68 - PLUS SIGN

*SOME DRUNKEN YEARS AGO

ARIA’S POV

“Move in with me” Kyle said lazily and out of the blue to me on a very rainy afternoon, while we laid lazily across one another in his bedroom. I was in my final year college, Kyle had moved out of his father’s house and his company was already a work in progress. The windows were shut but I could still feel a tiny cold breeze circulate the room. We had been going out for longer than two years now, maybe a few hiccups but nothing major that screamed red flags.

His statement had come as a shock to me and I looked at him “What?”

“Move in with me” he said again but this time with a more determined tone “I mean why not, you’re always over here anyways and I don’t have to miss you every time you want to leave”

“You make a solid point” I said with a contemplating smile

“Think of all the fun we’re going to have and you’re almost done with college, it’s perfect timing babe”

He sounded convincing like this was something he had thought about before and it wasn’t a decision that he made on a whim, but was it really perfect timing.

“My dad’s getting out of jail” I said immediately “I mean he could stay at his house but I feel like he’ll really need my company at the house”

Kyle had an odd look that I couldn’t decipher the moment I mentioned my dad but it disappeared as quickly as I mentioned it and he just had a sad face on instead so I retraced my words “Orr maybe we can work something out”

His face istantly lit up and I adjusted properly to accommodate his weight on my body. His hands played with my hair, unconsciously massaging my scalp and if this was his way of trying to convince me to actually move in with him, then it was absolutely working.

“We can definitely work something out, he comes out in two weeks and I could move in before then and when he gets out, I can spend most weekends with him”

Kyle held me close at my statement and kissed me full on the lips “I love you”

It always felt different every time he said those words to me, my stomach would immediately flutter and I would feel a tingling sensation throughout my entire body

“I love you too” I whispered back, with my face close to his and my hands cupping his face.

“No you don’t, if you do you’ll move in right away”

“Don’t be a whiny baby” I pecked his lips attempting to pull away but he held me tighter, unwilling to let go. He kissed my lips, running his tongue over my bottom lip before seeking entrance into my mouth and I let him, immediately savouring the sweetness of his tongue.

“But I got to go” I said into his mouth and he groaned into mine, latching his hands unto the contour of my waist

“I promised Sam I would spend the night with her”

“I’m sure she would be fine” he whined and I playfully rolled my eyes.

“Same way you would be fine”

Few hours later, I was finally able to disentangle myself from Kyle’s hold, so I quickly sent a text to Sam to tell her I was on my way. But firstly, I had to hit the store first to grab a few things. I grabbed everything I need and was on my way to the counter when I passed by some pregnancy test sticks hung in the corner and I stopped immediately.

Wait!

I paused, turning to look at me and when it dawned on me, I had the sickest feeling envelope me immediately. I was late, I was so late and I hadn’t noticed. The overbearing thoughts began to flow in and out of my hand.

*Maybe I’m just late and it’s nothing serious

*It’s been more than two weeks, I’m definitely pregnant.

*How couldn’t I have thought about this?

Quickly, I grabbed one of the stick and threw it into my cart without thinking too much about it. My hand trembled incessantly, throughout my journey to the house that I shared with Sam and while she threw her dainty hands around me in a tender hug, my whole body shook with anxiety. Was this a good thing? If I got pregnant now, was it a good thing? Would Kyle freak out like most guys do, or am I even ready for this?

“What’s the matter” Sam sensed the unease on my face and I dropped my bags on the floor, collapsing on the chair. “Did Kyle do something, did you guys fight?”

“None of that” I shook my head then I fixed my eyes on her to let her this was dead serious “I think I’m pregnant”

She paused, mirroring the same exact expression I had when I figured I had missed my period “How long?”

“More than two weeks”

“Well have you confirmed?” she asked and I groaned “I mean, I’m not ready for a baby and I’m pretty sure Kyle’s not ready for a baby either. I mean he just asked me to move in with him and this – ”

“He asked you to move in with him?” she asked surprised and I nodded “One bomb at a time now girl”

I groaned, stretching out on the sofa as my mind reeled with different possibilities.

“Tell me there’s a pregnancy test in those shopping bags” she said further but didn’t wait for me to answer before rummaging through the bags and fishing it out, then she threw it at me.

“Go do it now”

I was reluctant to get to my feet but she pulled me up and pushed me towards the bathroom.

My hands shook the entire time as I peed on it, I closed my eyes not wanting to see as I placed the stick in front of me, ready to see.

1 – 2 – I opened my eyes

The plus sign was bold and bright

I screamed