Page 155 of Puck Prince

I hold my breath, waiting for a response.

After a second, Owen shoves the sonogram back into my purse, drops it in my arms, and turns for the balcony. “Go back to Kennedy’s. I don’t want you here.”

Tears are coming so hot and fast now that I can barely see. It’s a miracle I make it to the door and find the knob.

“Callie.”

I stop, but I don’t turn around to look at him. If I had to guess, he’s not looking at me either.

“If I’d known… I never would have told everyone I was dating you.”

With that, he slides the balcony door closed.

And everything inside of me shatters, falling to the floor.

44

CALLIE

“How could you not tell me that you’re pregnant?”

Kennedy and I are sitting in her living room. I’ve been bawling since I walked through the door, which was a sign to Kennedy that something was wrong. She led my salty, snotty body to the couch, and the whole messy truth just blubbered out of me.

Yet again, not how I imagined announcing I was pregnant.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t thinking. I just thought I could ignore it?—”

“And what?” she snaps. “It would disappear? This isn’t a close-up magic trick, babe. It’s a baby.”

“I know,” I continue to sob.

Kennedy lets out a frustrated sigh before wrapping her arms around me. “I’m still mad at you, but you’re really pathetic right now. It’s going to be alright.”

“How did this happen?” I reach for a Kleenex before Kennedy’s shirt becomes my tissue.

“Did you bang him after he found you pantless on the balcony?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you use protection?”

“Yes, but… I think it broke.”

“And there you have it. Mystery solved. One hot night, a lifetime of regrets.”

I blow my nose and shake my head. “But I don’t regret it, Kenny. I feel stupid—sostupid for getting into this mess. But as soon as I heard the heartbeat, I knew I wanted this.”

Kennedy presses her palm to her chest. “It has a heartbeat.”

“And a round belly and a tiny nose.” My chin quivers as I reach for my purse. “I have a picture.”

But when I pull it out, I only have half of the sonogram. The other half must have fallen out in Owen’s apartment.

“It ripped, but—” I hand it to her. “—here’s a hand and the little feet.”

“Well, shit,” Kennedy starts to cry and reaches for a tissue. “Those are little feet. Beautiful, blobby little feet.” She looks at it with heart emojis in her eyes. “You made those feet, Cal.”

“It sucked, too. Those feet made me so sick.” I let out a soggy laugh and flop back on the couch. “I know I’m supposed to be freaking out, but I’m not. Not about this, anyway. I want to keep it. I want to be a mom.”

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