Текст книги "Taking Chances"

Автор книги: Molly McAdams

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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 27 страниц)

9

“So Chase isn't here again.”

“I know, Mom and Dad have to be getting annoyed with him. He's missed the last few family days.”

He has missed five, not like I was counting or anything. I haven't seen him once since over a week ago when I passed out, and other than that I'd only caught a glimpse of him three times since our goodbye one month and two days ago. I know, I'm pathetic. “Maybe I shouldn't come to family day Bree. I might be the reason he doesn't come around anymore.”

That made her finally look up from her laptop, “Why would you say that?”

“I don't know, maybe he doesn't like that I'm intruding on family time.” My heart ached for him, and I wish it didn't. I wanted to marry Brandon, it finally hit me two weeks ago and I'd never been more sure of anything in my life; so the fact that Chase still had a hold on me at all frustrated me to no end. Since the night Brandon had come back from Arizona, I'd never once regretted my choice in choosing him. I don't know how to explain it, but when I thought about my future, he's the only man I ever saw. But I needed to say good bye to Chase for good, I just didn’t know how to do that yet.

“You're not intruding,” She huffed a laugh and went back to some video she was watching, “I swear you fit in this family better than he does. I wish I had another brother, I'd make you marry him so you could be my sister.”

I choked on the chip I'd just put in my mouth and walked out of the pantry to gulp down some water. When I got it dislodged from my throat, I hopped onto a barstool and dug into the bag again.

“You're eating again Harper?”

I paused for a second, then shoved the handful of chips in my mouth. “Yeah?”

“You just ate two burgers not even thirty minutes ago.” Bree was looking at the bag with disgust. “I've never even see you finish one.”

“I know,” I sighed and rolled up the chip bag, “I'm just so freaking hungry these last two days, I think I'm going to start soon.”

“No you're not,” She said sure of herself, “We still have a little over a week.” Bree and I were together so much, we had synchronized. And trust me it wasn't a fun week for anyone.

“You sure?” I swear I felt like it had been forever since I had one.

“Mhmm.” She burst into laughter and started clicking on the video again, “Oh my God Harper, come watch this.”

I stood next to her but didn't register what we were watching, I was too busy trying to remember when my last one had been. Bree had to be wrong, because I don't remember having our monthly chocolate and romance comedy fest lately. I hated them and she never let me get out of that, but when was the last time we'd had one? I had to go find my phone, I had a calendar on there where I tracked my periods. I unconsciously started eating the chips again thinking about times when I avoided anything other than chaste kisses with Brandon. It didn't hurt his feelings, he knew what was going on when I got in those moods.

“Well look who decided to join the party. Mom and Dad are already asleep.”

I slowly turned to look down at Bree, was she talking to me? She had paused the video and was leaning back in the chair, arms folded across her chest, shooting daggers towards the living room. Following her line of sight, I dropped the bag when I saw him standing there.

“I was busy, Harper can I talk to you?”

“Uh,” I glanced back at Bree's annoyed but confused expression, “yeah. Yeah I guess.” I took two steps before gripping the counter, “Whoa.” Crap not again.

“Are you okay?” They both rushed to me and I held a hand up to stop them.

“I'm fine, I just got dizzy for a second.” I took a calming breath, “Thought I was going to faint again.”

Bree tilted her head to the side and looked at me curiously, Chase was in a fight with himself on whether to help me stay standing or not touch me at all.

“How do you feel now?” Bree questioned.

“Fine, I guess. That was really weird.”

“Chase, maybe now isn't a good time.”

“No I'm good Bree, I'll be right back.” I followed Chase out to the driveway, and though I wanted to close the distance between us, I stayed a few feet away. “Hi.” I said pathetically. How would I ever tell him goodbye if I was already struggling with myself to not kiss him?

He blew out through his nose, “Hey Princess.”

“Where have you been?”

“Working a lot, classes, surfing. That's about it.”

I nodded my head and looked at my feet, “Your family misses you.”

“Do you?”

“Of course I do Chase.” How could he think I didn't?

“Harper I've given you more than enough time. I can't stand to stay away from you anymore, I need to know who you choose.”

“You're really going to do this now? Bree could be listening from the front door!”

“Yes, now. I need to know.”

“Chase how can you even ask me to choose between you two?” I hissed through my teeth and met his glare, “You left me, like you always do. You expected me to think you still wanted me after you've completely avoided me for a month?”

