Page 63 of Falling For My Best Friend's Brother

“Cry, babes.” Lindsay smoothed her hands down my hair, her voice a soothing whisper. “Let it out. I promise you’ll feel better.”

“I—I won’t,” I hiccupped, burrowing my face into her chest. “I won’t ever feel better because… I won’t ever forget him.”

“Why not?”

The tears fell harder. “Because I’m pregnant!”

Lindsay became like a statue against me. My body was still racking with sobs as I pushed back to look up at her. Her mouth was agape, hazel eyes wide as they stared back at me. At one point, I thought she couldn’t even see me. I’d never seen her so out of it. Then she pressed a hand to her heart, as if trying to gauge if it was beating or not.

“Lin?” I asked, my voice thick with unshed tears. Suddenly, I was more worried about her than about myself.

Lindsay’s eyes seemed to shift back into focus as our gazes finally locked. “You’re… pregnant?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet it echoed in the silence of the living room.

“I found out over the weekend.”

She swallowed hard. “Is it… Knox’s?”

I nodded. “But I don’t think I’m going to tell him.”

Blinking, a line creased between her brows. “What? Why the fuck not?”

“What if he accuses me of trying to tie him down with a baby? I couldn’t stand it. Besides, I’m not sure I’m even going to keep it. I’m too young. I wouldn’t know the first thing about being a mother.”

Lindsay licked her lips hurriedly, adjusting on the couch so that we were closer than before, however impossible it seemed. “Neens, I need you to listen to me. You’re carrying his child. There’s no way he’ll ever reject you, or it.”

I didn’t like the hint of excitement in her tone. “I won’t take the chance, Lindsay. It’s either he wants me and the baby, or he doesn’t get either of us. I will not be a second choice. I’m done with that shit.”

“Oh my fucking God! How the hell are you so dense?” Lindsay suddenly snapped, her voice rising. “For someone who’s able tocapture exact emotions behind everything, how the hell are you so fucking blind to the perfect love story right there in front of you? You didn’t see what I saw that day, Nina. That man is crazy about you.

“He laughed so fucking hard, I was shocked. I’d never heard him laugh like that before. He held you so dearly, as if he was scared that you would break. I was standing right there, and he didn’t notice because all he could see was you. After you left, he couldn’t even look at me and I knew it wasn’t just because of me. He was terrified of what he might have done to you. How can you not see that?”

The tears resurfaced. “What if you’re wrong? I’ve been hurt before, Lin. You know that, you were there. I don’t want to get hurt again.”

She reached forward to take my hand in hers, her eyes shining with concern. “But wouldn’t it be better to try? I’m not going to force you to do anything. If you don’t want to keep the baby, that’s fine. I’m talking about you. You love him and I think he loves you, too. Why let fear keep you from everything you want?”

I stared into her, torn. God knew I wanted to believe her so badly. I wanted her to be right. But there were just so many doubts swirling in my mind. I’d learned a long time ago to always be skeptical of things, to second-guess everything. If she was wrong…

But what if she’s right?A voice whispered in the back of my mind.What if Knox, like you, is just scared?

Was that a chance I was willing to take? I had no idea. But… maybe Lindsay was right. Maybe everything I wanted was on the other side of fear. I’d been rejected many times, and that was probably what was holding me back. What was one more time, right?

Well, you’ve never been rejected by Knox. This one might kill you.

If it did, then fine. At least I could say I tried. If I decided to keep the baby, at least one day I could tell it I tried to make things work. But life doesn’t always give you lemons to make lemonade. Sometimes, it gave you love, and then it took it away and you know what? That was fine, too.

I wiped underneath my eyes. “Fine.”

Lindsay’s lips split into a smile. “Yeah?”

I chuckled at her enthusiasm. “Yeah.”

“Fuck yes!” She hugged me again. “I’m going to be an aunty, Neens. Thank you so much!”

Rolling my eyes, I couldn’t deny that she would make an amazing aunt. But there was still much to take care of first. “Hold your horses. You don’t know that yet.”

She broke the hug, pressing her lips into a thin line. “Right. Yes, you’re right. When will you go see him?”

I exhaled sharply. The sooner the better. No point putting it off. “Tonight. Do you have his address?”

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