“Hurry up, Emersyn! We all peed on a stick. Now it’s your turn!” Audrey bellows from somewhere downstairs.

The last thing I expected when I called out of work at the dance studio was for Selina, Bristol, and Audrey to end up on my doorstep with a bag full of pregnancy tests. I’ve always hated how someone’s first response to a woman under the age of thirty being sick is that she’s pregnant.

Although, in this case, it isn’t too far from a possibility. Brady and I have been married for almost a year, and he’s made it his mission in life to get me pregnant. He says he doesn’t want to be outdone, with every one of our friends having children already or babies on the way. And, if I’m being honest with myself, he’s not the only one. My baby fever kicked into high gear when Sophie had Genesis right after we were married.

“We can’t make a video if you don’t also take a test!” Selina shouts, as I hear the stairs creaking, signaling someone is on their way to retrieve me.

I wish I never showed Selina TikTok. That’s the main reason everyone is gathered in my living room with a bag full of pregnancy tests, ready to film a “who’s pregnant” video and post it online. According to Selina, it’s all the rage on the platform and would be a really cute way to show Brady and our family that I’m expecting. If I really am pregnant.

I never really thought about having children until recently. The moment Brady laid Genesis in my arms, I was in love. I knew I wanted to have a baby of my own, and soon. Brady was on board, of course, but my body had other plans. It’s been months and still no baby. I haven’t said anything to anyone, but my biggest fear is I can’t get pregnant. That the issue isn’t that I don’t want children of my own, but that it may just be impossible.

“I didn’t waddle my ass all the way over here for you to hide in your bedroom.” Sophie comes busting into my room with my niece on her hip, bringing me back to the present.

I had no idea Sophie got roped into this scheme, but I shouldn’t be surprised. Not only is she practically my brother’s wife, even though he hasn’t put a ring on it for some reason, but she’s also my best friend. If there is anyone in this world who could convince me to pee on a stick, it’s her.

“I love you, but please put your daughter down. One, she can walk pretty well on her own, and two, the last thing I want is to hear my brother’s mouth when someone tells him you were carrying her.”

“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” She winks, placing Genesis’s feet on the floor before taking a seat on the bed beside me. “What gives, bestie?”

I sigh, knowing there is no way I’m going to get out of telling her what’s going on, but I’m going to try it anyway. Even if I’m only delaying the inevitable. “Nothing. I just don’t want to take a test.”

“Yeah, sure.” She rolls her eyes at me. “Now tell me the truth.”

“Seriously, Selina overreacted the moment I called in sick this morning and called an all-hands-on-deck meeting at my house. Pregnancy tests and all.”

“And she has no reason to think you could be pregnant? I mean, other than your husband being unable to keep his hands off you?”

I turn my head to look out the window, trying to hide my smile. She has a point. I’ve been having a hard time keeping food down for the last few weeks, and there are just some smells that send me running straight to the bathroom. It could be pregnancy or just a stomach bug, and I’m too chicken to find out.

“Not exactly…” My voice trails off, trying to find another excuse. “I just ate something that didn’t agree with me last night. It’s probably food poisoning, not pregnancy.”

“Fair enough. But then why not take a test?”

Now that is the million-dollar question.

“If you two don’t hurry…” someone yells, their impatience with me clear in their voice.

“We’re coming. Don’t get your panties in a bunch. She’ll be ready when she’s ready. The freaking pregnancy test isn’t going anywhere.”

“Man, you are crabby today,” I mumble, before holding my hand out to her.

“You would be, too, if you had a tiny person playing fucking bongos on your bladder at all hours of the night.” Sophie groans as she struggles to stand. “Now I have to pee. Here is your test. Go take it, and I’ll meet you downstairs.”

Sophie leaves no room for argument, dropping the test box on the bed and waddling towards my master bathroom.

“I guess it’s you and me, princess,” I say with a smile before scooping up the test and my niece and heading out of the room.

I don’t even make it to the bottom of the stairs before I’m being accosted by all my friends.

“Can you please take the test now, Em?” Selina whines, as she takes Gen from my arms. “Nap time is almost over, and I really want to get this over with before the kiddos wake up.”

Selina has been my boss at the dance studio for years. Allowing me to turn my love of dance into a job while I worked my way through school. Now that I’ve graduated, I help her out as much as I can, especially since she has a little girl and a husband to deal with every day on top of running her own business and training future prima ballerinas.