He threw his arms out, “I was giving you time! You asked me to give you time!”

“I didn't want you to avoid me like the plague, I wanted you to fight for me. To show me that you loved me like you said you did.”

“I do love you Harper, and that's why I gave you that time to think about things without me interfering.”

I took a step back and he matched it, after a few silent moments I finally answered him, “I'm sorry Chase, but I can't.”

“No. No, no n–”

“I can't be with you. I love Brandon, I'm sorry.” I whispered.

“Baby don't say that. I will fight for you, I will. Please just give us a shot.”

“A part of me will probably always love you too, but I can't take chances with you Chase. You'll leave me one day, and it will kill me when you do.”

“Wha– No! I wouldn't, I swear I wouldn't.” He reached for me then and I let him hold me.

“You can't stay with any one girl, that's just how you are. And that's fine Chase, it's fine. You're with different girls every night, but when I think about love I think about forever. You can't give me that, so I'm not going to hurt myself by only having you for a short time.”

He lifted my face and stared into my eyes, his were filled with unshed tears and the sight of it almost knocked me off my feet, “I haven't been with anyone but you since you started dating Brandon. I knew then there would never be anyone else like you, and I wasn't going to waste time being with someone else.”

I wanted to believe it, and truthfully I did. He was never with girls anymore, but that didn't change anything. Chase had left me again. No matter what he said, he would always leave me. I gently kissed the corner of his mouth and stepped out of his arms, “I love you Chase.”

“Baby please, don't do this!”

“I have to, I'm sorry.”

He held onto my hand, “Why? Why can't you be with me?”

I didn't answer. I'd already told him everything there was to know about why I couldn't let myself be hurt by him.

“Are you sleeping with him too, Harper?”

“Why does that matter?”

“Please,” he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, “just tell me if you are sleeping with him.”

I wanted to tell him it wasn't his business, but of course that didn't come out, “I've only been with you.” He let go of my hand then and I made it half way up the drive before it hit me. Oh. My. Word. My eyes went wide and I sucked in a startled gasp. Oh God, oh no.

“What? What's wrong?”

“I have to go.” I almost shouted as I ran for the house.

This couldn't be happening. I took the stairs two at a time and rushed into Bree's room searching frantically for my phone. I ignored the text from Brandon and pulled up the calendar. She hadn't been lying, I was supposed to start in a week and a half. I flipped back to last month and saw I never put in when I'd started, because I hadn't. There on the calendar were the ovulation days, and smack dab in the middle were the two days I'd been with Chase. I shut off my phone and cursed when Bree came into the room.

“Are you okay? What did he say to you? I swear he's such an ass!”

“No-nothing. It's not him, I just feel kind of dizzy again.”

“Well what did he want, he left after you came flying in here like a bat outta hell.”

Think Harper, think. “Um, he was just...asking about a tattoo Brandon wants.”

She stood there staring at me for a minute, she didn't believe me and I didn't blame her. “Is there anything I can get you?”

“I just need to go to sleep.” And freak out for a while without your knowing eyes on me.

We decided not to go back to the dorm tonight, and got ready for bed there. I buried my face in the pillow and chanted over and over again that I was wrong, this wasn't happening, it was just a dream.

Waking up the next morning, I jumped out of bed and hummed to myself while I was in the shower. I had just been stressing last night, and forgetting about my period from the previous month. I would have freaked out when I originally missed it, and I hadn't so I was just making it seem like I could be – nope not even gonna say the word. Bree said she was going to start breakfast, and after I got dressed I skipped down to meet her.

“You look like you feel better.” She grinned while she poured the egg yolks into the skillet.

“I do! I don't know what was wrong with me last night. Probably just too much junk food.”

She grunted, “That's an understatement. I've never seen you eat that much.”

I laughed but stopped abruptly. What in the world? “What is that smell?”

Bree stepped away from the stove and took a few hesitant sniffs. “I don't smell anything but the eggs.”

“Ugh, are they bad?” I opened the fridge and looked at the date on the carton. They still had a week and Bree and I had picked them up just yesterday for Mom. I shut the door and walked to the cabinet to get a glass. When I stepped behind Bree I was assaulted again by the smell of the eggs. I barely made it to the kitchen sink before throwing up everything from the night before. Aw hell.

Bree held my hair back and got me a glass of water when I finished. When I finally looked up at her I was surprised to see her pissed off. Her mouth was mashed into a straight line, arms folded over her chest, an eyebrow raised. She wasn't stupid, she'd put it together.

