Page 68 of Claimed by my Bestie's Dad

That’s not exactly how the conversation went, but Aurora doesn’t need to know that. I feel like every decision I make is the wrong one, and I’m struggling just to stay afloat in my life right now.

Then it hits me. I’m pregnant. Ethan and I might have broken things off, but we can’t just push it behind us and pretend that it never happened. There’s going to be a constant reminder forever.

Aurora studies me for a minute, but she doesn’t offer to hug me. Not like she normally would. “I need to go. I just… I needed to get that off my chest.”

She flings the door back open and steps outside. I watch her head to her car before closing the door. I thought Aurora and I could go back to being friends after I broke upwith Ethan. Instead, it feels like I went from having somebody to having nobody.

As soon as she’s gone, I sink to the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees as the sobs take over. I don’t know how long I sit there crying, but eventually, I hear my phone buzzing from the coffee table. And it’s not just once or twice. It’s a lot of times. With shaky hands, I reach for it and see that the group chat with Aurora, Stella, Mia, and Zoe is blowing up.

Mia:Guys, we need to talk about this Aurora and Madison thing.

Stella:What happened??

Mia:I’m hearing all sorts of rumors…

Aurora:I’ll tell you what happened. Madison slept with my dad. That’s it. Nothing else needs to be said. She’s a bitch.

Zoe:Guys. Calm down. There are two sides to every story.

Stella:Well, somebody give me the deets of at least one side here.

Aurora:I just did. What else do you need to know?

Mia:Madison? You there girl?

Zoe:All of us know what happened, Aurora. Let’s work on forgiveness and understanding. Madison is dealing with a lot.

Aurora:A lot of guilt for acting like a bitch. I’m sorry, but I can’t accept this.

I let out a shaky breath, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. I don’t even know what to say to them.

After a moment, I decide not to respond to the chat. I can’t. Instead, I drop my phone back onto the table and lean my head against my knees, trying to calm the annoying sadness that bubbled up out of nowhere. Zoe’s been supportive, and I know she’s trying to help, but the rest of them… They don’t know the full story. They don’t know what I’m going through.

The pregnancy.

The dogs are whining, pawing at the doors to their kennels, but I ignore them for now. I just need a moment to breathe and gather my thoughts. But all I can think about is how everything feels like it’s falling apart. My friendship with Aurora is shattered, Ethan and I are over, and now I have to deal with this pregnancy alone.

I try to calm myself, focusing on my breathing, but the tears keep coming. What am I supposed to do?

My phone buzzes again, and I glance at the screen to see another message from Zoe, this time just to me.

Zoe:Madison, are you okay? Do you need me to come over? Aurora said she showed up at your house.

I muted the group chat because I didn’t want to see what else Aurora was saying about me.

I bite my lip, considering it.

Me:No, I’m okay. I’m learning how to deal with things on my own.

Zoe:Dealing with things on your own when you have people who want to support you doesn’t make you any stronger.

Me:Maybe not. But right now, I’m tired of crying. If you come over, I’m going to reevaluate my whole life and probably start crying again.

Zoe:I get that. Well, I’m here. And you know where I live. Feel free to show up whenever.

I put my phone away and go to deal with the dogs. By myself. Because Ethan and I don’t spend time together anymore.

And that’s not going to change when I finally tell him I’m pregnant.

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