We’re in the off season now, so work is pretty light and it couldn’t be a better time for me to deal with the first trimester symptoms. I wasn’t much of a hockey fan before, but Brooks loves it and we’ve even gone to a few games together. I started working for the Pittsburgh Penguins as one of the team’s physical trainers. He still treats me like I’m the center of his world and even though we agreed to wait until we were both done with college to have kids and were more settled in our careers, it feels like the time is right. I wasn’t really worried about Brooks’s reaction. I squeeze him tighter, burying my face in his chest, and I can tell that he’s smiling as he rubs my back. Then I’m in Brooks’s arms and I laugh as I wrap my arms around him. “Yeah,” I tell him, the tears slipping free and streaking down my cheeks.

“A baby?” he asks, his hands going to my stomach. “I’m pregnant,” I say, my voice coming out hoarse as tears spring to my eyes. “Rae,” he says, his voice cutting off as he looks back up at me for an answer. “Yeah, it’s been a positive day,” Brooks says as he pulls back and moves to take my hand. He gets to do something that he loves, something that gives him a purpose and makes a difference in so many soldiers’ lives. He’s been promoted at the VA Hospital and I’m so proud of him. We made some progress with the group today,” he says, and he sounds proud.īrooks decided to go to college a few years ago and graduated with a psychology degree just a few months ago. “Yeah,” I say, hugging him back as I grip the pregnancy test tighter in my hand. “Did you have a good day?” he asks as he pulls me into his arms. I open it, grinning at him, and he smiles back at me. “Rae? Are you okay?” Brooks asks, and I can tell that he’s outside the bathroom door. I let out a laugh as my heart starts to beat so loud that I can hear it in my ears.

Finally, my alarm goes off on my phone and I turn the test so that I can see it. I still have a few more seconds before I can check the test and I hold my breath as I count down the seconds. “Yeah! Be out in a minute!” I call as I wring my hands together. “Rae? You home, baby?” Brooks calls and I hear the front door close behind him. Then I missed my period and realized that it could be something else entirely. I thought that maybe it was the flu, or I was coming down with something else, or maybe I was just working too much. I had been feeling nauseous and so tired the last few weeks. I pee on the stick, setting it on the bathroom counter and pacing as I wait the three minutes for the results. I dig out the pregnancy test that I bought at lunch and open it to read the instructions. I hurry into the apartment,double checking that Brooks isn’t home from the VA Hospital yet before I rush into our bedroom and straight into the bathroom. Vision Insurance in the U.S: Cost-effective Health Plans for Eye Care

Tempted By My Roommate by Shaw Hart