Page 107 of How to Score Off Field

My mind races, my words stumbling out. "I'm pregnant. And... you're the father."

The color drains from his face. "Pregnant? You've got to be kidding me.” He pauses. “Wait. Why are you telling me this?”

"Because it's yours."

“Mine?”

I nod, tears tingling behind my nose. “Yes.”

“How.”

I roll my eyes. “You know how.”

“How far along are you?”

“Ten weeks or so?” That’s how long it’s been since we were together.

“I don’t know what ten weeks means.”

“It’s like two and a half months.”

“There is no fuckin way.”

“I’m sorry…”

His voice suddenly becomes laced with bitterness. "How could you keep something like this from me? Do you know what you've done?"

"Drew, I didn't know how to tell you. I was scared of your reaction, and I thought... I thought I could handle it on my own."

He scoffs, his frustration echoing in his voice. "Handle it on your own? By shutting me out completely? And where the hell was your brother, Grady, in all of this? Did he put you up to this?"

I shake my head, desperate to explain. "No, Drew, it wasn't Grady's idea. He didn't even know until recently. Please, try to understand."

"What a lie—he took money to sell a story, didn’t he? Stop lying for him." He practically spits out the words. "You've kept me in the dark about something life-altering, something that involves me, and you want me to understand?"

Tears stream down my face as I reach out to him, my voice cracking with emotion. "Drew, I messed up, I know that. But I never wanted things to turn out like this. I never wanted to hurt you."

He steps back, his anger still simmering beneath the surface. "Hurt me? Tess, you've betrayed my trust in the worst way possible. You and your damn brother."

My heart aches at his accusation, and now he's directing his anger toward Grady too. "Drew, please don't blame Grady.”

“Don’t blame Grady? That’s hilarious.” He runs a hand through his hair, frustration etched across his features. "I can't believe this, Tess. I trusted you, and you kept something this important from me."

"I'm so sorry," I choke out through my tears. "I know I can't undo what's done, but I want you to be a part of our child's life. I want us to figure this out together."

Drew's anger seems to waver for a moment, replaced by a mix of sadness and confusion. "I don't know if I can do that, Tess. This changes everything."

I take a step toward him, reaching for his hand. "Drew, I know you need time to process all of this. But please, don't shut me out completely. Our baby deserves to have both of us in their life."

“Our baby.” He looks at me, his gaze searching mine for some sign of sincerity. "Our baby? Ha. I need time, Tess. This is a lot to take in."

I nod, my heart heavy but hopeful. "Take the time you need, Drew. Just know that I never meant for any of this to happen like this. I never wanted to hurt you."

As I utter those words, the dream begins to fade, slipping through my fingers like sand.

Our baby? Ha.

“Tess, wake up. You’re having a dream.”

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