Page 125 of Mistaken Impression

I couldn’t remember if he’d told me that before, but my brain seemed to be malfunctioning. Just that morning, I’d found one of my favorite sweaters in the deep freeze. I still can’t fathom how it got there, but I think that was when I knew the pregnancy was starting to affect me.

“What about her mom?”

“She died, I think. Don’t ask me for details, though. It’s not something we talk about.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. We’re not an item, and neither of us wants to be.”

He had a point, and it was a reminder that his situation was difficult… maybe more difficult than my own was about to be.

“Has she met someone else?”

“She hasn’t said so.”

“Do you think she would? Say something, I mean… if she did?”

“I’d like to think so, considering she’s carrying my child. But you never know.”

“Does it worry you?”

“To be honest, everything worries me at the moment.”

I felt sorry for him, but at least Lexi’s plans meant we could all be together for the first time in ages, and I needed that. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to break my news to them, but when I did, they were fabulous about it… especially Drew.

He’s grown up a lot in the last few months, although I’m not always convinced that’s a good thing. Sometimes I miss my carefree brother, and while I think it’s great that he’s taking responsibility for Lexi’s pregnancy, I can see how broken-hearted he is that he’ll never be with her sister now.

On the night I told them my news, even though it was Christmas Eve, he stayed with me for ages after Hunter and Livia had gone to bed, and we sat in the living room, just talking.

“I’m not telling Mac,” I explained, because we hadn’t really covered that.

“Excuse me?” He sat forward, staring at me. “You’re not gonna tell him?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“You know how we broke up.” Hunter had already explained everything to him, so I didn’t have to, and he’d called me when he got back from West Virginia to make sure I was okay. I wasn’t, of course. I’m still not. “You know he didn’t trust me.”

“This is different, Ella.”

“Maybe, but I’m still not telling him.”

“Give me a good reason.”

“I can give you three.”

“Go on then,” he said, folding his arms across his chest.

“First… it’s not his fault. It’s mine.”

“How do you work that out?”

“Because he didn’t use a condom.” I wondered if I was blushing. I felt like I was.

“And how is that your fault?” He tilted his head, frowning.

“Because I encouraged him.” At least, I did after the first time, so I can hardly blame Mac for what happened.

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