Page 86 of Pucked Together

I just blink at him until he clears his throat awkwardly.

It feels like an eternity before the words escape my lips, "Check again."

"Um...I mean, we can do another test, but the results came back conclusive."

"Check again," I repeat, but this time it's a demand.

"Ok, honey, I will,” the nurse assures, “but we ran a blood test, and those never come back with a false..."

"Did you not hear me? Check again. That can't be right. It can't. Unless by some miracle..."

His voice is in my head again. The one telling me to breathe. Ryker's.

And I know immediately. I can't remember...but I know.

"Oh...my...god," I bring my hands to my mouth. I don't know if I'm more embarrassed that I'm sitting here with my only living relatives realizing I've actually had sex...or that my baby daddy is staring at me with an intensity that has me blushing beyond anything I can control.

"I think we should give them a minute," Aunt Ginny says to Keelan as she squeezes my hand.

"Yes, I think that's a great idea," says the chipper male nurse who I currently want to punch in the throat.

They all shuffle out of the room. Aunt Ginny grabs her bag from the sofa and blows a kiss my way before looking at Ryker and giving him a nod.

She shuts the door, and I turn my attention to the man with the tousled hair at the end of my bed.

Chapter 27

Ryker

"We did more than just make out, didn't we?" Izzy hisses.

Unbelievable. We just found out we're having a baby, and suddenly, we're back to square one.

I'm the enemy.

I move to her right and take the seat Ginny was in, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees as I drop my head and run my hands over it. Again.

"Way more," I admit, avoiding her gaze.

Her fists clench into tight balls, and she takes a deep breath.

"Why is life so unfair to me?" She shakes her head before looking at me. "I lose my parents to a car accident when I'm only six years old. I grow up with my aunt, while my older brother goes on to pursue his dreams. I, on the other hand, get the shit end of the stick. Every. Freaking. Time. I wait.” Her hand curls into a fist on top of the blanket. “I don't get involved with boys to avoid making a mistake with someone I barely know...and yet, my plane crashes, and I lose all my memories only to find out I made the mistake I was trying to avoid anyway!"

She shakes her head again in disbelief.

"This isn't a mistake, Izzy."

"Oh really, it's not. Please, Ryker, please expound on how impregnating your best friend's younger sister isn't a mistake of epic proportions. You're a professional hockey player, for God's sake. You have a career. Do you think a child with a girl you barely know isn't going to mess that up for you? Are you that dense?"

"This isn't a mistake," I say again, this time with more bite.

"So what? You're going to tell me that in the few months I've apparently lived here, not only did you take my virginity, but you've managed to somehow fall in love with me along the way? Hmm?"

She sounds unhinged. I get up from my seat and stand near her by the bed. "I didn't take your virginity, Izzy. You gave it to me—willingly, from what I remember."

Her mouth drops open at my audacity. But she needs to hear this, so I lean in closer.

"And you loved every minute of it. You begged me to take you. Begged me to make you mine. And you know what, Izzy? I did. Every fucking inch of your body has had me. I've kissed and touched and licked every inch of you. And do you know why?"