BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER

“Wow! I mean wow!” Tilly snapped gleefully. “And, what else?”

Sasha shrugged her slender shoulders. “I don’t know.” she replied.

“You don’t know?” Tilly pouted.

“I’m not sure.” Sasha laughed at the reaction given. “What else other than the fact that I fucked someone else’s man, and I’m officially a home wrecker.”

“Oh come on, Sasha!” Tilly argued. “It’s not like they’re married or something, right? I mean, it seems like the guy wants you too because why would he go through all that trouble… He sent those beautiful flowers too. If he really was in a happy relationship, he wouldn’t do that”

“Oh please!” Sasha rolled her eyes.

“I’m serious, Sasha. I don’t think you should feel bad about it,” Tilly insisted. “Like you said, it just happened.” She reclaimed her bowl of cereal.

“I’m just glad you’re not judging me, best friend,” said Sasha with a weak smile. “That’s the last thing I’d want to hear after everything that’s happened.” She reclined back in her seat, exhausted.

“Why would I judge you? I’m happy that you’re finally out of your shell.” Tilly was excited actually, her grin bigger.

“I guess.” Sasha sighed. “And you? What’s going on with the hot chocolate you told me about the other time? I know you have been texting with him all morning.”

It was Tilly’s turn on the hot seat, and she beamed like a flashlight. “Oh girl, Frank is awesome!” She grinned dreamily, flushing crimson all over her face.

“Really now? What have I missed? Are you in love already?” Sasha sat straight, a smile curved in her lips.

“Yeah, I think I like him, but I’m still getting to know him. I honestly don’t have much to tell at the moment but we’re having so much fun together,” Tilly answered matter-of-factly.

“You? Getting to know someone? That’s a first.” Sasha giggled.

“Hey, he is an interesting one,” Tilly argued. “I should try to act decent from now on. Besides, he’s single, so at least I don’t have to put up with the other woman drama.”

“Oh thank you very much for the helpful reminder!” Sasha snorted.

“Oops! That came out wrong. My bad!” Tilly said teasingly, meaning so less of it. “Oh, and next week, we’re hanging out at my house. It’s been a bit boring lately and since Kaleb got his own place there’s no one to bother me. I’m even starting to miss him… Wonder why he isn’t back from Rome yet”

Sasha bit her tongue and tried not to ask further questions about Kaleb. He didn’t care about her and she had to do the same…and soon, hopefully…. Whatever feelings she had for him would go away.

———–

Sasha stared at the stick in her hand. Still in shock.

Well, she was pregnant.

Trying to think pragmatically, she took a deep breath and pushed the cartridge she’d been examining back into her bag. It was the third positive reaction she’d had in the last two weeks, and, however much she tried to persuade herself that these tests could be faulty, even she didn’t believe it could happen three times in a row.

Dammit!

Smudging back a tear, she sniffed ferociously. How could it have happened? She’d been so sure that when she and Kaleb had made-had had sex, she amended, fiercely, her monthly cycle had been too far along for her to conceive. But boy, had she been wrong.

She sighed. If she was honest, she’d have to admit that taking precautions hadn’t figured too highly in her thoughts when Kaleb had kissed her. The sensual brush of his tongue had banished all other thoughts from her head. She’d wanted him, she acknowledged, just as much as he’d wanted her. It had been far too easy to convince herself that he wasn’t just using her for his own ends. After the last time she spoke with him, she’d vowed never to reach out to him or get involved with him in any way… AndAnd she’d been trying… Even if it was so damn hard.

It wasn’t until two weeks later, when she still hadn’t had her period, that she’d even considered the alternative. And even then it had been hard to believe that that reckless consummation had had such a result. It was almost five weeks now since Kaleb had come to her apartment.. Tilly had even mentioned that he’d returned from Rome a week ago, but he still hadn’t made any effort to reach out to her. God, what was she going to do?

She went for her lectures later in the day, but she could barely concentrate, and after the lecture when she met up with Tilly, she couldn’t listen to anything Tilly was saying. They were sitting on one of chairs in the love garden, when Tilly said, “You are looking pale,” dark brows drawing together above her long nose. “Are you getting enough sleep? Or is that mystery man of yours keeping you up half the night, hmm?”

Sasha shuffled the papers on her lap. “I don’t have a mystery man, Tilly. Not anymore at least. We are over”

Tilly looked concerned, “Really. Why? Call me crazy, but you kinda seemed really happy about him. Did he do something to hurt you?”

Sasha tried hard not to burst into tears and looked away so Tilly wouldn’t notice. While Tilly waited for Sasha to answer, a guy joined them in the garden. He sat on the chair close to theirs, rummaged in his pocket and drew out a pack of cigarettes. Placing one between his lips, he flicked his lighter, inhaling deeply before blowing a stream of blue smoke into the air. Sasha had never liked the smell of cigarettes and this morning she found it nauseating. Feeling the bile rising in her throat, she made an incoherent little sound and then rushed to her feet, and into one of the buildings close to them.

In the bathroom, she was violently sick.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

Leaning against the tiled wall afterwards, a tissue pressed to her mouth, she thought it was a long time since she’d felt so ill. What had she eaten, for God’s sake? She’d only had toast for breakfast, so it couldn’t be that. Mind you, she hadn’t really wanted any breakfast. She’d been feeling distinctly out-of-sorts since she’d got out of bed. And then, feeling immensely stupid, she realized what was happening. It wasn’t food-poisoning.