I peek over Selina’s shoulder and catch sight of Brittany sleeping peacefully in her playpen, with Rebekah sprawled out on the floor in front of her.

“Are you sure you want to let her nap like that?” I raise my eyebrow at Bristol, who shakes her head.

“No, but if she doesn’t sleep tonight, she’s Seth’s problem.” We all laugh as the girls try to usher me toward the bathroom at the bottom of the stairs near the living room.

“Depending on what this test says, I may send Uncle Brady over to keep him company.”

“And why is that?” Audrey asks, as she turns on the light to the bathroom.

“Because all of you will be here with me as I eat my weight in ice cream to drown my sorrows,” I respond, eyeing her skeptically. “I hope you don’t plan on coming in there with me.”

“Um, no. I have no desire to watch you pee on a stick.” She giggles before bowing slightly at the hip. “After you, milady.”

“We’ll be waiting in the living room when you finish.” Bristol gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before pulling the door shut behind her.

It should be easy to do my business, wash my hands, and wait the three minutes for the test to show its results, but I’m frozen in place. There are too many things that will change once I know the results.

I think I’m better off not knowing.

“Don’t even fucking think about not taking that test,” Sophie yells through the door. “If it’s negative, you keep trying. Besides, trying is the fun part.”

I laugh loudly and raise my hands in surrender before realizing she can’t see me. “Okay. Okay. I’m going.”

After giving myself time to think it over for the millionth time, I quickly open the box and follow all the instructions before washing my hands and walking out of the bathroom. I head directly into the living room and take a seat on the floor with Genesis.

The entire room remains silent. Bristol and Selina are trying desperately not to stare at the timer sitting on the coffee table while Audrey has her face attached to her phone, probably texting Connor. Although I haven’t known her for long, Audrey and I have become pretty close friends. Even with our age difference, she’s become someone I can rely on. She even offered to do a tarot card reading to see if I was pregnant before we all took the test, but I declined. I’m not a fan of that new-age stuff, but I know her heart was in the right place.

The alarm dings, signaling it’s time to check our tests. “You guys go ahead; I don’t think mine is done baking just yet.”

“This isn’t baking a cake, Em. I’m sure there will be a result by now either way.” I roll my eyes in response, not even bothering to answer them.

“Give her a break. You three go check yours and give the poor girl time to breathe.” Sophie gives my hand a tight squeeze.

I mouth thank you in her direction as I watch my three friends turn their tests over to see the results.

“All three are negative,” Audrey responds, her shoulders slumping slightly.

It seems I’m not the only one that was hoping to be pregnant. Audrey and Connor have been trying to have a baby since they were married right before Brady and Seth came back from deployment. We all watched as she withdrew into herself for a few days before finding her new normal. This is what I’m terrified of with trying to do this trend. Selina and Bristol have no true desire to be pregnant right now, but would they both be over the moon if they were? I can guarantee they would be, but with Audrey, things are different. It’s one thing to find out you’re not pregnant after such a long time of trying, but it’s another to discover you’re not pregnant in a room full of all your friends with their children. What am I going to do if I am pregnant? Do I even say anything after seeing how Audrey reacted? The last thing I want to do is flaunt my pregnancy in front of her, but I doubt the girls will let me get away without telling them what the test says.

I know Audrey already has Love, but still, she must be heartbroken. If there is anyone in the world who deserves to be a mother again, it’s Audrey. My eyes lock with Audrey’s for a few moments as she mouths it’s okay in my direction and forces a smile. I immediately make way over to her and throw my arms around her, pulling her tightly into me. There really isn’t anything I can say to make this moment any easier for her, but I want her to know I understand. I see her pain, and I wish there was something I could do for her to make this easier.

“I’m okay, Em. Really, I am,” she whispers, giving me a quick squeeze before planting a kiss on my forehead.

Before I have a chance to say anything, Selina chimes in. “We checked ours. Go check yours.”

“Pushy much? Do you want to film a video that badly?” I snipe back, the weight of the situation getting to me.

I know she means well, but sometimes I don’t want her to be so pushy. Even though I know that’s exactly what I need, I don’t have to like it.

“No. We all want to know if we are going to be aunts again or not.”

