One That Came Back by Lexy Timms Page A

shit.” Emily covered her mouth.
    “You didn’t know?” Angela looked partially relieved it wasn’t her. “Do you think you are? Have you noticed any symptoms?”
    “I don’t know. Sore boobs I guess. I just figured it’s because I’ve been sleeping on my back or that my period was coming. Not that bad though.”
    “What about puking?” Angela took the stick from Emily and shoved it in the box.
    “Maybe. I don’t know. Maybe a little nauseous in the mornings but nothing like mom described. I just figured it was because I was upset about everything’s that happened.”
    “Do we need another kit?”
    Emily shook her head and sighed. “I’m pretty sure I’m pregnant. How I didn’t notice…” She sighed again, this time it came out shaky.
    “Is it Luke’s baby?”
    “Who else?”
    “Well, you and Evan…” Angela let the words hang in the air.
    “No!” spit Emily. “Evan and I never, ever went all the way. We argued about that. I guess I knew deep inside he wasn’t for me.”
    “What’re you going to do?”
    “Do? I have no idea.” She touched her belly. Could she really be carrying Luke’s baby? It couldn’t be true.
    “You have to tell him.”
    “No!”
    “He needs to know.”
    Emily wanted to cry. She trudged to Angela’s living room and dropped down in the first seat. “Luke made it quite clear he wanted nothing to do with me.”
    “But—”
    “No buts, Ang. Don’t tell Mom and Dad. Please?” She knew she sounded silly but she didn’t want anyone to know. She needed to absorb the information on her own.
    “You can’t do this on your own!” Angela pressed her lips tight. “That Luke Wade! He left you a mess in high school and now he’s gone and done it again. I’d like to give him a piece of my mind!”
    Emily tried not to smile, despite the seriousness of the situation. Her sister’s idea of a piece of her mind would be equivalent to having a gummy bear beat up a giant. “Don’t you even think about seeing Luke Wade!” Emily sighed. “I’ll take care of this myself.”
    “How?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “You can’t do this on your own. Maybe adoption? You wouldn’t…” Angela’s eyes grew big at the thought of what she couldn’t say.
    “No!” Emily shook her head. “No, Ang. If I’m big enough to get myself into this situation, I’m adult enough to deal with the consequences.”
    “What would you do? Live with Mom and Dad? You couldn’t drive yourself to the hospital if you were in labor. What about—”
    “Geez, Angela! I need time to think. I can’t answer any of that now.” She sank against the back of the chair. Pregnant? How was she going to handle this? She had no job, no health insurance, and now, being pregnant, no one would want to hire her. And everything else? Baby furniture, clothes, diapers. Raising a kid was expensive! She buried her head in her hands. “I sure fucked up this time.”
     

CHAPTER TEN
    Neutral Ground
     
    Luke didn’t dislike George, but he got impatient with incompetence. The DEA sent George undercover because the man claimed he knew how to repair bikes. He must have meant bicycles. George had a shade tree mechanic’s understanding of motorcycle engines and could barely replace brake pads. Luke did his best to give him simple jobs, but the truth of it was that Luke’s reputation was built on his ability to repair high-performance bikes. Harley engines mandated a master’s level of knowledge. Gibs had known, Saks had the skills, and Pepper was learning it. But George didn’t, and would never be good. It was a problem. A big one.
    Luke grabbed his iPad off his desk.
    “Hey, George.” Luke tried to sound positive. “What’re you doing there?”
    “Well, the complaint is stalling and rough idle. I thought I’d change the spark plugs and see what happens.”
    Luke shook his head. “Most likely it’s the electronic fuel injection sensor.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Because you can trust an electronic