Chapter 27

Cora

I ’ve been feeling off the past week. I haven’t said anything to Kimmy and Zack because I don’t want to worry them. Or, get their hopes up.

Because with the sensitive breasts, the yucky feeling in the morning and the sudden need for daytime naps, I have a feeling I might be pregnant.

But with the past two tests being negative, and the look of disappointment on Kimmy’s face, I don’t want to say anything until I know for sure.

It’s Zack’s birthday and his mom is over. We’re having a little BBQ with her and some of their close family and friends.

I told Kimmy I was going to come up and change into something lighter because of how warm it is, but really I’m pacing back and forth in the bathroom.

The box says three minutes, but it feels like a lifetime. Chewing my lip, I eye the test sitting on the counter from across the room. The wait is killing me.

When the timer on my phone goes off, I’m on the other side of the room in a flash, snatching the test off the counter.

My hand wraps around it in a tight grip and I take a few breaths to try and calm my pounding heart.

“Remember, it’s okay if it’s negative. It’s only been a few months. Sometimes these things take time. A negative test doesn’t mean never.” I try giving myself a pep talk but it does nothing to take away the nervousness. Taking another breath, I open my hand and look down at the test.

When my eyes lock on the digital window, the word ‘pregnant’ is clear as day. My hand shoots up to cover my mouth as I let out a happy little sob. “Oh my god,” I whisper in shock, my hands starting to shake.

Needing to make sure, I grab a few more pregnancy test boxes and rip them open. Thankfully, I still have some pee left in me and place them on the counter.

While I wait, I can’t stop staring at the test. I pray all of them say the same thing because I’m already filling up with excitement, my heart ready to burst.

Not being able to wait another three minutes, I go over to the tests and laugh happily when I see a few have already come up with the results. Positive, pregnant and even one say that I’m four plus weeks.

“No way.” I grin. “Holy shit. I’m pregnant.” My hand finds my belly and I close my eyes, smiling so wide. “I’ve got a baby growing inside me.”

With one of the tests in hand, I head downstairs. I’m a little light-headed, a bit of adrenaline coursing through my veins.

I find Kimmy in the kitchen, grabbing one of the salads. She looks over at me and frowns slightly. “I thought you were going to change?” She looks me over and pauses when she meets my eyes. I probably look a little pale, maybe red eyes from the tears filling my eyes. Happy ones of course. “Cora, baby, what's wrong?”

I lick my lips and hold out the test in my hand. She glances down, eyes widening before they snap up to mine.

“Is that...” she whispers, voice quivering. She puts the salad down, her own hands as shaky as mine as my smile crosses my face again.

Eyes on the test, she walks over to me, her steps a bit hesitant. When she’s close enough to see the results, she gasps, eyes filling with tears. “Are you sure?” her voice cracks and I’m nodding hard, a giggle slipping free.

“I’m pregnant, baby. We’re gonna be parents.”

Kimmy throws herself at me and we both start to ugly cry as we cling to one another.

“What the hell is going on?” Zack’s panic sounds through the room. He’s over to us in seconds. “Kimmy, Cora, what's wrong?”

“Nothing's wrong,” Kimmy says, pulling back from the hug and wiping at her eyes. “Everything is amazing.”

Zack’s brows furrow. “Okay, but then why are you both crying? I’m confused.”

I laugh and wipe my eyes too. “Because.” I show him the test. “This is why.”

He takes it and stares at it for a long moment. So long that Kimmy and I look at one another a little worried.

“You're pregnant!” he whispers. It’s a statement, not a question.

“I am,” I say quietly.

“Zack. You're freaking us out. I swear to god, if you're not happy, I’m going chop off your fucking dic—” Zack shuts Kimmy up by swooping in and crashing his lips to hers. She grunts as he kisses her passionately before it ends in a moan. They break the kiss, both panting as I watch, grinning like a fool.

“We’re having a baby!” he laughs, eyes wide with excitement. “A baby. Holy shit, Kimmy. We’re gonna have a baby.”

Kimmy cups Zack’s face and nods, smiling wide. “Yeah, babe. We’re having a baby.”

He puts his forehead to hers as they close their eyes. I watch, so damn happy for them and being able to give them their moment.

Because the fact is, this has been their dream a lot longer than it’s been mine. They are the ones who have dealt with years of disappointment and heartache. I don’t mind waiting for my turn.

And it comes as Zack pulls back and looks at me. The love in his eyes has my belly swooping and my knees shaking. He steps up to me and puts his forehead to mine. “Thank you, Daredevil. I love you so fucking much. Thank you for coming back into our lives. For agreeing to be ours. For trusting us with your heart and body and believing we would never hurt you again. Thank you for loving us. For caring for us. And most of all, thank you for this.” He places his hand on my belly and a sob slips free. “You changed our lives in so many ways. While we could have lived without you, the fact is, Cora, we never wanted to, and we never want to again. It’s us against the world, baby. The four of us.”

He cups my face with both hands and pushes me back against the wall. I whimper as he kisses me. It’s like my whole life clicks into place. This is where I’m meant to be. With who I’m meant to be with.

Every bad thing in my past seems like a distant memory. How can I even bother to think about it when it’s been replaced by so many good things. Amazing things, and it’s just going to keep getting better.

“Thank you for loving me,” I tell him, panting when he pulls back. “Both of you.” I hold my hand out to Kimmy. She takes it and I pull her to me. Zack wraps us both up in his arms, tucking our heads under his chin as we lean against his chest. I look at Kimmy and smile before bridging that gap and kissing her sweetly.

My hand finds hers and we lace our fingers together before pulling back. “I love you, Cora,” she whispers.

“I love you too,” I whisper back.

“And I love you both. My women. My everything,” Zack says.

As Zack takes both our hands, he pulls us back outside to announce the news. He’s so happy and excited as he tells them. Everyone is happy, congratulating us and I can’t help but feel for the first time, I’ll never be alone again.

It’s taken a while to really accept that I’m loved. My best friends, my whole world. That all the bad moments are behind me. And sure, life’s not perfect but as long as I have Kimmy, Zack and this little one growing inside me, I truly believe everything will work out in the end.

The end.