“Are you kidding me?” She screeched, “You didn't even tell me you'd had sex with him!”

I started shaking and fat tears were falling down my face, “This can't be happening.” I sobbed and slid to the ground, “I'm just sick, right? This isn't happening!”

She sat on the ground in front of me and pulled me into a hug. “Shh, it will be okay.” She rubbed her hands over my back in comfort, “Have you taken a test Harper?”

“No, no I can't,” I sobbed, “I can't be.”

Heaving a sigh, she stood up and pulled me with her. “Well then maybe you're not.” Her sad smile told me she didn't believe that for a second, “But we're going to find out. Come on,” she grabbed two large water bottles out of the fridge and handed them to me. “Start drinking these, I'll drive.”

We didn't say anything the entire drive to the drug store. When she pulled into a parking spot I just shook my head and handed her my card. Five minutes later she came out with a bag full of boxes and handed them to me. I stared at the bag, and after a minute started reading directions.

“You knew Bree, didn't you.”

She sighed and grabbed my hand, “I figured.”

“How?”

“A lot of things. You've been eating a ton, last night wasn't your first dizzy spell. You get out of breath when we walk to class, and you refused to leave Brandon's side when I was having our week of hell last month. I kept thinking it, but every time I brought up sex, you told me you still weren't ready. And then today...well it was just the final piece of the puzzle.”

I didn't say anything else, just continued to down the water and try to stop my entire body from shaking. When we got back to Mom and Dad's she waited in the bedroom while I used a stick out of each of the four boxes. If I was going to find out, I wanted to be sure. Bree held me while I bawled my eyes out later from the results. There had been a smiley face, a 'Yes', a plus sign and a 'Pregnant'.

“What am I going to do?” I pulled the comforter over my head and curled myself into a tight ball.

Pulling back the comforter, my amazing friend held my chin until I looked at her, tears streaming down her own face. “We're going to tell Mom,” I started to refuse that but she continued, “I promise she won't be mad at you, she'll just be sad for you. You know she got pregnant with Chase when she was seventeen?”

I shook my head, they looked young, but I hadn't known that.

“Well she did, she'll understand Harper. She can make an appointment for you and after that, you'll have to figure out a way to tell Brandon.” She sighed and ran her fingers through my hair, “He's a good guy, he'll take care of you.”

A new round of sobs shook my body, “I cant. Tell Brandon. He's not. He's not. Bree I didn't. Didn't lie to you.”

She waited until I had quieted down and my breathing had returned to normal, “What do you mean?”

“I didn't lie to you Bree, I never had sex with Brandon.”

“You cheated on Brandon?” She gasped, “With who?”

“I can't. You'll kill me Bree.”

She scrambled off the bed and stared at me in horror, “You slept with my BOYFRIEND?!”

Oh crap, “No! No I swear I didn't! I would never do that to you Bree, I don't like Konrad like that at all. Oh my God, how could you even think that?”

Huffing, she grabbed her chest and forced herself to sit back down, “Well there's no other reason I would hate you enough to kill you. I'm sorry I thought that.”

“Don't, don't be sorry for anything. I did this, I created the mess. Bree I never meant to hurt Brandon, I swear. I love him, I really do.”

“But?” She prompted.

“I love someone else too. He's begged me to leave Brandon, but I couldn't.” I choked on the last words.

“How could you not tell me about this? How could I not know…you're always with Brandon, I don't get it.” She started, “Wait. You're always with Brandon, when did this even happen?”

“The night you all went to LA.” I replied softly.

“You weren't sick?” She was mad I'd lied to her again.

“No, I just wanted to mope over him alone, and then he was there.”

“Where?”

“Here.”

“At the house? You invited him here?”

“No Bree, I didn't invite him over.” I watched her confused face, and after a few minutes I could practically see the light bulb click on.

 “Oh shit.” She breathed. “You and Chase?”

I didn't respond, I just waited for her to start screaming, but it never happened.

“Why didn't you tell me Harper?” Her face was filled with hurt.

“I don't know,” I answered honestly, “I hated myself for doing that to Brandon. I could barely deal with it by myself, I didn't know how to tell anyone else. I wanted to tell you, I did. But since he's your brother, I thought you'd never be okay with it.”

“Does he know that you love him?”

Nodding I tried to speak around the lump in my throat, “He loves me too.”

