“Eh, don’t mention it. I’m glad for the space in there. I can start filling it up with stuff that doesn’t hang off of me now instead of contemplating eating a bunch of tacos at work to size back up into it.”
“I guess I’m lucky to be pudgy.”
“Pudgy? Hardly. You’ve got curves, girl. I’d kill for a figure like yours. I’m just flat everywhere. When I gain weight, I just look lumpy. You wear your size perfectly.”
“I don’t know, but thanks. I’m going to stick this box in the car out of your way.”
“Great. I’ll make us a couple of sandwiches before we go. Never drink on an empty stomach!”
“Sounds great,” Autumn replied, heading out the door. She looked around while she was there at the small complex where Leyla lived. It wasn’t the nicest place in the world. The little quad of apartment buildings made a square around a small parking lot full of older cars, some of which looked like they might not have run in quite a while. The painted block exterior was peeling and faded.
“Not much to look at, is it?” Leyla said, leaning in the doorway of her ground floor apartment.
“Better than what I’ve got. I’m on someone else’s good graces.”
“You’ll get there. Here, have a sandwich.”
Autumn took the sandwich being offered and bit into it. It was nothing fancy, but it tasted like the best ham and cheese she’d ever had for some reason. Perhaps it was just that she felt like she was headed forward, toward something. They ate and then headed out toward the club, laughing and talking as they went. It was the most carefree Autumn had felt in a while and enough to push thoughts of Malcolm out of her head.CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVEAutumn-11
Things at the bar seemed a bit weird to her. It was mostly empty, with only a few people at the tables and the owners.
“It’s just because it’s Sunday,” Leyla told her as they took a seat at a quiet little booth in one corner.
“What’ll it be, girls?” an older woman in long white braids and wearing a sequined cowboy asked.
“Oh, hey, Stone Feather,” Leyla said. “This is my friend, Autumn.”
“Nice to meet you, Autumn,” the woman replied.
“You too,” Autumn told her, taking in the leathery contours of her face and her thin weathered hands.
“What do you want, Autumn? Wine? Shots? What’s your poison?” Leyla asked, but she was cut off by Stone Feather.
“You can’t drink that poison in your condition,” she said, looking at Autumn.
“What do you mean? I don’t have a condition,” Autumn laughed, glancing toward Leyla with a look of confusion on her face.
“Maybe you don’t realize you have a condition yet, but you do. You’re pregnant.”
“Yeah, right,” Autumn laughed. “Did Leyla put you up to this?”
“No. I can smell the hormones.”
The expression on her face told Autumn that she knew exactly what she was and also, that she knew Leyla did not. Still, pregnant? No way.
“No. You’re wrong. That’s impossible.”
“I’m never wrong. I’d stay clear of any liquor until you get checked out.”
Autumn looked back at Leyla, who looked just as shocked as she did. Rather than ordering a drink, Autumn shot up out of the booth and hurried toward the door. Leyla was right on her heels.
“Wait. Autumn, where are you going?”
“That old woman creeped me out. I think I’m going to go home.”
“No, don’t. Let’s go down to the pharmacy and get you a pregnancy test before they close. I mean, there’s always a chance, isn’t there?”
Autumn frowned at her. Sure, there was always a chance, but what were the odds that she would get pregnant by the first man she ever had sex with, and a wolf shifter at that. She felt terrified. What would their child even be if it were true?
“Yeah. Yeah. Let’s do that. I’ll feel better knowing.”
Three tests later, the two of them sat at Leyla’s kitchen table and stared solemnly at the positive results on each. Autumn put her elbows up on the table and buried her face in her hands, groaning loudly.
“I can’t believe this,” she muttered.
“I take it you weren’t interested in starting a family.”
“That is an understatement. I hardly even know the guy.”
“Nothing says you have to have it, Autumn. You know, we can take care of it. I will help you however I can. I can drive you, take care of you afterward.”
“Thanks, Leyla. I appreciate that. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ll figure it out. Maybe I should go home.”
“And sit there all alone worrying about this? No. Absolutely not. Stay here tonight. Maybe you can’t drink, but we can still talk and try to sort this out in your head. I don’t think it’s good for you to be alone tonight.”
“Okay. Yeah. That might be good,” Autumn said uncertainly.