Page 89 of Fate Forever and Always

I ran my fingers through my hair, letting out a frustrated huff. “Callie, what the fuck is happening to us? Why are you doing this?”

She looked down at her feet again as she turned toward the door. I thought she was going to leave without answering me. She stopped right before the door and whispered, “I don’t have a choice. Plus, you just made my mind up for me. Apparently, I can’t trust you. I can’t believe you had our best friend lie to me about money. Well, I didn’t need the money, and I don’t need you.”

I took a step closer to her. “You don’t mean that, Callie. Tell me right now that you didn’t fucking mean that.”

“I'll pay you back as soon as I settle into my new place.”

Before I could respond, the door shut behind her.

She doesn’t have a choice?

Chapter thirty-seven

Callie

Ilet the tears flow the moment I closed my car door. I'd been waiting to tell Nick that I was moving out for a few days now. My therapist told me I needed to get it over with or it would eat away at me. I felt like every time I worked through one issue with her, I just created another.

My therapist kept asking questions about why I would be leaving. I always answer as vaguely as possible with, “It just isn’t what I want anymore. I would rather be his friend. Nothing more.” I doubt she believed a single word of it. She assured me each time that we wouldn’t get very far into my healing journey if I was not honest with her. I shrugged her off every time.

Jake sent me a total of five photos and videos. I hadn’t told anyone yet because he made it clear that he would release them if anyone found out or if I got back with Nick. He has tried to get me to move out, but the soonest I could find in my price range was the end of January. I started picking up more shifts at my mom's restaurant, and I’d taken on two additional students. I needed to save up as much money as I could.

I honestly didn’t know what was going to happen. Jake wouldn’t tell me what he wanted other than me leaving Nick. I didn’t know how to solve this without being utterly and completely humiliated by those pictures becoming available to the public. Once I am out, then what? Would he use it to make me do something else? Would he just delete them? He didn’t say anything when I asked.

I pulled into the parking lot at the restaurant just as Sara was getting out of Jake’s car. My defenses and anger immediately rose. I pretended to rummage in the back seat, trying to buy time. Luckily, he left without acknowledging me.

When I got out of the car, I realized Sara was in tears. Her makeup was running down her face. My anger dissipated the moment I saw her legs were about to give out. I caught her just before she fell to the ground.

“Sara, what happened? Are you okay?”

She sniffled before speaking. She looked up at me with scared eyes. She almost looked like she was about to apologize.

“Callie…I’m pregnant.”

“Woah!” I didn’t mean to say it out loud, but I had.

My mom came out the back door, probably looking for me since I had told her I was on my way. I looked up at her.

“We are going to need a minute.”

Mom looked down at Sara and nodded. “Take your time. We are slow right now. Just wanted to let you know I put the work shirt on the table.”

I nodded back as a thank you. I had texted her to ask her for an extra. I forgot to put mine in the dryer last night.

Sara righted herself and ran her hands over her apron and then under her eyes to clean her face a little. She grabbed my hand and I helped her up the stairs and into the bathroom. I stepped back to give her some space. I was still deciding if Iwanted to pry. After a few minutes of silence, I did. I felt weird just staring at her.

“Are you happy? Like, is this something you want?”

She looked at me without saying anything, so I continued. “You don’t look very happy, Sara. You know you don’t have to—”

“I want it,” she blurted.

I let out a breath. “Good.”

I waited for her to finish cleaning her face, and then she looked at me in the mirror. “Then why are you crying like that? Those aren’t happy tears.”

She ignored my question and surprised me with the one she asked me, “Why are you helping me?”

I was a bit taken aback, but I answered as honestly as I could. “I've been on the other side of those tears. I wanted to make sure he didn’t—”

---