After a few silent moments she spoke again, “It makes sense. We've all been so worried about him over the last few months, he's been distant and grumpy. Now that I'm thinking about it I can't believe no one realized he's only ever happy when you're both here.” She paused for a second, “What did he say last night?”

“He wanted me to make a choice between him and Brandon. I'd told him last month before you guys got back I needed a few weeks.”

“Did you choose Brandon?”

“Yeah,” it was barely a whisper, “If Brandon hadn't ever been in the picture, I still couldn't be with your brother. I love Chase, but I know he'd leave me. Whenever he gets mad or upset he'll avoid me for long periods of time. But Brandon is in the picture, and I just couldn't imagine myself leaving him.” I laughed but it sounded off, “All I wanted was to avoid hurting him, and now this? I'm going to crush him Bree. I'm such a horrible person.”

“A little,” she tried to laugh, “You're going to have to tell both of them.”

“I know, there's no way around this. I've never slept with Brandon, and Chase knows I've only ever been with him. Once Chase knows what's happening, he'll always be around me. You know he won't leave my side, and Brandon will find out he's the dad.” My body felt like ice, “Oh my God Bree I'm going to have a baby. I'm going to be a mom. I don't know how to do that, I can't be a mom I don't want the baby to grow up like I did!” I was on the verge of hyperventilating. “I can’t do this. I can’t do this. I’d be a horrible mom, Bree. I don’t want to do this!”

“No you won't! You're going to be a great mom Harper, no one has a bigger heart than you do. Yeah you grew up with a crappy father, but you won't be like him.” She gripped my wrists and waited ‘til I calmed down once again, “And it might be hard to believe, but Chase is great with little kids, all our cousins love him and he's always taking the babies so he can hold them. Between the two of you? This baby is going to be extremely loved, and of course Mom, Dad and I will be there to spoil him or her to no end.”

I actually laughed, really laughed. “I hope you're right. This is going to be a really rough next few months, but I'm glad you'll be here with me Bree. You're like my sister, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier.”

She waved my apology off, “I just can't believe that dumbass didn't use a condom!”

“Err, that's my fault. He wanted to stop because he didn't have any and I kind of begged him to anyway. And the second time –”

“There was a second time?”

“The next day. Anyway that time I don't think either of us thought about it. I had just found out you all were coming home, and even though I told him I needed time to choose, we both knew I wouldn't choose him. And it just happened.”

“Okay, okay I don't want details. He is still my brother.”

Mom peaked her head in through the door, “I just got back from the store, I figured you two would be in class by now!”

Oh thank God she didn't hear what we were talking about. Until Brandon knew, I didn't want anyone else to know who the father was. “Uh...hey Mom?”

Her face worried, “Oh Harper honey, what's wrong? Have you both been crying?”

Bree squeezed my hand and we sat up on the bed, after a reassuring nod from her I looked back to her mom and took a deep breath, before any sound could come out I started crying again. Somehow between the sobs and hiccups I managed to mutter, “I'm pregnant.”

Claire wasn't mad, just like Bree predicted she was only sad for me. We all cried while she held me and only looked mildly shocked when I said it wasn't Brandon's. Actually, she looked relieved when I told her. Bree and I shared a confused look but didn't say anything. Thankfully she didn't pry when I asked if I could tell her who the dad was after Brandon and I were already broken up. She swore other than Robert, she wouldn't tell a soul and then was off to call her OBGYN to set up an appointment. Her only request was that Bree and I strongly consider moving out of the dorm and into their house.

“It will be safer for you and the baby, and this way we'll be able to make sure you eat nutritiously.” She'd reasoned.

Bree and I didn't care, if we weren't at Chase's house, we were almost always here anyway. The dorm was mainly only used if we were pissed off at Konrad and Brandon. And after I spoke to Brandon, I had a feeling I wouldn’t be welcome in the house anymore.

“Oh and you should call your father.”

That...was going to be a difficult conversation. I called him right away, twice, and he didn't answer. Not like I expected him to, I haven't actually spoken with him since the end of August, but I would have rather told him over the phone than via e-mail. Unfortunately, that was my only other option. I grabbed my laptop and typed out a quick e-mail explaining what I'd just found out and that I was sorry if I disappointed him. I asked him to call me so we could talk and told him I loved him. I knew he would respond soon, so I sat there and waited for it. I should have expected his response, but even Bree let out a string of choice words and ran down the hall screaming for her mom to tell her what he'd said.

