Page 61 of Seein’ Red

Shit…

“It’s the truth!” I defend.

“Might be, but that’s not really what’s going on here, is it?”

I swallow hard, trying to figure out something else to say. I got nothing.

“Just fucking own up to it,” Noel tells me. “Either you can, or I can.”

I throw a look at him, letting him know just how much I don’t like his ultimatum. My twin couldn’t give two shits though, shrugging one shoulder and proceeding when I don’t.

Noel continues to stare me down, his challenge unwavering.

“Willa’s pregnant…we think,” I spit out, knowing my twin will do it if I don’t. And this is something that needs to come from me. My stomach drops, waiting for whatever response I get.

Dustin and Camden are both stunned into silence, their jaws going slack, eyes blinking rapidly like each bat of a lash makes things compute faster.

“Our Willa?” Dustin clarifies. “Tall, leggy, smart mouth…”

That’s my girl…

I nod. “Unless you know another former Miss Georgia who will bless you out without batting an eye.”

“What do you mean think? They make tests for that,” Camden adds.

“It was…inconclusive, I guess. That was the word she used,” I say, trying to keep my cool. Which is easier said than done.

Camden nods, his science brain taking over, face morphing into deep thought. “Makes sense that the hormone levels in her blood might not be high enough to register on a home test. Depending on how early it is. Or late, since past a certain point those things don’t really work. Or she might just be one of those women who have to have an ultrasound to truly confirm.”

An ultrasound. That would require a doctor, and there’s no way that Willa is going to ask Doc Galindo. Hell will freeze over first. If she thought she couldn’t buy a test at Hickory Hills Drugs without the world knowing, there is no way she could make a doctor’s appointment. HIPAA be damned, this town would know.

Wait…Camden’s a doctor…

“You could do an ultrasound, right? Don't you have one of those machines?” I ask, hope rising in me.

“Err, yes…” Camden answers, brow furrowing. “But it’s not the same thing. For one, I’m not a human doctor. Sure, it’s the same technology, but it’s not as straightforward as that. I've never actually done an ultrasound on a human uterus. I wouldn’t even know what to look for, unless she’s having kittens.”

Kittens…heh. If Camden had seen Willa’s reaction earlier this week, cute, fuzzy kittens would not be where he went. More like Bengal tigers.

Clearing his throat, he continues. “Also, and again, not a human doctor, but I’m pretty sure that this early in a pregnancy ultrasounds are done vaginally.”

Vaginally? Oh fuck no. The only person getting that up close and personal is me.

“You’re not getting anywhere close to her vag,” I say, my voice gruff.

“Wait, wait…” Dustin says, finding his words again. He points to me, the answer to his question already on the tip of his tongue. “Why are you getting all defensive about Willa’s vagina? Unless…it’s yours…”

He looks at me, waiting on confirmation. But I let him wait.

I take a bite of pizza, slowly chewing, letting the medley of flavors from the cheese and sauce mingle on my tongue. A weird, expectant silence surrounds us, everyone waiting on the answer. I suddenly understand exactly why it’s called a pregnant pause.

Oh, the irony.

“Nash…”

“It is,” I finally say.

“Yours?”