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"What?" All the blood had completely drained from Adam's face. "Pregnant?!"
The redhead nodded, her eyes casting down. Good lord, she knew he would reach somewhat like this... He looked like a deer caught in headlights. It was exactly the reason she'd been avoiding him lately - the *only* reason.
The blond man studied her in shocked silence for a beat. Then, "Are you sure?"
"Positive," Amy said with a nod. "I went to the doctor this afternoon, and it was confirmed."
Adam felt sick. His mind couldn't comprehend the two things she had just confessed to him. This situation was a lot messier than he would have guessed.
"So... You're leaving Jay and having his baby?"
Amy eyed him almost serenely, yet her hazel orbs were full of seriousness as she answered him.
"Adam, the baby is *yours*."
"*Mine*?" he asked, staring at her with surprised hazel eyes.
The redhead nodded.
"Well, remember that the condom broke that one time a few weeks back."
The tall blond man's face showed recognitioni, and he nodded in remembrance. They hadn't really been worried at the time at all, but then, it had happened to both of them before with different people and nothing had happened.
"Wow..." he finally said when he spoke again. He looked down as he was thoughtful, then met her eyes again a moment later. "... And you're sure it's not Jay's?"
Amy nodded.
"I'm sure... He and I weren't even together that night." She actually felt embarrassed talking to him about her sex life with her husband. "To be honest, we haven't done much at all since he hurt his back."
Adam was glad she didn't say anymore. It seemed somewhat ludicrous, even to him, but he was actually jealous hearing about her and Jay. Nevertheless, his mind focused on the more important issue.
"Wow... I don't believe this." He looked her up and down, joy finally and belatedly hitting him - because despite the circumstances, he was still happy about the news. "You're actually carrying *my* child."
Amy swallowed hard, her heart in her eyes as she gazed at him. She was choked with emotion... Well, actually several emotions at once.
The blond man lowered his gaze to her still flat stomach, his right hand gently moving over to touch it. It was incredible to know that there was a brand new life growing within, and one he'd helped to create, at that. It took his breath away.
The redhead's eyes were filled with tears by now, and she placed one of her hands over his. Their eyes met again as he raised his head.
"Amy?"
"Adam," she cried, "I'm so torn between my feelings!"
The blond man's stomach just about bottomed out. He placed his hand on her cheek and was about to verbally protest, but she plundered on.
"I love you, and I'm happy I'm having your baby... But the whole thing with Jay." She shook her head. "It's going to be so horrible! I don't care about how he treats *me*, if he grows to hate me - even though I'll always care about him... But I worry about *you*." She ran a hand through her long hair and continued. "You two have been best friends your *entire* lives! How could I be so selfish?!"
Adam grimaced at her self-effacing behavior. She seemed so tormented, and he hates seeing her like that. And damn it, he was no saint himself. He had betrayed his best friend, and his mouth went dry as he recalled the incident with Torrie just the previous night.
"Amy, no-"
"I never should have married him!" She shook her head, the tears flowing faster. "I knew for years that I was in love with you - *you* - and yet I married him." Her eyes were full of anguish. "It wasn't fair to him, me and *you*... Or to this baby."
"Amy, stop," Adam insisted. He gently took hold of her small hand and stroked it. "Stop tormenting yourself, baby." Yet, as those words escaped his lips, the memory of Torrie naked beneath him, her face filled with ecstasy, came rushing back. They were basically in the same boat here, only the understanding was that he and Torrie were through. And they *were*, he had to remind himself. What had happened was a huge mistake - one the redhead never needed to know about. As long as the platinum blonde kept her mouth shut as she'd promised she would, everything would be fine... Wouldn't it?
Damn it, he wished he had an answer to that.
Adam pulled Amy to him in his embrace. He didn't want to think about his manipulative ex-wife. He had more important things to concentrate on right now, a full plate.
The redhead clung onto him as though for dear life, much the way a drowning swimmer would grab onto a buoy or any object that would keep them afloat. She was no longer sobbing, but tears still ran down her cheeks.
"Oh, God..." she moaned. "... I have to tell Jay. I have to do that as soon as possible."
"No," the tall blond man protested, and she looked up sharply at him. "We'll *both* tell him. It'll be hard - for all three of us, but it's better that way." He gazed into her teary hazel eyes with emotion. "I'll be damned if I let you do this alone."
Amy swallowed visibly and nodded as she held onto him tightly.
"Okay... We'll do it together." She was silent for a beat, and then, "Adam - I'm scared."
"So am I, baby," he admitted. He pulled her against him nuzzling her fragrant red hair. "So am I."