**Chapter 3: Morning After**

The warm sunlight streaming through the window gently roused Emma from her slumber. She stretched, feeling a dull ache in her body, and turned to find Max still fast asleep beside her. His chest rose and fell with each breath, and for a moment, Emma felt a pang of affection for him. But as she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, her mind began to clear, and the events of the previous night came flooding back. She recalled the conversations they had, the way he had reassured her when she mentioned not being on birth control, and how he had promised to pull out. But as she thought about it more, she realized that he hadn't. Not once. A wave of unease washed over her, and she felt a knot form in her stomach. Getting out of bed, Emma made her way to the bathroom, her eyes scanning the floor for any signs of... anything. Her heart racing, she locked the door behind her and took a deep breath. She needed to calm down and think this through. As she stood in front of the sink, Emma caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair was disheveled, and her skin looked flushed. She splashed some water on her face, trying to clear her head. What had she done? She had been so caught up in the moment, so swept away by her attraction to Max. The door creaked open, and Max walked in, rubbing his eyes. "Morning," he said, smiling at her. Emma forced a smile, trying to play it cool. "Morning," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Max walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. "How are you feeling today?" he asked, his breath tickling her ear. Emma turned to face him, her eyes searching for any sign of concern or responsibility. But all she saw was the same charming smile he had worn the night before. "I'm fine," she said, trying to sound casual. "Just a little... tired." Max nodded, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "We can take it easy today, then," he said. "I'll make us some breakfast." As Max busied himself in the kitchen, Emma's mind began to wander. She thought about the possibility of pregnancy, and what that would mean for her life. She thought about her career, her relationships, and her future. The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. When Max handed her a cup of coffee and a plate of pancakes, Emma's stomach churned. She took a sip of her coffee, trying to calm her nerves. "Max, we need to talk," she said, her voice firm. Max's expression changed, his smile faltering for a moment. "What's up?" he asked, his tone cautious. Emma took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "About last night... I know we didn't use protection, and I'm not on birth control. We need to discuss what this means." Max's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, Emma saw a flicker of uncertainty. But then, his expression smoothed out, and he smiled again. "Don't worry, Emma," he said. "We'll figure it out together." Emma's unease deepened. What did he mean by "we'll figure it out together"? Did he think she was just going to... deal with it? The more she thought about it, the more Emma realized that she had a long, hard road ahead of her. And she wasn't sure if she was ready to face it alone.