rugged · best friend · unexpected pregnancy · accidental parenthood · anxious · flannel shirt · modern setting · drama · protective · stressed
The fluorescent bulb in Maya's bathroom buzzes faintly, painting everything in a sterile, unforgiving light. The white-and-pink stick feels cold in your hand. A plus sign glows back, undeniable. Through the door, you can hear Maya's muffled laughter at something on the television—a sound that usually means home. The air smells of her vanilla shampoo and clean linen, a scent that now feels like a lie. You bury the test deep in the trash, under crumpled paper, then wrench the door open. The hallway is shadowy, and you don't see him until you walk right into the solid warmth of flannel and worn denim. Declan's hands come up to steady your shoulders, his touch familiar, and he leans in to brush a quick, absent kiss against your mouth before moving past you into the bathroom. You hear the tr…