'You made your choices, you'll have to live with them. If you keep it, you are no longer allowed in my house. This semester is already paid for, but if you want to continue your education you can find your own way. I'm busy now Harper, I don't have time to deal with you.'

I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach, but I knew being upset over the dad that never wanted me was pointless. I forced a smile when Bree and her mom came back in. “Well, that's two down...three more to tell.”

Claire's eyes filled with tears but she nodded her head, “Your appointment is a week from Wednesday sweetie.”

“Thanks for helping Mom.” I mumbled.

We spent the rest of the day moving out of the dorm, even though they didn't let me do much. I kept assuring them that I felt fine, but despite my attempts, I ended up supervising everything. Mom gave me the guest bedroom and said if the father ended up being a prick, I could live with them and set up the nursery in there too. I looked to Bree who was all smiles; at least she was sure Chase wouldn't bail. I didn't think his parents would let him not be there for the baby, but whenever I got the nerve to tell him, I would make sure he knew he didn't have to be anything if he didn't want to.

I didn't see, or hear from Chase until that next Wednesday. I had already been so flustered all day about the appointment, I didn’t even notice he was there until I ran into him. Literally. Bree, Mom and I were texting back and forth, they were trying to calm me down, and I had been so focused on my phone I plowed right into him and a group of other guys.

“What the he– Princess?”

Retrieving my phone from the ground, I stood back up and turned to leave as fast as possible. I couldn't see him, not today.

“Harper, wait up!” He caught my arm and spun me around so I was facing him. “You're not even going to say hi now?”

“Hi.” My voice cracked and I kept my eyes to the ground.

Chase gently placed his hand under my chin and lifted until I was staring at him through unshed tears. “Baby what's wrong?”

God I didn't want to hear him call me that. Memories of our times together flashed through my mind and my cheeks instantly filled with heat. “Nothing,” I cleared my throat and blinked back the tears, “it's just allergies or something.”

His look told me he wasn't buying that, but didn't push that subject further. Stepping back he hung his head and sighed roughly, shifting his weight a few times, “I haven't seen you around my house much. I know you don't want to be with me, but don't feel like you can't be there, I won't bother you and Brandon.”

“That's not why I haven't been there. I um, I broke up with him.”

Chase's head snapped up, “You did? When, why didn't you tell me?” He was failing miserably at trying to hide his elated smile.

“A little over a week ago. But it hurt me more than I could ever explain to do it, and I need time to get over that. I can't just rush back to you because Brandon and I aren't together anymore.”

He cupped my cheeks and hunched down so he was almost eye level, “I love you, I'll give you all the time you need. Unless. Unless you don't want me anymore?”

I pressed my face harder into his left hand and closed my eyes, inhaling his clean masculine scent. “I've told you, I will always love you Chase, but I'm still not sure you won't eventually leave me. Because of that fear, I don't know if I can be with you. And some things have changed since we talked last, you might change your mind about me altogether.”

“That's not possible.”

I pulled his hands off my face and wrapped his tattooed arms around my shoulders. After placing a kiss on his throat I buried my head in his chest, “I wish that were true.” My life had drastically changed in such a short amount of time. For obvious reasons, I'd had to break up with Brandon and now Chase and I were going to have a baby. Because of the turn of events, I found myself wanting a life with Chase more and more, I wanted him to be there for me and his baby. Here, wrapped up in his strong arms, I could almost let myself believe it might happen. But Chase was about to graduate college, he was a tattoo artist and spent most of his mornings surfing. I couldn't see him settling down with me and our baby.

“It is Harper,” his voice cracked when he said my name, and tears started falling down his face, “I love you so damn much, why can't you see that?”

Oh God no, please don’t cry again. My eyes instantly watered again looking at him. I couldn’t mean this much for him to start crying in public at the thought of us not being together, could I? “I have to go, I'm sorry.”

“Harper please. Please don't just walk away, talk to me baby.”

I kept my head down and walked around the corner to meet Bree near the parking lot. Her eyes widened when she saw the two of us together and took in the trails of tears on both our faces. I glanced around and people were looking in confusion as Chase begged me to stop. I probably would have stared too, if I saw a six foot three inch gorgeous man covered in muscles and tattoos crying. He didn't seem to notice or care. I shook my head once at Bree and she reigned in her expression.

“Harper, please talk to me!”

