getting updates about blogging about the prototype, so maybe he’s finally gotten things squared away. You know that damn thing was supposed to be out last Monday?”
“What?” I said. “What kind of project is it?”
“His tech software company is trying to branch their security department into personal health and wellness. He’s developing a high-tech version of all those security systems where you can communicate with someone via the system on the wall if you don’t enter in a password and shit.”
“Oh, oh, oh! Like those intruder commercials where you can see the cameras of your house on your tablet?”
“Yep. He’s merging all those systems into one and then routing it all back to the security station he’s building, where it automatically dispatches to 911.”
“Wouldn’t making his security branch a middleman decrease response times, though?” I asked.
“Keep asking questions like that and he’ll give you a job in his development department.” Marcus smirked.
I was enjoying the conversation with my brother, but that pregnancy test was burning in the back of my mind. I kept glancing at my purse, and suddenly I had to pee. I figured if I could slip to the bathroom quickly, I could take it right there before I came back out to Marcus. Plus, I was getting anxious and just needed this to be over.
“Well, I’m going to go to the bathroom before we order. I’ll be right back.”
“If you want the same thing as always, I can order for you.”
“Sounds good to me. But get me a diet drink instead this time!”
I grabbed my purse to go to the bathroom while Marcus gave our orders to the waiter. My hand was shaky and I dropped my purse on the floor. Lip glosses rolled in all directions, but when I picked it up, I accidentally did it from the bottom, spilling everything out.
Including the pregnancy test.
“Here, let me help,” Marcus offered. But the moment his eyes settled on it, he knew what it was and he froze.
“Hanna…?” he asked.
I snatched it from him and shoved it back in my purse. Already, tears were rising to my eyes. I could see his face turning red in the corner of my vision, and when the waiter handed me my wallet, he gave me a pitiful glance before he scurried off with our order.
“Marcus, it’s not—”
“Was that a fucking pregnancy test?”
I swallowed hard and tried to keep the tears back. I stood up and slowly turned toward my brother. His anger was evident on his face.
“What the hell are you doing with a pregnancy test?” He glowered at me.
People were beginning to stare, and the waiter was standing back with our drinks. I felt on the spot and I really had to pee. all I wanted to do was crawl into a hole, take the test, and then die an embarrassing and lonely death.
“Marcus, please,” I said.
“What the fuck, Hanna? Start talking!”
“I-I-I think that… I, um…well…”
“If you’re grown enough to buy that test, you’re grown enough to say why.”
“I think I might be pregnant,” I whispered.
“And who the fuck would be the father, Hanna?” he asked.
I closed my eyes and felt tears slip out from between the folds. I knew the moment I said his name I would never have my brother again. I knew I’d committed the ultimate betrayal just by sleeping with Kason, but if he’d actually gotten me pregnant because of my slip up, I’d lose my brother for good.
I’d lose them both.
“Marcus, I’m so sorry. I-I-I forgot to take my pills for a few days, but I swear to you, all I did was forget. The moment I realized it, I took all four of them at once and it made me sick but I figured it would work like the Plan B pill. Marcus, please, you’ve gotta—”
“Who the hell is the father!?” he roared.
I saw someone in my side vision begin to stand up from his chair. Tears flowed down my face while I clutched my purse close to me. My hesitation told him everything my mouth couldn’t.
“Kason?!” he exclaimed. “Hanna, is it Kason?!”
“Sir, I think you need to calm down,” someone said softly.
“You slept with my best friend and he got you pregnant, Hanna?!”
“Marcus, I don’t know. I swear to you, I’m going to go take it right now and we’ll know for sure. I’m so sorry, Marcus.”
“Sir, I really think you should calm down right now,” the man said.
“Get the fuck outta my way.” Marcus seethed with anger. He shoved past me with a glare before he stormed out of the restaurant. Someone’s hand came down lightly on my back. I heard the door of Honeybuns slam shut, and for a split second, I was rooted to the floor. My body shook and my fingers white-knuckled my purse. When I got my wits about me, I realized what Marcus was about to do.
He was about to call Kason and tell my parents.
“Are you all right?” the strange man asked.
“Oh no,” I murmured.
I turned on my feet and ran out of the restaurant with everyone’s eyes on me, but when I got outside, Marcus was squealing out of the parking lot. I ran after his car screaming at him, but all he did was leave me in the smoke of his squealing tires.
“Marcus! Please! I haven’t even taken the test yet! Please!”
I scrambled back to my car and threw myself into it before I cranked it up and followed him. I kept calling Marcus on my phone while I kept behind his car. He blew through every red light trying to get away from me. I was right on his tail the entire time until a police officer came into view, and by that time, he was shooting all my calls to voicemail.
He was racing home to tell my parents, and I was screwed.