Page 43 of A Second Chance At Forever

“You want to hit up the bar? I could really use a cold beer after that practice.”

“I would, but I’m meeting up with Nicole.”

“You and Nicole are still together?” His dark eyes landed on mine as his eyebrow rose.

“Yeah, for now,” I answered, not sure where the conversation was going.

“I was just asking because I noticed you at the bar Friday night and you wasn’t with Nicole.” He gave me a teasing smile.

“Oh. That was Lennox. We’re just friends.” I tried brushing it off.

“Didn’t look like that to me. Look, everyone knows about the two of you.”

“What do you mean?” I laughed and opened the door to my truck, ready to climb in.

“Everyone knows your story. It’s a small town and you are the guy that dated Lennox Madison, the country music star. When people see you two together, they talk.”

I took my seat behind the wheel and looked over at him. “People are talking?”

“Here and there. They all think you two are going to get back together.”

I let out a laugh before shaking my head. “I will talk to you later, Dan.” I closed my door and started up the truck.

Are people talking? Has Nicole heard what they are saying? Does she know I spent time alone with Lennox?

I pulledinto the bar parking lot an hour and a half later and made my way to the table Nicole was sitting at. Wendy found us and took our order. I ordered my usual, double cheeseburger with fries and a beer while Nicole ordered a salad.

“How was practice?” Nicole asked, taking a sip of her water.

“Pretty good. It was a tough one today, I’m sore and tired,” I picked up my beer and took a long drink. “How did your midnight shift go at the hospital?” I needed to make small talk. I wasn’t ready to hurt her.

“Good. Long, but good. I still haven’t caught up on my sleep yet. I would’ve stayed with you last night after dinner but I just really needed the sleep.”

“I understand, it’s okay.”

A short while later Wendy brought our food and we sat quietly eating.

“Mason, I have something to tell you and I don’t know how you’re going to take it.”

“Okay,” I said around a mouth full of food. I swallowed, took a drink, and pushed my sleeves up. “Let’s hear it.” I locked my eyes on hers. She looked nervous.

“I think I’m pregnant.”

I froze when I heard the word “pregnant.” My heart pounded wildly in my ears while my body went numb.

How can she be pregnant? We are always safe and she said she was on birth control. I’m going to be a father. I can’t be a father. This is not how this is supposed to go. I am supposed to break up with Nicole, not have a life sentence.

“How?” I managed to get out.

“It’s not for sure. I haven’t taken a test yet but I’m late and I’m never late. I will take a test at the hospital when I go back on Thursday. I just wanted to let you know.”

“How could this happen? We were always careful and I thought you were on birth control?”

“It’s not one hundred percent. There is always that small chance.”

My mind started reeling.

How could this happen? How can I be so stupid? I don’t want this, not with her. What am I going to do? I can’t break up with her now. If she is pregnant, I have to be there for her and the baby.

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