Page 19 of An Unexpected Encounter

We have her number, but I doubt she’ll take our call. There’s no way for us to track her down. At least not for the next month, since Dad and Julia will be on their honeymoon and have opted to go phone free the entire time. When they return, we can get her address and show up at her door, she can’t turn us away then.

Chapter 10

Selena

Two Months Later

Ican’t believe what I’m seeing.

It can’t be real.

Two pink lines stare back at me.

“I need another test,” I tell Sam adamantly from where I sit on the toilet, my knees pressed together as my forearms rest on my thighs, a test in each hand.

“Selly, you’ve drank eight bottles of water and taken twenty tests in the last three hours. All of them have said the same thing. You’re pregnant, baby. I know you haven’t been with anyone since your mother’s wedding, so it has to be one of the brothers. You need to talk to them.” He squats down in front of me, taking the sticks from my hand and placing them on the counter, not even caring I peed on them.

“I can’t and I won’t. Not after what they said. Plus, Julia will kill me. It would be something else I ruined for her. Dad dying and now this.”

“Hold on one fucking minute. Cancer killed your father, not you. I’m going to ring that bitch of a mother’s neck if she’s filling your head with that bullshit.”

I let out a sigh as my eyes water, blurring my vision. “Selly.”

Sam’s kindness and love are all it takes for the damn to burst and the tears begin streaming down my face, dropping onto my bare legs.

“What am I going to do? I can’t tell them. This will be just another thing my mother can use against me. Belittle me by calling me a tramp and reminding me of what a failure I am, especially now that I’m bringing a child into the world. What am I going to say when she asks who the father is?”

He takes my hands in his, running his thumb over the top of them. Sam’s friendship has been the only true bright spot in my life.

“I’ll be the little chicken nugget’s father. If anyone asks, it's me.”

My eyes widen at his words. Is he really saying what I think he is? I must’ve heard him wrong.

“What?!”

“You heard me, Selly. I’ll be the father as far as your mother or anyone else needs to know.”

“I can’t let you do that. What would Jose say? You need to think about him and what it’ll do to him. Besides, I think you’re forgetting something very important.”

“And what’s that?” He gives my hands a comforting squeeze.

“Umm, the very obvious taco I have. You’re a firm hotdog man. How is anyone going to believe we’re together when you need fucking Benadryl anytime a vagina gets near you?”

He lets out a laugh that earns a frown from me. Is he serious? My life is ending, and he’s laughing.

“If you haven’t noticed, I’m kneeling right in front of you and your taco is showing itself to me in all its glory, and not one break out. Besides, your taco I like. It’s the other bitches’ I can’t stand. As far as Jose goes, you’re going to get dressed and we’re going to go talk to him. I’ll be Daddy, and as far as your mom and new family know, I’m your man. Hell, it’s not like we have to see them every day.”

I let out a sob. What did I ever do to warrant a best friend as good as Sam?

“But—”

“There’s no but’s. I’m going to wait for you in the living room. Finish up here, and we’ll pick up some takeout and head over to my place and talk with Jose. Should we get tacos or hot dogs? I think both. But definitely not chicken nuggets.” He stands up and leaves the room, laughing at what he thinks is a funny joke.

Thinking about how he didn’t wash his hands after handling the pee sticks, takes my mind off being pregnant by one of my three stepbrothers for a brief moment.

Standing up, I pull up my leggings and step over to the sink, taking another look at the sticks lining the counter, all confirming the small life growing inside me.

I turn on the water and quickly wash my hands, then splash some on my face in an attempt to clear up the blotchiness from crying. I look up at my reflection, at the woman staring back at me. She looks scared. What am I going to do?

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