Fake Empire(87)

“Good?”

I groan and he smiles.

The drive back to the penthouse is silent. Crew parks in the garage and we walk toward the elevator side by side. It feels like days since we left, not hours.

Once we’re inside the elevator, I step forward to swipe the card for the penthouse. When I glance at Crew, he’s looking down. I follow his gaze. The thin white plastic I’m holding does nothing to hide the purple letters spelling out Pregnancy Test.

“You’re pregnant?” Crew’s voice is quiet. Calm. Unreadable. I didn’t expect excitement, but I expected some emotion. Instead, the question sounds like it was spoken by a robot. Smooth and unfeeling.

“I don’t know,” I reply. I overcompensate for his lack of emotion with some snark. “That’s what the test is for.”

“You think you’re pregnant?”

“Well, I’m not taking them for fun,” I snap. His fingers tighten around the car keys he’s holding. I soften my tone, trying to act like apathy and rational questions were the response I was hoping for. “My period is late and I keep throwing up my breakfast. So yeah, I think I’m pregnant.”

He releases a long exhale. “Wow.”

That word lingers in the air between us for the rest of the ride up. The doors slide open, revealing the familiar entryway. I don’t make it more than a few steps inside before he says my name. It’s followed by a warm palm that wraps around my forearm and pulls me around to face him. All I can see is blue, his gaze is that intense.

“Scarlett.”

“What?”

He closes his eyes, then opens them, probably praying for patience. I know I’m being short and unreasonable, but he doesn’t get to be the one freaking out about this. I’m the one whose body will change. “You can’t tell me you might be pregnant and walk off. That’s not the way this marriage works.”

“How does it work then, Crew? If I am pregnant, what do you want me to do? Do you want me to wrap up a stick I peed on like a Christmas present? Wait and see if you notice in a few months? I made nice with all of your fans tonight and you’re getting laid and I’ll probably be popping out an heir for you soon. What else do you want from me?”

The line of his jaw turns taut. “I want you to take the test, Scarlett. And then show me what it says, so I don’t spend all night wondering.”

I’m in the mood for a fight, but he’s being annoyingly easy-going all of a sudden. “Fine.” I spin and stalk in the direction of our bedroom, the sharp corners of the boxes swinging against my legs with each step.

The plastic handle digs into my palm. I thought it would be a relief, Crew knowing. Thought it would save me the dilemma of telling him a definitive answer if he knew and asked. I didn’t consider it would mean he’d be here when I found out. That there would be no chance to absorb the news myself before seeing his reaction.

The thud of his footsteps stays a steady trail behind me as I reach the stairs and climb to the second floor. The bedroom door is slightly ajar. I push it all the way open, dropping the plastic bag on the floor before kicking my heels off by the chaise lounge and stretching my toes.

Best feeling ever.

My feet sink into the soft rug as I find the zipper of my dress and pull it down. Silk pools around my ankles.

Crew’s footfalls have stopped. I can feel his eyes on me, sweeping my bare skin with silent awareness.

I walk over, barefoot, in my bra and thong. I grab one test from the floor before heading for the bathroom. When I turn to close the door, he’s standing in the doorway.

“No.”

He looks amused. “I’ve seen you naked before, you know.”

“I’m not naked.”

Blue eyes flick down to the sheer lace bra and back up. “Sure.”

I act like he said nothing. “I’m peeing alone.”

“How long does it take?”

“Do you have somewhere to be?”

He heaves a sigh. “I’m just wondering, Scarlett.”

I rip the box open, grab the stick, and hand him the empty box. “Read the directions, then.” I shut the door on him and then walk over to the sink. I pull in long, deep breaths as I stare at my reflection in the mirror for a minute.

Despite the full face of makeup, including my red lips, I look young. Nervous. This feels like a big moment. If I were closer with my mom, I’d call her. But she’ll tell my dad, who will call his lawyer and start redrafting all the documents that were just finalized following the wedding. Nadia and Sophie would freak out, and any of my other “friends” would probably call the press.

I wash my face and brush my teeth. I’m stalling. I don’t know what I want the result to be. In the past few days, I’ve started to accept that I must be pregnant. If I’m not, I won’t be disappointed, exactly, but some other emotion adjacent.

This is soon.

Way too soon.

We’ve been married for less than three months. Things between Crew and me are new and volatile. I’m supposed to debut my clothing line in the spring. If I’m pregnant now, I’ll be very pregnant then.

“This one says two minutes,” Crew calls through the door. “But the other two say five. Does that mean they’re more accurate? Why did you get three? Are you supposed to take three? Did you take that one?”