“What am I? Chopped liver?” Sophie says, running her hand across her belly.

“No. That’s not… Oh, my goodness, Sophie.” Bristol trips over her words, trying to make Sophie feel better.

“No, I get it, really.” She gives them a soft smile. “I know you love me, but just not as much as her.”

“Will you stop before you give poor Bristol a heart attack?” I giggle before climbing to my feet. “All right, I’m going.”

I move towards the bathroom with everyone right on my heels. “Can I get some privacy?”

All their cheeks turn a nice shade of pink as they back off. “We’ll be right here, waiting for you,” Sophie responds before shooing everyone down the hall, away from the bathroom.

I shake my head before walking into the bathroom and closing the door in their faces. My hands shake as I reach for the test on the counter. The last thing I want to do is see the results of this test on my own.

I wish Brady was here.

“Em! Are you home?” Brady’s voice sounds through the house as if I conjured him into arriving. “Why the hell are the four of you huddled around my bathroom?”

“We’re making sure your wife takes a pregnancy test since she called out sick this morning from work,” Selina quips as someone knocks loudly on the door.

“Come in, Brady.” I know without a doubt that he’s the one knocking.

He’s been waiting for this moment just as long, if not longer than I have.

“What does it say?” he whispers, planting a kiss on my neck just below my ear before resting his chin on my shoulder.

“I don’t know. I’m too scared to turn it over.”

“I’ll love you no matter what it says, Em. Besides, if it says you’re not, we can always keep trying. That’s the fun part.”

“That’s what Sophie said.”

“I knew I liked her.” He chuckles before covering his hand with mine and turning the test over.

The word Pregnant flashes on the test. Holy fucking shit. I’m pregnant! Tears stream down my cheek as I’m completely overcome with emotion.

“You’re going to be a mommy.” Brady pulls me tighter into his chest, burying his nose in my neck.

“You’re going to be a daddy.”

“Here’s to hoping we don’t screw this kid up.” I giggle softly before turning around and sliding my arms around his neck.

“Well then, we have nothing to worry about. We have plenty of people around to keep us in line,” he whispers, before dropping his forehead to mine.

“Ain’t that the truth,” I say with a smile before rising onto my toes and planting a kiss on his lips.

“Are you guys done having a moment, or are you going to tell us what it says?” Sophie shouts from the other side of the door, causing us both to laugh loudly.

“Are you ready to face them?” Brady asks, threading his fingers through mine and gripping my hand tightly.

“No.”

“I doubt they’re going to be willing to wait too much longer. I think I hear Sophie talking about knocking the door down if we don’t hurry up.”

I wait for Sophie to fire off a snarky retort, but I don’t hear a thing. My eyebrows pull down in confusion as I reach for the door and open it. I’m expecting to find all four ladies standing in the hallway impatiently waiting for me to come out, but it’s empty.

“Where did they go?” I whisper, pulling Brady out of the bathroom toward the kitchen. I make my way through the kitchen and into the living room but find no sign of my friends. 

Just as I’m about to ask Brady what he said to make them all scatter when he came home, my phone chimes in my pocket. I pull it out and notice a text message from Sophie.

Sophie: Congratulations, momma! We heard you and Brady through the door, and I convinced the girls to give you guys some privacy.

Emersyn: Thank you! But I doubt that was an easy thing to do… What did you promise them?

Sophie: Nothing we can’t handle.

Emersyn: That just worries me more. What do I have to do?

Sophie: Brunch this weekend with all the girls. And you’re having a baby shower. A big one.

Emersyn: That doesn’t sound too bad. What’s the catch?

Sophie: Selina is in charge of your baby shower.

Emersyn: Oh…

Sophie: Don’t worry! I made her promise not to go overboard, and she agreed. Now go celebrate with your hubby.

“I owe Sophie a big bouquet of flowers.” Brady wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me into his chest.

“Make sure you attach a card this time. My brother almost had a heart attack, wanting to know who had the nerve to send flowers to his woman.”

“But what would be the fun in that?” He chuckles before turning me around in his arms. “Are you happy?”

“Happy doesn’t even begin to cover it. I’m elated. Ecstatic. I feel like I’m about to burst at the seams with happiness,” I respond with a smile, wrapping my arms around his neck and resting my forehead against his.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too. Always.”