Page 41 of Pieces

Something ahead catches my eye, a flash of blonde, and I blink a few times, wondering if my head’s still in the clouds after the game. It’s stupid, but I can’t help it. Every blonde I see now, I hope it’s her. Wish it’s her, despite my best friend’s warning.

I drift closer without thinking, staying just far enough back that she won’t notice me right away. I need a second to get my head straight before I know for sure.

And then…yeah, I see her side profile, and there’s no doubt in my mind. It’s her. Was she at the game? Did she watch me, knowing it was me? My mind spirals.

She’s walking ahead of me, phone pressed to her ear, her free hand gesturing as she talks. Her head’s tilted slightly, ponytail swaying behind her.

I slow down. Daphne doesn’t see me, too engrossed in her conversation, but something about the sight of her makes my body hypersensitive. It’s like my brain short-circuits for a second, all the frustrations of the game slipping to the back of my mind in favor of being around her. This is my moment to talk to her, finally.

But what the hell do I do? Do I call out to her? Does that feel weird when it’s dark? She’ll probably be freaked out.

Would she even want to see me? My grip tightens on my bag strap, and I almost keep walking, but my feet have other ideas, pulling me a step closer.

That’s when I notice her phone isn’t pressed to her ear anymore. It’s angled in front of her, the faint glow of a video call lighting her face.

“I haven’t told Dad, so you can’t say anything,” she says, her voice carrying in the still night air.

I stop, my stomach twisting. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be hearing this. But just as I slip back a little, a guy’s voice comes through, deep and raspy.

“Just tell me, Daph.”

A sharp edge slices through my gut, and I falter. Who the hell is she talking to? I feel the jealousy flare before I can stop it, like a match striking within my chest. Some guy casually calling her “Daph,” like he knows her.

Does she have a boyfriend? Damn, I should’ve done some recon first.

My jaw clenches as my fingers curl into a fist by my side.

“Finn, I’m serious. Only Liv knows so far.”

I freeze. Finn. Oh shit. That’s her brother. I exhale as relief washes over me, only to be replaced by a gnawing guilt for jumping to conclusions. But before I can process that, he speaks again.

“Spit it out, Daph.”

She releases a long sigh, and I turn to walk away, but then she says, “I’m pregnant.”

Wait,what?

Chapter nineteen

Daphne

“I’mpregnant.”

Finn’s face drops and simultaneously lifts in surprise, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. “I’m sorry,” he says, shaking his head. “Say that again.”

“I’m pregnant,” I repeat, the words scraping against my throat. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to saying that. My stomach churns and threatens to revolt, but I force it down. I’ve had enough of that this week.

“Daph…” He drags a hand through his hair. “What the hell?”

A groan builds in the back of my throat, but I don’t let it out. “I know, okay, believe me, everything you’re thinking, I’ve thought and berated myself about already for the last few days.”

Finn starts pacing, something he’s always done when he’s anxious, I’m more of a meltdown type of anxious person, but not Finn; he walks it off. “Is this why you’ve been avoiding me?”

I nod tentatively. “I’m sorry.”

He sighs. “Does the father know?”

I stop mid-step, my free hand flying up. “Oh, sure, Finn. And what exactly would I say? ‘Hey, remember me? The girl you slept with after the concert? Fun fact: That was the first time I had sex, and surprise, I got pregnant.’ Yeah, that’ll go great.”

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