Page 160 of Beautifully Wounded

Since the hoodie was so long, my shorts were saved, but there are some puke splashes on my legs and runners.

Getting a washcloth, I quickly clean myself up, wondering if perhaps I should have just had a shower. And maybe I will after I figure out how to get the hoodie clean.

It’s hot, and with this moment of freeness without the hoodie engulfing me, I take a moment to splash some water on my face and neck.

“I knew it.”

I gasp and jump, startled at the female voice, my head darting to the open bathroom door as I spin to face the woman filling it.

Wendy.

Oh shit.

“He doesn’t know, does he?” she snaps, her eyes dropping down my body.

For a moment I just stand there stunned, not sure what to do, but then panic sets in, and I spin and lurch for the towel rack where the clean hoodie is hanging.

“It’s too late, Abbey. I’ve already seen.” Wendy steps into the room as I hold the hoodie in front of me before she lurches forward and snatches it from my grip.

“Give that back!” I screech, but smug-faced Wendy just scoffs, shaking her head as she steps backwards.

“Fuck no. I’m not missing this.”

No. This can’t be happening.

The sound of male voices outside Ringo’s room has me stiffening while Wendy beams.

“Give it to me,” I whisper-yell at the bitch, but she laughs like I’m a fool.

“How long did you think you could hide that?” she asks, but I can tell her question is rhetorical. “He’s going to lose his shit. Let’s see how fast he kicks you out.”

The voices get closer, coming into the bedroom, and I know one of them is Ringo’s.

Shit.

What do I do?

It wasn’t meant to happen like this.

I need more time.

Panicked, I lurch forward and try to snatch back the hoodie, gripping the fabric and pulling, but Wendy widens her stance and holds on for dear life, a battle of tug of war taking place in the small space of Ringo’s bathroom.

“What the fuck are you doing, Wendy?”

Ringo’s menacing growl meets our ears, my eyes widening as Wendy smirks at me.

And then she yanks hard, pulling the hoodie from my grip before stepping aside to reveal Ringo behind her.

“I thought you should see this.” Her tone is nothing but smug. Pleased to finally have one up on me, but I no longer care about her. I only care about the man filling the doorway as his eyes scan me.

All of me.

My breathing becomes shallow as his brows draw in, the secret I’ve tried to keep hidden until I could figure something out, revealed too soon.

Feeling exposed, I reach across my swollen stomach, trying to cover myself, but it’s grown too big over the last few days. It wouldn’t have been long before even the hoodie wouldn’t be able to hide it.

“Did you know she was pregnant when you saved her?” Wendy asks like the child growing inside me is a vile thing.

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