Page 110 of How to Score Off Field

What follows is the world’s longest, most deafening pause.

“Yes,” she whispers.

I suck in a breath, damned if I don’t.

Fuck.

“Is it…”Mine.

“Yes,” she whispers even softer.

My mouth guppies over.

Closes.

I clear my throat so I don’t start to cry. “Care to explain why I'm finding out about your pregnancy from the news?”

My question comes out harsher than I’d wanted it to, but this isn’t something you rehearse or plan for unless you’re one of those couples trying to have a baby.

Except we’re not a couple, and we weren’t fucking trying to have a baby.

There's a long pause on the other end of the line before she finally speaks.

"Look, Drew, I didn't want it to come to this, but I felt like I had no choice."

No choice?

What does that mean?

“Was ityou?Or did you tell someone who sold the story?” I know how this shit works by now and both things can be true at the same time.

She hesitates, weighing her answer. “Yes.”

“Does that mean it was you, or was it someone who sold the story?”

“The second one.” Her voice is so quiet I have to strain to hear it over the sound of the gym’s echoing chaos. Machines, people grunting, music.

"No choice? What are you talking about?" I demand, my frustration mounting. "We should've talked about this before it went public."

"I know, I know." She sighs, sounding defeated. "But I didn't know how to tell you. And then I told my brother, and he went apeshit, and I panicked."

I run a hand through my hair, trying to process what she's saying. "And that dumb asshole thought going to the press was the best solution?"

"I don’t want you to feel trapped or obligated."

Too fucking late for that.

My phone has been blowing up. My brothers have all threatened to hop on the next flight here, and my mother wants to sue the Donahues for defamation, lies, and slander.

Teammates.

My coaches.

Everyone is up my ass, including the media.

I let out a frustrated sigh, torn between anger and a strange sense of understanding.

"Tess,” I say calmly. “We're in this together, whether we like it or not. Going to the press without even talking to me first was a shitty thing for Grady to do. Please tell me you didn’t know about it.”

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