Page 117 of Body Shot

“Jeff, don’t.” Laura hurries behind him.

“No.” He ignores her and comes to stand right in my face. “You and I had a man-to-man chat, and you promised me you weren’t going to hurt her. Is this your idea of not hurting her? Answer me, son.”

I frown a little.

How did I hurt her when she’d broken my heart?

“I’m a little confused,” I say finally. “Becauseshebroke up with me.”

“Why?” he demands. “What did you say to make her end things?”

“I honestly don’t know,” I admit.

“Bullshit!” He looks pissed, and I’m not sure what’s going on.

“Look, I’m as confused as you are. That’s why I’m here. I wanted to talk to her, have her look me in the eye and tell me she doesn’t love me. Because I don’t know what happened. She told me she wanted to date other guys.”

“Don’t fucking lie to me!” He steps closer. “That’s not my daughter, especially not with the current situation, and we both know it.”

“Jeff.” Laura finally intervenes, putting a calming hand on her husband’s arm. “I don’t think…he knows.”

“What?” He turns to her in confusion. “What are you talking about? What doesn’t he know?”

“He doesn’t know about…the baby. She didn’t tell him.” Her voice is low but I hear them.

“What?” Now Jeff looks as confused as I feel.

Except I’m a lot more than confused now.

Did she just say there’s ababy?

“What did you say?” I ask quietly.

Laura and Jeff are still arguing.

“…she told me just a little while ago.”

“Are you serious right now?”

My head is spinning.

“What are you talking about?!” I yell, interrupting them. “Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?”

Jeff and Laura stare at me.

I stare back.

No one moves.

I’m pretty sure I’m about to be sick.

“Shit.” Jeff has his hands on his hips as he stares at me. “You really don’t know.”

“What don’t I know?!” I’m having trouble keeping my emotions in check because I’m fairly certain I know what I heard, but I need her to say it again.

“Claudia’s pregnant,” Laura says quietly. “But she’s in the hospital. We think she’s having a miscarriage.”

The bottom drops out of my world, and I sag against the door.

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