Page 233 of The Encore’s Crown

“Kroppy—”

“Be quiet or I'll make you regret it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She finds several torn strips of foil and starts fitting them together across the tile like pieces of a treasure map. I watch in silence. Finally, she sits back on her heels and stares at the tiny printed numbers. Her mouth falls open.

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“It’s expired.”

I crawl closer. “Expired?”

“It expired almost a year ago.”

“Pregnancy tests expire?”

“Everything also expires, Misiu.”

She looks at me like I’m the dumbest and most adorable creature ever placed on this earth.

“Right,” I say.

“It’d been in my purse forever. I’ve never had a reason to use it.”

“So it could be wrong?”

“It could be.” She fumbles for her phone. “I need another test. Shit. I need a couple just to be sure.”

I take the phone from her before she can start typing with shaking hands. I hook my hands beneath her arms and lift her.

“What're you doing?”

“Putting you somewhere that isn’t a bathroom floor.”

I guide her to the bed anyway and sit her against the pillows. Then I grab a bottle of water from the minibar and twist off the cap.

“Drink.”

“You’re acting like I’m pregnant already.”

“I’m acting like you’re a crocodile who might bite my hand off if I don’t take care of you. Do you want food?”

“I don’t know.”

“Fries?”

“Maybe.”

“Shake?”

She considers it. “Yes.”

I pass her the bottle first, then the shake.

“I’ll get new tests. You stay here, eat something, and try not to convince yourself of anything until we know.”