Page 71 of Wish I Might
“Well,” Bailey said after a moment.“At least it’s not a dead body.”
“I kind of wish it was.”Tears dripped down Chloe’s cheeks, slow and soft.“At least that would be simple.”
“Are you sure?”Gwen asked quietly.
“I took three different tests.Two lines, a plus sign, andPregnant.”
Bailey blew out a breath.“Yeah, that’s pretty sure.Do you know how far along you are?”
“I think about six weeks?”Chloe bit her lip.“I don’t really have periods anymore, because of the pill, but I think about that.”
“Then you some have time to figure out what you want to do,” Bailey soothed.“And once you decide—”
“I know what I want to do,” Chloe replied.
Bailey nodded.“Okay.”
“I’m getting an abortion,” Chloe said firmly.“My career—my jewelry is selling well, but Lou just started putting it in her stores, and she wants more, and—”
Bailey gave Chloe’s hand a bolstering squeeze.“You don’t have to justify it to us, sweetie.”
Chloe took a deep breath.“I don’t know how to tell Jesse and Knox.”
“You don’t technically have to tell them,” Bailey began.
“That’s a shitty move,” Gwen muttered.
Bailey shot her a quelling look.“It’s her body, and her choice.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t,” Gwen argued, her brown eyes firing behind her glasses.“I just said it’s shitty not to tell them.”
“Of course, it’s shitty,” Bailey flared back.“That doesn’t mean it’s not the right choice.”
“I’m going to tell them,” Chloe said firmly.“We talked about the what ifs when we quit using condoms, and we all agreed it would be the best thing.But…”
“That was theory,” Bailey said quietly.“And this is reality.”
Chloe’s eyes filled again.“Yeah.”
“Have you guys talked about kids?”Gwen asked.
Chloe sniffed the tears back.“Sure, in a ‘maybe someday’ way.But God, we haven’t even been together a full year.And there’s so much stuff to work out before we add kids to the mix.”
“I can imagine,” Bailey murmured.
Knox and Jesse had been together—and married—for years when Chloe had met them, and what was supposed to be a threesome-fling had turned into love.Bailey knew the decision to enter into a polyamorous relationship had been carefully considered, by all three parties.They were making it work, because they loved each other and wanted to be together, but throwing a baby in the mix would add a layer of complication.
“What do you need from us?”Bailey asked.
Chloe’s fingers tightened on hers in mute gratitude.“Nothing, really.I just needed to tell someone.And build up the courage, I guess, to tell the guys.”
“Do you want us to be with you when you do?”Gwen asked.
For a moment relief shone on Chloe’s face, then she shook her head.“No, I have to do it by myself.But maybe you guys could be on standby, just in case…”
Just in case it goes to shit, Bailey thought, and nodded.“You got it.”
“Thanks.”Taking a deep breath, Chloe rose.“I’m going to go splash some water on my face.”