I reached Bree's side and turned to him, “I will. We will talk, but right now I have to go.”

A choked sigh escaped his throat when I lifted my hands to wipe away his tears. “Promise?” I nodded and he whispered, “I love you.” kissed the inside of my wrist and watched me step back. Bree lightly brushed her hand against his arm and he jumped back, he looked nervously between the two of us but slightly relaxed when she smiled at him. He hadn't even known she was there though her arm was wrapped around my waist. Now that he'd seen her he took in the few people staring at us and ducked his head as he walked away.

When we were in her car, Bree grabbed my hand and looked at me, “I've never once in my life seen Chase cry. There is no doubt in my mind he is completely in love with you Harper, you have to tell him you're pregnant and he's the dad.”

Never seen him cry? That made me feel even worse since I’d made him cry three times in the last month and a half. “I will, just not today. First, I need to tell your mom that he is.”

She bit her lip and looked at me, unsure. She didn't think I ever would. I'd told her mom, Sir and Brandon all in the first day of finding out, but it had been over a week and I still hadn't talked to Chase.

“Let's go, we need to get to lunch so I can tell Mom.”

She smiled, cranked her car and drove us to the restaurant. I thought about that night with Brandon on the way over. Besides Bree, he was the only one who knew about Chase, and I was still surprised he hadn't said anything.

~~~

“Sweetheart, what's wrong?” Brandon grabbed my hands and led me to his room.

Looking at the worry in his eyes just made this harder. I hated myself for doing this to him, and I hated what I was about to do.

“Come here,” he wrapped me in his arms, “tell me what happened.”

I placed my hands on his chest and pushed until he let me go. “Maybe you should sit down.”

“I'll stand.” He said warily.

“Brandon, I –” Just do it Harper. Just like with Mom and Sir, don't skip around it. I stopped and took a deep breath, “I ch–…I'm pregnant.”

He bent slightly at the waist, looking like I'd literally just punched him in the gut. “That's not possible.” His said confused as he sagged onto the bed, “We haven't even –” His face fell and his breath came out in a huff, “Oh my God. Did you cheat on me?”

It was pointless to keep trying to wipe my tears away, they were coming too fast. “Brandon, I'm so so–”

“You cheated on me?!”

I bit my lip and nodded my head.

“And you're pregnant?” He sounded completely defeated. I would have rather he been mad, it would make this so much easier.

“Yes.”

He ran his hand over his buzzed hair and down his face, “Who? Never mind. I already know.”

“How? Did he tell you?”

“I'm not stupid Harper. I see the way you look at him when you think I'm not watching, and you bite your lip and space out whenever you look at that damn ring.”

He did know. “Brandon, I'm sorry! It was just one weekend, and I hate myself for it!”

“Does he already know?” He glanced up to meet my eyes.

“No.” It barely came out above a whisper.

We stared at each other for an undetermined amount of time, both silently crying, before he asked me one last question, “Why Harper?”

I wanted to make up an excuse, say we were wasted and I regretted it, but he needed to know the truth. “I love him too Brandon.”

He flinched and shut his eyes.

“I know I don't deserve this, but would you please not tell him? And if you're going to be angry at someone, please be angry at me. I did this to you.”

“You did this to us Harper.” Slowly standing, he made his way towards the door and opened it, “I won't say anything. I've always known how he felt about you, and if you chose him, then there's nothing for me to be mad at him for. But I need you to leave. Now, please.”

He wouldn't look at me as I left, just held the door with a tight, shaking grip and tried to calm his breathing.

“I'm so sorry.” I whispered before leaving.

~~~

I glanced up, surprised to see we were already at the restaurant. “Well...here goes nothing.”

“How do you think she's going to take it?” Bree ran a hand through her short blonde hair.

“Ha. I was hoping you'd tell me.”

“Uh, no. This is the one situation I haven't known what to expect.”

I looked at her in horror, “What if she hates me? What if they kick me out Bree?”

“They wouldn't do that to you, and my parents could never hate you. I just don't know how she's going to take it.”

We stopped talking when we walked in and were greeted by the hostess and hugs from Mom.

“Oh, I'm just so excited for the appointment! We'll be able to get a due date, and if you're far enough we can hear the heartbeat!” She was clapping and bouncing.

Aw hell, this was about to all be real. “Is it okay if I'm not exactly thrilled right now?”

“Sure it is honey, but you've already gotten over the hard parts. This is when it gets exciting.”