Page 78 of My Pucking Perfect Goalie

I’m just walking out of the bathroom when I stop, realizing there’s something off in the living room area. I returned wordlessly to the Aldine’s guest house last night, and Penny and I have been quietly getting ready to leave. The lights are off in the living room, but there are a few flickering candles glowing warmly. Penny’s face is illuminated on the other side of them. I tuck my hands into my robe pocket and feel something lift in my chest.

No matter what’s going on with Sam, I still have Penny.

“Is this for me?” I ask, smile spreading over my face when I look at the cake. “What for?”

“Finn,” Penny says, glancing to the side quickly, like I’m making a joke. “It’s…what do you mean?”

“What’s the cake for?”

“Finn, it’s your birthday.”

I blink at her, then the realization hits me—itismy birthday. And I’d completely put it out of my mind in my haste to get out of Burlington.

“You remembered?” I say, and then, putting a hand to my chest. “Of course you did—it’s your job.”

“No,” she says, standing and crossing her arms. “It’s not my job, actually, because you wouldn’t have fired me—wouldn’t have even noticed—if I didn’t. I got you this cake because I care about you. We’re friends, and it’s your birthday, and I realized that you didn’t even remember in the middle of whatever is going on with you and Sam.”

“There’s nothing—”

“Please, Finn. I’m not stupid—I have a master’s degree. Don’t gaslight me.”

We stand in a stalemate, the candles steadily dripping onto the cake. Outside, the first few patters of a summer rain begin to fall.

“There’s nothing between us now,” I say, clearing my throat and looking away from her. I fix my sight on the rain that’s started to drip from the gutter. “That’s why I’m going home.”

“Whathappened?” Penny asks, sliding onto a stool and dropping her head into her hands. I blink at her, surprised. Then it dawns on me—she really does care about me.

I look down at my hands, then blow out the candles quickly and take a seat across from her. We sit there quietly for a moment, then I say, “I’m pregnant.”

“What?” Penny lifts her head, a smile stretching over her face. “Oh myGod, Finn! That’s amazing!”

“I shouldn’t get my hopes up,” I say, raising my voice a bit over her, heart starting to skip in my chest. Really, I shouldn’t have even told Penny about it, in case the worst happens.

Statistically, one in eight pregnancies end in miscarriage. Add in the fact that I’m a bit older than the prime age, and that I’ve had to try so hard to make this happen in the first place, and I know I’m at risk. Dr. Chen said we could discuss our options at my next appointment.

Keeping stress low is vital—I know that from my own research. So chasing Sam down right after hearing the news and discovering he’d been keeping the secret of his not-so-dead father from me probably was not the best thing for me and the baby.

“Get out.”

Clearing my throat, I open my mouth to give Penny a brief, to-the-point detailing of what’s happened. Instead, I add details, and clarify, and before I know what’s happened, an entire hour has gone by talking about Sam Braun.

When I finish recounting the scene in the hospital, I feel emotionally drained, and Penny is staring at me with wide eyes. Time ticks by with the dripping of the rain outside, then she clears her throat and nods a bit.

“Finn,” she says, gently, “did Samsaythe two of you were breaking up?”

“He told me to get out,” I say, drumming my fingers against the counter. “I think that gets the point across loud and clear.”

“It just…sounds like your guys had your first fight,” Penny says, chewing her lip. “Albeit—about something pretty serious. But sometimes couples fight. That’s okay, Finn. Did you tell Sam you’re going back to California?”

“Of course not,” I say, feeling tears well up behind my eyes. “I blocked his number when I left the hospital.”

“Youwhat?” Penny asks, eyes wide. “Why would you do that?”

“…clean break.”

“Jesus, Finn, you’re ridiculous.” She looks to the ceiling, then laughs. With a sigh, Penny gets up, rounding the counter and coming to sit next to me.

“I don’t think Sam thinks you’re broken up,” Penny says, taking my hand in hers. “And I think you need to talk to him about that. But more than anything, I think you need to confront this thing.”

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