53

Max

“You need a drink, man,” Ryan said, patting my shoulder as he stood and strode over to the living room's bar section. We were seated on the couch; Ryan, and Manny, awaiting the test results together. I figured I needed them to be here for support, and also to help me process the outcome, whether good or bad.

“God helps her if it's negative,” I hissed, running a hand through my hair nervously. “I'll get her locked up the second I read that word. I already know it's negative because there's no way in hell I didn't wear a condom that night.”

“It's positive, man,” Manny said flatly. “I'm more than sure. Elaine isn't a liar. I mean, she has no reason to pin this on you after everything you've been through together.”

“Still,” Ryan passed a glass of Scotch to me, then Manny, “I'm not in support of her keeping this away from him for this long. Who knows if she'd told him much earlier, the test wouldn't have been necessary at all. Nothing hurts more than being kept in the dark, which is