Page 58 of Three Months Yesterday

“I know.”

“If I’d just⁠—”

“What?” she interrupts and I don’t know how to answer.

There are a hundred tiny things I could have done. If I’d insisted we rode back sooner. If I didn’t suggest the movie. If I didn’t agree to chase her. If I never suggested the ride…if I never came to Stonebridge Hollow.

More what-ifs. So many more.

Like she can read my mind, Madison interrupts my spiraling thoughts before they fully consume me. “Look at me.”

I lift my forehead from hers, only enough that I can see her clearly as I open my eyes to do as she says.

Her expression is steady despite the pain I know she has to be in. “I chose to go.”

“I know.” The words are hushed, more breath than anything.

“I chose to race you.”

“Madi—”

“I looked back instead of where I was going,” she continues as if I never tried to stop her, and I swallow, forcing the bile back down my throat at the image of the aftermath of that simple look.

“You didn’t make any of those decisions for me, so stop trying to carry them.” Her words are firm, but gentle, leaving no room for argument.

They don’t stop the guilt from coursing through me, but I won’t fight her on it anymore. It’s not what she needs right now.

“I’m here.” She squeezes my hand, her eyes bright with tears. “I’m still here.”

“I know.”

Gently, I lean forward and press a kiss to her lips. It’s not nearly enough, but it will have to do for now.

Before either of us can say anything else, Dr. Winters enters the room, her expressions shifted. The air of comfort she had with her earlier is gone, she’s more measured now—professional.

“Ms. Hawthorne, we got your bloodwork back.”

Madison nods. “Is everything okay?”

“Nothing of concern, just…” Her words trail off as she glances toward me briefly before looking back at Madison. “Are you okay if Mr. Stone stays while we discuss everything?”

“Yes,” Madison answers without hesitation, her grip on my hand tightening as if I might leave despite her response.

“All right.” She glances down at the tablet in her hands scanning something there before dropping it to her side and focuses all of her attention on Madison. “Due to your pregnancy we won’t be able to take you for an MRI, but I’d still like to get a CT scan to rule out any brain bleeds.”

“I’m sorry, due to what?” Madison squeaks.

“Due to your…” Dr. Winters words trail off as she takes in the shift in the room.

I can’t move. I feel Madison’s hand trembling in mine and I want to give her some kind of comfort, but my world is trapped on the word “pregnancy.” How is Madison pregnant? Who’s the father? Why didn’t she tell me?

“I’m not—I can’t be—I haven’t…” Madison stutters, her words forcing my thoughts back onto her.

Dr. Winters face softens and she steps forward, placing her hand on Madison’s shoulder. “We’ll get someone down here from obstetrics to help answer all of your questions. For now, I’m going to do a full neurological work-up to see if we can get you out of this collar and off this board, then we’ll get the ultrasound to check for internal injury.” Her eyes come up to mine and they gentle even further. “Let’s focus on one thing at a time.”

Focus on one thing at a time. I can definitely do that. Like the fact the woman I’m falling for is pregnant with another man’s baby.

I’m shocked to realize it’s not the fact she’s pregnant that bothers me. It’s that she didn’t trust me with that information. That she was willing to explore something more between us while keeping something life altering from me.